ADA Amendments Act and Service Dogs

While some of the changes to the ADA may be helpful for people with disabilities others, such as the change in the service animal law is more likely to do harm to those who need the protection than help. Unfortunately, the change was likely made in response to the growing misuse of service animals. It is easier to make a wide restriction than deal with the abusers.

There is something about the terminology of the amendment to the service "animal" clause. It states "common domestic" but excludes horses ("farm animals") as well as several other "domestic" animals later. Several of these listed animals are considered domestic. Also, what is "common?" Horses, pigs, goats etc are common.

IDA believes that this may be a poor response to the abuse of service animal abuse. Even dogs are not immune to the abuse. There are organizations that train service dogs and give them to individuals for the slightest reason and many would not qualify. Individuals also abuse this and train their own dogs. There should have been a better response that helped weed out and hold the abusers responsible.