Pets are an important part of life for many people, and they're usually considered a part of the family. According to data from MarketWatch, 66% of American households own at least one pet.
Whether you're a tenant or a landlord in the Killeen, Texas area, it's vital to know the difference between service animals, support animals, and pets.
Read on to discover the distinct differences between these types of animals and the service animal laws.
Pets
Let's start with the obvious: pets are animals that people own solely for their own happiness. Not that service and support animals don't provide joy, but pets are not certified or trained in the same way.
In a nutshell, a pet is something that people acquire by choice and not because they have a special need or disability. Most people have a dog or cat, or they might have a few that live with them in their home. However, a standard pet simply does not have the necessary certifications and training required to be classified as either a service animal or a support animal.
Service Animals
According to the ADA, service animals are dogs of any breed or size that are specifically trained to perform tasks directly related to a person's disability. Service animal laws state that these animals are allowed to go anywhere with their owner and cannot be discriminated against.
Although they may not need a service animal certification per the law, it's recommended that owners get certification to make things easier in terms of renting or entering certain buildings with the animal. In the state of Texas, anyone who falsely presents an animal as a service animal may be subject to fines of up to $1,000 and up to 30 hours of community service.
Emotional Support Animals
Emotional support animals, or ESAs, are animals that provide emotional support to help alleviate one or more symptoms of the effects of someone's disability. These animals might relieve loneliness or help with things like depression, anxiety, and even certain types of phobias.
Support animals do not undergo any type of special training to help people with disabilities. They're also not limited to just dogs, which means someone could have an emotional support cat or hamster, too!
Landlords should understand the difference between ESA and service animals so they're familiar with the law. If tenants or HOA members have a license for their service animal, they cannot be denied housing and the animal cannot be denied.
Know the Rules
Whether it's traditional pets, service animals, or emotional support animals, landlords, HOA leaders, and tenants should all be familiar with the current laws. Once you understand what each of these terms means and how they apply to your situation, you'll have a much easier time making the right choices.
PMI Phantom Realty can help you understand the service and emotional support animal laws in the Killeen, Texas area, so make sure you get in touch with us today to schedule a consultation and find out how we can help you.
