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Writer's pictureLauren Anders Brown

Understanding Emotional Support Animals, Service Animals in the US, Canada, and Assistance Animals in the UK


Traveling with an animal for emotional or physical support can be complex, particularly when definitions and legal rights vary by country. There are distinct rules for emotional support animals (ESAs), service animals (US and Canada), and assistance animals (UK), particularly around where they are permitted and how they’re defined legally. This guide explores these classifications, emphasizing key differences for those in the traveling between these countries or living with these animals.


What is an Emotional Support Animal?


Emotional Support Animals (ESAs) provide comfort and companionship to people with mental health needs. Unlike service or assistance animals, ESAs do not require specialised training to perform tasks and are generally not granted special public access rights in the UK and Canada. This means they are typically considered pets under UK law and are subject to the same restrictions as other animals in public and private accommodations. Some US housing providers may allow ESAs as a reasonable adjustment under the Equality Act 2010, this is at their discretion, and the same is not guaranteed in public spaces or public transport. But there are a few places we’ll share where they are still acknowledged. 


What is a Service Animal?


In the United States, the Americans with Disabilities Act ensures service dogs are granted access to public places and transportation. Similarly, Canada recognises the rights of service dog handlers under various provincial laws, such as Ontario’s Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act. Each province has its own guidelines, so the specific requirements for service animals can vary. For example, Ontario’s Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA) and British Columbia’s Guide Dog and Service Dog Act set out criteria for service animals in their regions.


 In the U.S., service animals refer specifically to dogs (and sometimes miniature horses) trained to assist individuals with disabilities by performing specific tasks, such as guiding those with visual impairments, retrieving items for those with limited mobility, or alerting individuals to medical conditions. These animals are highly trained and can accompany their handlers in public spaces, including accommodations and transport within, to and from the US. It’s important to note that once a service animal leaves the US, the laws which support service dogs in the US are no longer applicable (with the exception of US airline carriers that are required to adhere to US law) and access rights may differ. It’s important to check the laws of your destination country. 


Assistance Animals in the UK


In the UK, assistance dogs hold a similar role to service animals in the U.S., but they have distinct legal protections under the Equality Act 2010. Thousands of disabled individuals in the UK rely on assistance dogs not only for physical tasks but also to maintain independence and confidence in daily activities. Assistance dogs are carefully trained to assist with a range of conditions, such as visual or hearing impairments, epilepsy, diabetes, mental conditions and physical disabilities. 

The UK’s Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) clarifies that assistance dogs are not pets; they are classified as “auxiliary aids” that perform necessary tasks to support their handlers. Because of this, assistance dogs are legally allowed access to most public spaces, including hotels, public transportation, and restaurants, under reasonable adjustments required by the Equality Act. Unlike ESAs, assistance dogs receive rigorous training through accredited organisations.

Key Differences in Public Access Rights


While service animals and assistance dogs in the U.S. and UK enjoy protected access to many public places, emotional support animals lack these broad rights in both regions. In 2021, the U.S. Department of Transportation restricted ESA access on flights, requiring them to travel under pet policies and without access rights typically granted to service dogs. This was due to: “ the increasing number of service animal complaints received from, and on behalf of, passengers with disabilities by the Department and by airlines; (2) the inconsistent definitions among Federal agencies of what constitutes a “service animal;” (3) the disruptions caused by requests to transport unusual species of animals onboard aircraft, which has eroded the public trust in legitimate service animals; (4) the increasing frequency of incidents of travelers fraudulently representing their pets as service animals; and (5) the reported increase in the incidents of misbehavior by emotional support animals”. 


US Airlines are permitted to refuse a service animal exhibiting aggressive behaviour or behaviour that is a risk to health and safety. As we heard from an airline flight attendant, their biggest concern was untrained animals in cabin because of the risks they pose: reacting to another dog or human, especially around meal service or hot liquids. 


More information on the US DOT ACAA formal ruling is here.


In Canada, Air Canada and WestJet have similar policies while in the United Kingdom, British Airways and Virgin Atlantic require advance notice and specific documentation, especially when flying internationally.


There is now of course a cost difference between the two classifications as well: ESAs are considered pets and must pay a fee. Service dogs do not require a fee to accompany their human. The ruling also clarified two service animals could be permitted per person


Airlines that Still Accept ESAs  


In the UK, ESAs are treated as pets on most airlines and require fees for travel in the cabin or hold departing the UK only on commercial flights. No pets or ESAs are permitted to fly in cabin to enter the UK, only service and assistance animals. 


However, outside of the US and UK a few international airlines still permit ESAs under specific conditions. Their full policies are found by clicking on their names:

Avianca: for in-cabin travel they must weigh less than 22 lbs. If more than, they will be transported in the hold at no charge. 

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LATAM: Dogs to/from Mexico, Argentina, Colombia and within Colombia 


AirCanada: for ESAs that cannot travel in a carrier at feet, they can travel in the pressurized baggage compartment. 


Air Transant: A support dog must have been trained to behave in public settings and take direction, be at least 6 months old and be able to manage without access to relief facilities for extended periods of time.


Accommodation policies on ESAs


Fees for an ESA or pets should not be unexpected. The priority for service animals and therefore an ESA and even pets should always be access. Those who require service animals to accompany them regularly live with conditions that come with additional expense because of the lack of accessibility in so much of the world. Constantly taking taxis, having to pay for additional equipment or assistance adds up quickly for a person so permitting their animal to accompany them without the charge that those with pets or ESAs face only compensates service animal handlers a small amount compared to the costs they incur throughout their lifetimes. 


Traveling with an ESA or pet is not always a requirement, but as we can see evaluated on a situation by situation basis and it’s great to see some institutions still accept and acknowledge ESAs and some at no charge as AirBnB outlines in their policies. 


Today, there are MANY more pet friendly hotel chains than ever before such as: Kimpton, MacDonald (UK), even Disney has a resort that is dog friendly called the Art of Animation resort


Times are changing, and while the ESA classification is becoming less acknowledged and used, that’s only because more places are recognising the bond between people and their pets and permitting them in more public spaces. 


Conclusion


While both the U.S. and UK protect trained service and assistance animals, emotional support animals have far fewer legal rights, particularly in terms of public access. ESAs are generally treated as pets, with access to public spaces and transportation left to the discretion of individual providers. For individuals relying on animals for support, it’s essential to understand the differences between service animals, assistance dogs, and ESAs to ensure compliance with relevant travel and accommodation regulations.


Fees for an ESA or pets should not be unexpected. The priority for service animals and therefore an ESA and even pets should always be access. Those who require service animals to accompany them regularly live with conditions that come with additional expense because of the lack of accessibility in so much of the world. Constantly taking taxis, having to pay for additional equipment or assistance adds up quickly for a person so permitting their animal to accompany them without the charge that those with pets or ESAs face only compensates service animal handlers a small amount compared to the costs they incur throughout their lifetimes. 


The bottom line is that only trained service animals should have access to enclosed transportation services like airplanes due to the risks involved for the airline staff and passengers. Should an animal travel as a service animal without qualifications, it can mean refusal of passage and it’s important to note - all animals must meet border health requirements, regardless of classification, and can be taken or refused at a border even if a service is required by their handler. 


Countries have an individual approach to the documentation of service and assistance animals due to country privacy laws. At PadsPass, we recognise the human’s need to for privacy and analyze each data point we choose to collect.


For our new product, our digital pet passport coming in 2025, we’re looking at if we can support the service and assistance animal community with a simple swipe of their smartphone to show training and behaviour history and up-to-date animal health records making travel approvals easier, safer, and verifiable. 


Our current travel platform PadsPass 2.0 works for both service animal handlers and pet parents to assist in meeting the health requirements for international travel between Bermuda and beyond.


Join the Furst 50 and gain access to PadsPass 2.0 to begin planning your travel today.




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