Resources & guides.
Short, plain-language explanations of the rules that govern service animals in the U.S. — and where to look when a landlord, airline, or business gets something wrong. Each card links to a dedicated page; no fluff, no scare tactics, just the law and how it applies.
Three protected categories, three sets of rules.
ESAs, service dogs, and psychiatric service dogs aren't interchangeable — they have different trained tasks, different legal coverage, and different documentation expectations. Start here to figure out where your animal fits.
Emotional Support Animals
Protected under the Fair Housing Act for housing — not ADA public access, and not air travel (since DOT's 2021 rule). Learn who qualifies, what paperwork landlords can ask for, and the clinician-letter workflow.
Open guideService Dogs
Full ADA public-access rights under 28 CFR §36.104. Trained tasks for a specific disability — mobility, medical-alert, guide, hearing-alert, psychiatric. No certification required by law, but documentation helps in the real world.
Open guidePsychiatric Service Dogs
Psychiatric disability + trained tasks = service dog under federal law. Full ADA, FHA, and DOT coverage — same rights as any other service dog. Includes panic interrupt, DPT, crowd space, and more.
Open guide CompareSide-by-side comparison
ESA vs. service dog vs. psychiatric service dog — laid out on a single page with clear columns for ADA, FHA, DOT coverage, and day-to-day differences. The fastest way to figure out which category applies to you.
Open comparisonThe four federal laws that matter.
The ADA, Fair Housing Act, Air Carrier Access Act, and the state-level laws that stack on top of them. Each of these pages cites the actual statute and explains what it does and does not cover.
ADA resources
28 CFR §36.104 on what makes a service dog, §36.302 on public access, the two questions staff may ask, and when a dog can legally be asked to leave. Authoritative summaries with direct ada.gov links.
Open guideHousing rights (FHA)
42 U.S.C. §3604 and HUD FHEO-2020-01. What landlords can and can't ask, the six narrow exceptions, the reasonable-accommodation letter template, and how to file a HUD complaint (with current penalty amounts).
Open guidePublic access rights
Where service dogs are allowed, what behavior standards apply, the 12-component self-evaluation test, and what to do when a business refuses entry. Includes six de-escalation scripts for common confrontations.
Open guideADA qualifying disabilities
The ADA uses a functional definition, not a diagnosis list. Here's how 42 U.S.C. §12102 actually reads, the major life activities, and the six category types — plus authority links to DOJ, SSA, EEOC, and HHS for edge cases.
Open referenceFlying with a service dog or ESA.
The DOT's 2021 rule changed everything — ESAs are no longer protected in the cabin, but trained service dogs (including PSDs) still are. Here's how to fly without getting stuck at the gate.
Flying with service dogs
14 CFR Part 382, the DOT Service Animal Air Transportation form (DOT 382B), airline-by-airline policies, and the three-question gate-agent script. Includes relief-area planning and pre-flight checklists.
Open guideESA letter services
ESAs don't get DOT air travel rights anymore — but a current ESA letter is still what landlords ask for under the FHA. Neutrally recommended clinician telehealth services we've vetted for authentic licensure.
Open guideDOT airline forms
The two forms every airline asks for (Service Animal Air Transportation + Service Animal Relief Attestation for flights over 8 hrs). Included at no extra cost on Premium/Elite SD/PSD packages.
Package inclusion detailsRenting with a service animal or ESA.
The Fair Housing Act protects both service dogs and ESAs from pet-related restrictions — no pet rent, no breed bans, no size limits, no pet deposits. Here's how to exercise those rights cleanly.
Your housing rights under the FHA
SD/PSD vs. ESA coverage distinctions, CAN-ask / CANNOT-ask lists, the six narrow exceptions (Mrs. Murphy, single-family, direct threat, undue burden, actual damage, no control), and current HUD penalty amounts.
Open guideReasonable-accommodation letter
Ready-to-use template you can adapt and send to a landlord. Includes the two legal hooks (disability-related need + nexus to the assistance animal) and the FHA citation.
See templateFiling an FHA complaint
Four-step process with HUD FHEO. Penalty amounts: $21,410 for a first violation, $53,524 for a repeat, $107,050 for multiple repeat offenses. The complaint is free and you don't need a lawyer.
Open stepsNeed an ESA letter for housing?
Landlords can legally ask for current clinician documentation on an ESA housing request. Registration alone isn't what the FHA requires — here are two vetted telehealth options.
See referralsWhat counts under the ADA & FHA.
Neither statute publishes a list of "qualifying" diagnoses. Both use a functional test — does the condition substantially limit a major life activity? Here's how that works in practice for six common categories.
The full ADA reference
The functional definition, the six category types (mobility, vision, hearing, psychiatric, neurological/cognitive, chronic medical), typical trained tasks for each, and a 10-item FAQ covering ADHD, autism, temporary disability, and more.
Open referencePSD trained tasks
Panic interrupt, flashback grounding, crowd space, nightmare wake, medication reminders, Deep Pressure Therapy. The specific tasks that separate a PSD from an ESA under federal law.
See task listMobility & medical-alert tasks
Retrieving items, bracing, diabetic alert, seizure response, hearing alert, guide work. How the ADA's "individually trained to perform tasks for the benefit of a person with a disability" standard applies to physical disabilities.
Open guidePractical pieces, ready to use.
Fewer explanations, more ready-made assets. The verification URL, the public-access self-test, scam-avoidance checklists, and the training program we partner with.
Verify a registration
Public verification lookup. Search by registration number or email to confirm status — active, expired, or no match. Accessible to landlords, employers, airlines, or anyone holding a handler's ID card.
Open verifyPublic Access Test
12-component self-evaluation you can run with your dog in any public setting. Not a certification (the ADA doesn't recognize certifications) but a useful yardstick for whether your dog is actually ready.
Run the testAvoid service-dog scams
The red flags to watch for when shopping registries or "certification" vendors — what the ADA actually requires (nothing) vs. what opportunistic sellers imply it does. Honest self-critique included.
Open guideService dog training
Our partnered program for owner-trainers. Task-specific curriculum, milestone evaluations, and a structured path from puppy to public-access-ready. Optional, not required for registration.
Open programWhen you need to talk to a person.
Dashboard walkthroughs, FAQs, our replacement policy, and the two-lane contact form for everything else.
How it works
Registration flow, what happens after you pay, how documents reach you, and what each dashboard tab does. Good starting point if you're new to the process.
Open walkthroughFrequently asked questions
The most common questions about registration, rights, documents, packages, and the replacement guarantee — organized by topic with a search bar.
Open FAQRefund & replacement policy
Transit-damage replacements are free. Lifetime items you already received don't ship again on reactivation. Clear policy language on the few scenarios where a refund is the right answer.
Read policy ContactContact us
Two-lane routing: signed-in handlers message us through their dashboard; prospects use the short form. Typical reply within one business day.
Open contactWhat we aren't.
We're a registrar — not a clinic, a law firm, or a training certifier. Registration doesn't grant rights; federal law already does that. Our job is to package the proof so you don't have to fight that fight every time a landlord, gate agent, or store manager asks.
When a situation needs a clinician (diagnosis, ESA letter), go to a clinician. When it needs a lawyer (active housing or employment dispute), go to a lawyer. When a trainer is the right call, see our training guide. We'll tell you when we aren't the right stop.