Welcome to Xena's World.
Hello and thank you for visiting my website. My name is Xena and I am a fully trained Service Dog. I am a seven-year-old full-blooded retired racing Greyhound. That's me in the pictures.
This website is built to help those that want to learn a bit more about me and service dogs in general. If you have any questions feel free to visit my Facebook Page (link below) and leave me a message.
General Knowledge Questions
Q: What is a service dog?
A: "Under the ADA, a service animal is defined as a dog that has been individually trained to do work or perform tasks for an individual with a disability. The task(s) performed by the dog must be directly related to the person's disability."
Q: Are emotional support, therapy, comfort, or companion animals considered service animals under the ADA?
A: "No. These terms are used to describe animals that provide comfort just by being with a person. Because they have not been trained to perform a specific job or task, they do not qualify as service animals under the ADA. However, some State or local governments have laws that allow people to take emotional support animals into public places. You may check with your State and local government agencies to find out about these laws."
Q: Does the ADA require service animals to be professionally trained?
A: "No. People with disabilities have the right to train the dog themselves and are not required to use a professional service dog training program."
Q: Do service animals have to wear a vest or patch or special harness identifying them as service animals?
A: "No. The ADA does not require service animals to wear a vest, ID tag, or specific harness."
Q: What questions can an employee or business owner ask about a service animal?
A: "When it is not obvious what service animal provides, only limited inquiries are allowed. Staff may ask two questions: (1) is the dog a service animal required because of a disability, and (2) what work or task has the dog been trained to perform? Staff cannot ask about the person’s disability, require medical documentation, require a special identification card or training documentation for the dog, or ask that the dog demonstrate its ability to perform the work or task."
Are churches, temples, synagogues, mosques, and other places of worship required to allow individuals to bring their service animals into the facility? A: "No. Religious institutions and organizations are specifically exempt from the ADA. However, there may be State laws that apply to religious organizations."
Do commercial airlines have to comply with the ADA?
A: "No The Air Carrier Access Act is the Federal law that protects the rights of people with disabilities in air travel. For information or to file a complaint, contact the U.S. Department of Transportation, Aviation Consumer Protection Division, at 202-366-2220."
A: "Under the ADA, a service animal is defined as a dog that has been individually trained to do work or perform tasks for an individual with a disability. The task(s) performed by the dog must be directly related to the person's disability."
Q: Are emotional support, therapy, comfort, or companion animals considered service animals under the ADA?
A: "No. These terms are used to describe animals that provide comfort just by being with a person. Because they have not been trained to perform a specific job or task, they do not qualify as service animals under the ADA. However, some State or local governments have laws that allow people to take emotional support animals into public places. You may check with your State and local government agencies to find out about these laws."
Q: Does the ADA require service animals to be professionally trained?
A: "No. People with disabilities have the right to train the dog themselves and are not required to use a professional service dog training program."
Q: Do service animals have to wear a vest or patch or special harness identifying them as service animals?
A: "No. The ADA does not require service animals to wear a vest, ID tag, or specific harness."
Q: What questions can an employee or business owner ask about a service animal?
A: "When it is not obvious what service animal provides, only limited inquiries are allowed. Staff may ask two questions: (1) is the dog a service animal required because of a disability, and (2) what work or task has the dog been trained to perform? Staff cannot ask about the person’s disability, require medical documentation, require a special identification card or training documentation for the dog, or ask that the dog demonstrate its ability to perform the work or task."
Are churches, temples, synagogues, mosques, and other places of worship required to allow individuals to bring their service animals into the facility? A: "No. Religious institutions and organizations are specifically exempt from the ADA. However, there may be State laws that apply to religious organizations."
Do commercial airlines have to comply with the ADA?
A: "No The Air Carrier Access Act is the Federal law that protects the rights of people with disabilities in air travel. For information or to file a complaint, contact the U.S. Department of Transportation, Aviation Consumer Protection Division, at 202-366-2220."