Tiny dogs riding in shopping carts. Peacocks boarding airplanes. Service animals and emotional support animals have become more common in today’s world and make for intriguing news headlines, but few truly understand the laws surrounding these animals. What is legally mandated? The answer turns on where the individual and the animal are located.

There are three federal laws that could be applicable: the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), the Fair Housing Act (FHA) or the Air Carrier Access Act (ACAA). The confusion surrounding these animals has resulted in inadvertent liability and substantial litigation that could be mitigated with a better understanding of the law.

Animals in Places of Public Accommodation