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Commission reviews service-animal and emotional-support definitions under ADA and state guidance
Summary
A commission member read guidance from the Massachusetts Office on Disability and the ADA, emphasizing federal and state distinctions: service animals are primarily dogs (and miniature horses in rare cases) trained to perform tasks; emotional support animals provide comfort by presence and require no training or certification under state guidance.
At length, a Committee member read definitions from the Massachusetts Office on Disability and federal law, noting that under state law service animals are limited to dogs (and that the ADA allows dogs and, in rare cases, miniature horses). The member said, “An emotional support animal, ESA, is an animal that is providing emotional support to a person with a disability just by its presence.”
The Committee member stressed that terminology matters because rights and responsibilities depend on whether an animal is a service animal, an ESA, or a therapy animal. They noted that Massachusetts does not require assistance-animal owners to possess certification or identification, and suggested the commission research how Bridgewater's local rules (ordinances or charter provisions) address these categories. The Chair agreed to place the item on the next agenda so the member can report findings.
