Service dogs are specifically trained to complete certain tasks for people with disabilities. Although they can be loving and form a bond with their owner, they are not a pet. For example, one dog may serve as a seizure alert animal for someone with epilepsy, while another can apply pressure therapy to someone with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) during a panic attack.
You may be wondering if service dogs bite and what you can do if one does. We go over the topic below and how our firm can help your family get justice after a dangerous dog attack.
How Service Dogs Are Trained
Service dogs typically receive at least two years of training before they are ever assigned to perform tasks for an owner. Animals that remain energetic after their puppy phase, pull on their leashes, bark excessively, and have other behavior issues that are incompatible with service work will be adopted out. This makes sure that the dog is old enough to be well-socialized and is non-reactive to external stimuli.
Once the dog has received all of its basic training, it will begin learning how to do specific work tasks. For instance, diabetic alert dogs will be trained to detect high or low blood sugar, while cardiac alert dogs will learn how to detect changes in heart rate and rhythm.
Service Dogs vs. Emotional Support Dogs
It’s important to know that service dogs and emotional support animals (ESA) are not the same. While support dogs can offer their owners comfort in times of distress, they can’t perform any specific tasks to help someone with a disability.
Because support dogs don’t receive the same extensive training as service dogs, they don’t have the same privileges to accompany their owner in all spaces. Unlike service dogs, ESAs aren’t protected by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), and private businesses and other establishments can choose whether or not to allow them.
That said, most people aren’t aware of the legal differences between service and emotional support animals, leading to untrained dogs being present in places they shouldn’t be. This includes:
- Airplanes
- Cruise ships
- Restaurants
- Hospitals
- Public pools
- Ridesharing vehicles
These areas tend to be loud and stressful, especially for dogs that haven’t undergone training. Ultimately, this increases the risk that the animal will become aggressive and attack their owner or someone else.
What to Do If You Were Bitten by a Support Dog
Because service dogs receive such intense and extensive training, they rarely, if ever, will bite a human. However, this doesn’t apply to emotional support dogs, and if you are bitten by a canine with a service vest on, chances are the animal is an ESA with fraudulent identification.
Many owners will purchase vests that look identical to those worn by genuine service dogs, and some may even print out a “certificate” or “ID” that claims their pet is registered. This allows them to bring their animal to places where staff and management may not be informed about ADA laws and which dogs can and cannot be denied entry.
Unfortunately, these dogs look authentic until their behavior says otherwise, and if you’ve been attacked, it’s already too late to ask the owner to leave.
Can the Owner Be Held Responsible?
In all dog bite cases in Massachusetts and New Hampshire, the owner is directly and fully responsible for any injuries or damages their animal causes. It doesn’t matter if the dog has never been violent before or if the owner had no reason to believe that their dog would attack. This is because both states have strict liability laws that ensure all owners take responsibility for the harmful actions of their pets, regardless of the circumstances.
That said, you may be able to file a claim that includes punitive damages if you can prove the owner falsely claimed their untrained animal was a service dog. Even though the owner is already accountable, showing how they purposely attempted to disguise their pet can increase your damage award and discourage the owner from continuing to bring their ESA to places where it can attack others.
Mazow | McCullough, PC Are Your Qualified Massachusetts Dog Bite Attorneys
Were you bitten by a dog or know someone who was? An experienced dog bite lawyer can help you pursue fair compensation for your injuries, medical bills, and other costs associated with the incident. Dial (978) 744-8000 or toll-free at (855) 693-9084 to contact us and schedule your free initial consultation today.
