Service Animal Overview

Only dogs and miniature horses are service animals.

Under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), only dogs (and miniature horses where reasonable) qualify as service animals. Dogs or miniature horses only qualify if they are trained to perform a task or tasks directly related to an individual’s disability, such as guiding people who are blind, pulling a wheelchair, or alerting someone of an imminent seizure.

Pets, emotional support animals (ESAs), comfort animals and therapy animals are not service animals under the ADA because they are not trained to perform a task or tasks directly related to an individual’s disability.

Service animals must be allowed to accompany the handler (‘handler’ means owner or, in New Mexico and some other states, a trainer) to any place in a building or facility where members of the public, program participants, customers, or clients are allowed. Even if a business or public program has a “no pets” policy, they may not deny entry to a person with a service animal. 

If it is not obvious what task or tasks an animal has been trained to perform, only two questions may be asked:

1. 1. Is this a service animal required due to a disability?
   2. What task or work is the animal trained to perform? 

Asking the handler to have the animal perform the task is not allowed. It’s also important to note that service animals are not required to be certified or wear identification of any kind, though some handlers may present a certification and some service animals may wear a vest or other identification. 

An entity may deny access to a service animal whose behavior is unacceptable or in situations in which the person with a disability is not in control of the animal. Uncontrolled barking, sniffing food at a restaurant table, jumping on other people, or running away from the handler are examples of unacceptable behavior for a service animal. The handler must be given the opportunity to control the animal and if they are unable to do so, they must be allowed back on the premises without the animal. In addition, it may be appropriate to exclude a service animal from places such as operating rooms or burn units where the animal’s presence may compromise a sterile environment.

The 2013 New Mexico State Legislature passed a bill (SB320) that updated the Service Animal Act, 28-11-1.1 NMSA 1978. Sponsored by Senator Nancy Rodriguez, Santa Fe, the Service Animal Act aligns New Mexico’s statute with the 2011 updates to the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADAAA). Unlike the ADA and ADAAA, New Mexico’s Service Animal Act also prohibits a person from misrepresenting an dog as a service animal and provides penalties, including a $1,000 fine and/or jail time. Additionally, in New Mexico service animals in training are allowed the same access as a fully trained service animal. The law became effective June 14, 2013.

For additional information, call the New Mexico Governor’s Commission on Disability at 505-476-0412.

Handouts

Department of Justice Service Animal Overview

Service Animal Tip Sheet

Service Animal Emergency Preparedness Tips

Links To National and State Resources

Service Animals and Emotional Support Animals

Frequently Asked Questions about Service Animals and the ADA

New Mexico Service Animal Act (28-11-1.1 NMSA 1978)

File a Complaint with the New Mexico Attorney General’s Office

Videos

A Series of Videos on Service Animals by the ADA National Network

A Guide to Understanding Service Animals

The ADA and Related Service Animal Regulations – 2022 training by GCD (free, requires registration, eligible for continuing education credits and ACTCP credit)

Assistance Animals and Fair Housing: Navigating Reasonable Accommodations Webinar – HUD Exchange

Posters
Coming soon

Sample Service Animal Policies
Sample Service Animal Policy for Businesses – by the DOJ