May 24, 2018

As Use of Service Animals—and ‘Fake’ Service Animals—Rises, Employers Faced with New Questions

• May 24, 2018
• Publication: Federal Bar Association
• Related Attorneys:
• Related Practice Areas: Employment Law

Federal Bar Association - The Labouring Oar

Over the past few years, the United States has seen a dramatic rise in the presence and use of service animals, therapy animals, and emotional-support animals for all manner of medical conditions. More and more people are registering their pets as service animals or support animals, allowing these owners to circumvent pet restrictions in housing, public transportation and aviation, restaurants, and the workplace. While episodes such as a major airline’s refusal to allow a passenger to travel with her exotic bird as an “emotional-support animal” may grab all the headlines*, the proliferation of service and support animals in general has many employers asking whether they must now welcome these animals into the work environment.

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Click here to read the rest of the article, "As Use of Service Animals—and ‘Fake’ Service Animals—Rises, Employers Faced with New Questions" (begins on page 6).

*See, e.g., Sweeney, Don, “United bars woman’s emotional support peacock from flight,” Chicago Tribune, January 31, 2018 (available at http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/ct-biz-unnited-emotional-support-peacock20180131-story.html).