Service Dog Rules Colorado

This issue brief defines the terms service animal and assistance animal and discusses the federal and state laws that address.

Service dog rules colorado. Colorado law requires that a specially trained dog be allowed to accompany a blind deaf or physically. Service dog laws colorado general. The ada and colorado law define a service animal as a dog that is individually trained to perform tasks or do work for the benefit of a person with a physical or mental disability. Any blind deaf or mobility impaired person or any person training a dog as a guide dog may travel on a train or on any other mode of public transportation and may enter any other place of public accommodation accompanied by his guide dog or assistance dog provided such dog shall be in the direct custody of such person and shall be wearing a harness or an orange colored leash and collar.

Census bureau s american community survey approximately 10 3 percent of colorado s population reported having a disability in 2015. There are differences between service animals and assistance or companion animals. According to the u s. Harassment of interference with service dogs.

In some circumstances a miniature horse who is individually trained also qualifies as a service animal. O service animals in training are not protected by the ada however they are protected under colorado revised statute 24 34 803. A person shall not knowingly deny an individual with a disability as defined in section 24 34 301 5 6 c r s any right or privilege protected in section 24 34 502 24 34 502 2 24 34 601 24 34 802 1 or 24 34 803 c r s. Service animal this is defined by federal and colorado law as a dog or miniature horse that has been individually trained to perform a specific task or service for a person with a disability.

O under colorado state law hb16 1426 effective january 2017 it is a crime to knowingly misrepresent an animal as a service animal. Many of those individuals use a service animal or assistance animal to cope with their disability. O under federal law service animals are protected under titles ii and iii of the americans with disabilities act ada.