Service Dogs Colorado Laws

O under colorado state law hb16 1426 effective january 2017 it is a crime to knowingly misrepresent an animal as a service animal.

Service dogs colorado laws. Another federal law the fair housing act protects colorado residents who have an emotional support animal. Beginning on march 15 2011 only dogs are recognized as service animals under titles ii and iii of the ada. C r s a 18 1 3 602 3 5. In some circumstances a miniature horse who is individually trained also qualifies as a service animal.

Census bureau s american community survey approximately 10 3 percent of colorado s population reported having a disability in 2015. Under the americans with disabilities act ada service dogs and their handlers are afforded numerous rights. Colorado law requires that a specially trained dog be allowed to accompany a blind deaf or physically disabled person to all housing public accommodations and on all common carriers. 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.

Service dogs in training may have public access rights under local state law. There are also rules and regulations however that must be met to ensure that a dog and his owner are entitled to those. 24 34 803 under harassment provision in cruelty laws. While ada allows for a task trained service dog to have been trained by it s disabled owner many states may not allow for that owner to conduct the public access training.

For example indicating a non service animal is a service animal to bring it into a public business that generally would not allow animals on the premises. A service animal is a dog that is individually trained to do work or perform tasks for a person with a disability. The act prevents landlords from discriminating against anyone with a disability and ensures that anyone with a service dog or emotional support animal has equal access to housing. According to the u s.

Service animal means any animal the services of which are used to aid the performance of official duties by a peace officer law enforcement agency fire department fire protection district or governmental search and rescue agency. Extra charges cannot be made due to the presence of the dog but if the dog causes damage to the premises the dog user is liable. Generally title ii and title iii entities must permit service animals to accompany people with disabilities in all. Many of those individuals use a service animal or assistance animal to.