Accessibility NY Services Animal Type

Types of Service Animals

A guide animal is trained to serve as a travel tool by a person who is legally blind.

A hearing animal is trained to alert a person with significant hearing loss or who is deaf when a sound occurs, such as a knock on the door.

A service animal is trained to assist a person who has a mobility or health disability.  Duties may include carrying, fetching, opening doors, ringing doorbells, activating elevator buttons, steadying a person while walking, helping a person up after a fall, etc.  Service animals sometimes are called assistance animals.

A seizure response animal is trained to assist a person with a seizure disorder.  The animal’s service depends on the person's needs.  The animal may go for help, or may stand guard over the person during a seizure. Some animals have learned to predict a seizure and warn the person.

An emotional support animal or companion animal assists persons needing emotional or psychological support. Emotional support animals can help alleviate symptoms such as depression, anxiety, stress and difficulties regarding social interactions, allowing tenants to live independently and fully use and enjoy their living environment. A companion animal does not assist an individual with a disability in the activities of daily living.  The companion animal does not accompany a person with a disability all the time, unlike a service animal that is always with its partner.  An emotional support animal is not covered by the same laws protecting service animals.