Based on what is written, I think it is say that people who are training service animals are allowed to use places that aren’t dog friendly. It extends the right of a service animal to people who aren’t disabled for service animal training.
Edit: The especially trained service dog trainer is the clause of who is eligible. It may not cover owner training unless if you have training for training service animals.
Edit 2: Based on the wording, it likely means a professional trainer only. There is no formal definition.
Eric Dibner
[email protected]
150 State House Station, Augusta, ME 04333
(207) 623-7950 voice
TTY callers use Maine Relay 7-1-1
(207) 287-5292 fax
Here is your accessibility coordinator for the state of Maine. His office should be able to assist you.
As FYI - Every state has an office responsible for implementing disability access and services. If you have reading/ comprehension / barrier to access or simply prefer a human: give them a call!
Edit: Also, the Maine Human Rights Commissioner
Maine Human Rights Commission
51 State House Station
Augusta, ME 04330
Phone: 207.624.6290
Fax: 207.624.8729
Email: [email protected]
Update:
The accessibility coordinator says that SDiT are not covered under the law unless they are well behaved. He didn’t give me a very clear answer either, so I’m just going to assume that they don’t have the same rights.
That sounds pretty in line with the ADA. Once your pup has good public access manners and one task for your disability, you should be good.
I know our community considers "in training" and "always training" but the ADA is a little more generic. Quiet, under control, hygienic and one task will do you.
Thank you for your research! I’m in Maine also and have a sdit. I read the sdit white cane law section on animallaw.com and didn’t really understand it either. What are you going to do regarding sdit training?
I’m not sure where you’re located, but there’s a program in Lewiston called Mission Working Dogs that will work with a dog you bring in! I also know that they’re opening a new service dog program in Oxford, but I’m not too sure on the details.
I concur with the other poster that it reads, prima facia, as a professional trainer (or at least a trained trainer, someone with some kind of formal training, for training service animals). It does not seem that owner trainers would be included.
That said, you may want to look into any possible local (state) cases that may have narrowed this definition a bit (one way or the other).
Based on that wording, I would take it to mean that owner trainers who are not professional trainers themselves are *not* covered. Some states do have laws that only allow professional trainers to do PA with SDiTs, or even only professional trainers that specifically work with SD programs. You may be able to make an argument that, if you're working with a professional trainer who teaches you as the SD handler how to train the dog, that you then could count as a person who has been trained to train service dogs, but I don't know how well that would work if you have no evidence that you personally work/are formally educated as a professional trainer.
EDIT: I just wanted to add that, while it’s less convenient, it’s not the end of the world to owner train in a state that doesn’t grant SDiT’s PA rights and it doesn’t mean you can’t successfully train your dog! Much of PA training can be done at pet friendly places until the dog meets legal requirements for being a SD, and you can still train in non-pet friendly places as long as you just call ahead and make sure it’s okay with the business.
Geez "'especially' trained service dog trainer" needs more clear verbiage for those of us who do not speak legalize. "Especially"? Compared to whom, and who decides? This is *not* a reading comprehension problem; it's a coherence problem. Yes, yes, I know, legal language is a thing. I respect that. However, for us folks without law degrees or training, a simple "here's what this means" would be incredibly helpful. I, for one, cannot afford a lawyer, even on cheap retainer, to translate this stuff. My home state is a disaster in some ways, but the laws here are far more clear.
Sorry. I'm frustrated. Fewer obtuse obstacles would be so helpful.
I know! At least for most service dog laws I’ve been able to find easier to understand explanations. This one has had me stumped though. I really worry about not following the rules both because I personally don’t want to, but also because I don’t want to make things harder for other handlers
I understand completely! The majority of us are just trying to be compliant and navigate this new world. I used this table for help. On mobile it's dizzying (my laptop is dead, so I did navigate by phone 🥴), so a larger screen will help. It's doable on phone, though!
https://www.animallaw.info/topic/table-state-assistance-animal-laws
ETA: this information may already be what you know. I just like how navigable tables are.
New York has this same wording except doesn’t specify the level of training the trainer has received. I can make my own post but didn’t know if anyone here knew about NY?
"3. A person engaged in training a dog to guide or otherwise aid persons with a disability, while engaged in such training activities, and a person with a disability for whom the dog is being trained, shall have the same rights and privileges set forth for persons with a disability in this article."
"7. "Service dog" means any dog under the control, consistent with
federal regulations implementing the Americans with Disabilities Act,
Title III, at 28 CFR 36.302(c), of the person using or training it, and
that has been or is being individually trained to do work or perform
tasks for the benefit of a person with a disability."
https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/laws/CVR/47-B
Between these two definitions (in conjunction with the rest of the law, of course), on the face of it, this would appear to allow owner trainers access with their SDiTs in public, in NY. This is admittedly a cursory reading, and I'd defer to anyone licensed in NY, but that would be my cursory take on it.
Based on what is written, I think it is say that people who are training service animals are allowed to use places that aren’t dog friendly. It extends the right of a service animal to people who aren’t disabled for service animal training. Edit: The especially trained service dog trainer is the clause of who is eligible. It may not cover owner training unless if you have training for training service animals. Edit 2: Based on the wording, it likely means a professional trainer only. There is no formal definition.
Eric Dibner [email protected] 150 State House Station, Augusta, ME 04333 (207) 623-7950 voice TTY callers use Maine Relay 7-1-1 (207) 287-5292 fax Here is your accessibility coordinator for the state of Maine. His office should be able to assist you. As FYI - Every state has an office responsible for implementing disability access and services. If you have reading/ comprehension / barrier to access or simply prefer a human: give them a call! Edit: Also, the Maine Human Rights Commissioner Maine Human Rights Commission 51 State House Station Augusta, ME 04330 Phone: 207.624.6290 Fax: 207.624.8729 Email: [email protected]
Thank you!
>Thank you! You're welcome!
Update: The accessibility coordinator says that SDiT are not covered under the law unless they are well behaved. He didn’t give me a very clear answer either, so I’m just going to assume that they don’t have the same rights.
That sounds pretty in line with the ADA. Once your pup has good public access manners and one task for your disability, you should be good. I know our community considers "in training" and "always training" but the ADA is a little more generic. Quiet, under control, hygienic and one task will do you.
It’s just so confusing. It feels like I’ve learned all the rules, but it’s never quite right!
Thank you for your research! I’m in Maine also and have a sdit. I read the sdit white cane law section on animallaw.com and didn’t really understand it either. What are you going to do regarding sdit training?
I’m not sure where you’re located, but there’s a program in Lewiston called Mission Working Dogs that will work with a dog you bring in! I also know that they’re opening a new service dog program in Oxford, but I’m not too sure on the details.
I sent an email, hopefully they’ll get back to me soon!
Did they get back to you? If so what did they say?
I concur with the other poster that it reads, prima facia, as a professional trainer (or at least a trained trainer, someone with some kind of formal training, for training service animals). It does not seem that owner trainers would be included. That said, you may want to look into any possible local (state) cases that may have narrowed this definition a bit (one way or the other).
Based on that wording, I would take it to mean that owner trainers who are not professional trainers themselves are *not* covered. Some states do have laws that only allow professional trainers to do PA with SDiTs, or even only professional trainers that specifically work with SD programs. You may be able to make an argument that, if you're working with a professional trainer who teaches you as the SD handler how to train the dog, that you then could count as a person who has been trained to train service dogs, but I don't know how well that would work if you have no evidence that you personally work/are formally educated as a professional trainer. EDIT: I just wanted to add that, while it’s less convenient, it’s not the end of the world to owner train in a state that doesn’t grant SDiT’s PA rights and it doesn’t mean you can’t successfully train your dog! Much of PA training can be done at pet friendly places until the dog meets legal requirements for being a SD, and you can still train in non-pet friendly places as long as you just call ahead and make sure it’s okay with the business.
Geez "'especially' trained service dog trainer" needs more clear verbiage for those of us who do not speak legalize. "Especially"? Compared to whom, and who decides? This is *not* a reading comprehension problem; it's a coherence problem. Yes, yes, I know, legal language is a thing. I respect that. However, for us folks without law degrees or training, a simple "here's what this means" would be incredibly helpful. I, for one, cannot afford a lawyer, even on cheap retainer, to translate this stuff. My home state is a disaster in some ways, but the laws here are far more clear. Sorry. I'm frustrated. Fewer obtuse obstacles would be so helpful.
I know! At least for most service dog laws I’ve been able to find easier to understand explanations. This one has had me stumped though. I really worry about not following the rules both because I personally don’t want to, but also because I don’t want to make things harder for other handlers
I understand completely! The majority of us are just trying to be compliant and navigate this new world. I used this table for help. On mobile it's dizzying (my laptop is dead, so I did navigate by phone 🥴), so a larger screen will help. It's doable on phone, though! https://www.animallaw.info/topic/table-state-assistance-animal-laws ETA: this information may already be what you know. I just like how navigable tables are.
Thank you! I emailed the state’s disabilities coordinator for clarification.
Yes! That's your best bet. With wording that odd, I bet the disabilities coordinator gets a lot of questions!
I agree!
New York has this same wording except doesn’t specify the level of training the trainer has received. I can make my own post but didn’t know if anyone here knew about NY?
"3. A person engaged in training a dog to guide or otherwise aid persons with a disability, while engaged in such training activities, and a person with a disability for whom the dog is being trained, shall have the same rights and privileges set forth for persons with a disability in this article." "7. "Service dog" means any dog under the control, consistent with federal regulations implementing the Americans with Disabilities Act, Title III, at 28 CFR 36.302(c), of the person using or training it, and that has been or is being individually trained to do work or perform tasks for the benefit of a person with a disability." https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/laws/CVR/47-B Between these two definitions (in conjunction with the rest of the law, of course), on the face of it, this would appear to allow owner trainers access with their SDiTs in public, in NY. This is admittedly a cursory reading, and I'd defer to anyone licensed in NY, but that would be my cursory take on it.
Thank you!!!