by John Bradford

The terms service animals and support animals are used interchangeably. The distinctions between them, however, are very important.

While it’s forgivable for those with a cursory understanding to initially believe they are one and the same, property teams would be well advised to have a firm grasp of the nuances. That’s because the questions you can ask, the documentation needed, and overall requirements to live at your property widely differ.

Both fall into the general category of assistance animals, but each play a distinctive role. Service animals must be trained to perform tasks that benefit an individual with a disability, such as a seeing-eye dog for a blind individual. 

Read John Bradford’s article in the Multifamily Executive.