New Service Animal Rules

The definition of a service animal will change starting March 15th. The Department of Justice is tightening its ADA rules because a variety of animals have been brought into businesses by people claiming their pets are service animals under ADA law - including pigs, horses, snakes, iguanas, parrots and monkeys. Under the new rules, only dogs will count as service animals. That means merchants will be in their legal right to ban animals other than service dogs from their places of business. This rule change will not apply to federal employment or housing laws.