logo
Brief Publisher Logo
FACT BRIEF

Fact brief: Are service animals considered pets in Texas?

By Georgie London
View this fact brief on Fort Worth Report
Copy link
email
Copy featured image
email
NO

Federal and Texas laws designate service animals as assistance animals, not pets. 

Only dogs can be considered service animals, according to the Americans with Disabilities Act. They must be trained to do work or perform tasks that benefit individuals with physical, sensory, psychiatric, intellectual or mental disabilities.

The ADA states an example of a service animal task is a dog retrieving objects for a person in a wheelchair.

The Americans with Disabilities Act became law in 1990 and was amended in 2008.

The act protects those with disabilities from discrimination during activities, in the workplace, while purchasing products and services, and having access to government programs and participation.

The ADA classifies people with disabilities as individuals who have a physical or mental impairment that limits at least one major life activity, have a history or record of impairments or is perceived to have an impairment.

This fact brief is responsive to conversations such as this one.
Sources
Americans with Disabilities Act Service Animals
Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs HUD Guidance on Assistance Animals
Office of the Texas Governor Texas Disability Law – Service Animals
Americans with Disabilities Act Introduction to the Americans with Disabilities Act
ABOUT THE CONTRIBUTOR
Fort Worth Report
The Fort Worth Report is a 501(c)(3) organization that launched April 12, 2021. This new media outlet is built on a foundation of local leadership and local investment. It provides community-sourced journalism that exclusively supports and reports on the Fort Worth community with fact-based, thoughtful and contextual coverage without bias or predetermined agendas. The enterprise is governed by a mission statement, bylaws, and an organizational structure that ensures it remains faithful to these foundational principles.
FACT BRIEF BY
Brief Publisher Logo
Latest fact briefs
facebook
twitter
email
email
About fact briefs published on Gigafact
Fact briefs are short, credibly sourced summaries that offer “yes/no” answers in response to claims found online. They rely on publicly available, often primary source data and documents. Fact briefs are created by contributors to Gigafact —a nonprofit project looking to expand participation in fact-checking and protect the democratic process. See all fact briefs here.