Did You Know? Assistance Animals Are Not Pets

September 20, 2009

According to HUD regulations, owners and managers of assisted housing may not apply or enforce pet rules against individuals with animals that are used to assist persons with disabilities. HUD does not consider assistance animals or support animals to be pets.

HUD defines assistance animals broadly, as “animals that work, provide assistance, or perform tasks for the benefit of a person with a disability, or animals that provide emotional support that alleviates one or more identified symptoms or effects of a person's disability.”

According to HUD regulations, owners and managers of assisted housing may not apply or enforce pet rules against individuals with animals that are used to assist persons with disabilities. HUD does not consider assistance animals or support animals to be pets.

HUD defines assistance animals broadly, as “animals that work, provide assistance, or perform tasks for the benefit of a person with a disability, or animals that provide emotional support that alleviates one or more identified symptoms or effects of a person's disability.”

Assistance animals may provide a range of functions, including providing emotional support to persons with disabilities who have a disability-related need for such support. HUD does not require that an animal be specially trained.

For more details, see the September 2007 issue of the Insider.

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