Do breed and weight restrictions apply to service dogs?

The correct choice states that breed and weight restrictions do not apply to service dogs. Under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), service dogs are defined specifically as dogs that are individually trained to perform tasks for people with disabilities. The ADA provides these animals with a certain level of protection and access, which includes exemption from rules that might otherwise limit access to the public areas of businesses or other facilities.

This means that even if certain breeds are generally considered to be aggressive or if there are weight restrictions in place, these do not apply to service dogs. The purpose of a service dog is to assist a person with a disability, and the law prioritizes this function over typical breed or weight concerns. Housing providers and public entities are required to accommodate service dogs regardless of these factors, ensuring that individuals with disabilities have the necessary assistance they need in their daily lives.

In practice, this means that a landlord cannot impose breed or weight restrictions on service dogs, allowing disabled individuals to be accompanied by their specially trained animals without discrimination based on characteristics unrelated to their service functions. This clarification is vital for understanding the rights of service animal handlers and the protections afforded to them under federal law.