Service dogs are amazing. They can assist people who are blind or deaf. They can detect seizures before they happen and blood sugar levels that are going out of control. They can reach things that are out of reach for people in wheelchairs. They can alert their handler to the presence of deadly allergens. They can keep children with autism from running away.

Different countries have different laws and regulations related to service dogs differ. I’ll be talking here about laws in the US, since that’s what I’m most familiar with. If you have information about service dogs in other countries, please add it the comments!

What is a service dog?

A service dog is a dog that has been trained to perform specific tasks to mitigate the disability of its handler. Therapy dogs, emotional support dogs, and companion animals are wonderful, but they are not service dogs, so the rules that apply to service dogs do not apply to them.

How do you know if a dog is really a service dog?

You have to trust the handler.

In the US, a service dog is not required to wear a vest or other visible identification. And there is no certification or documentation to prove that a dog is a service dog. Furthermore, it’s generally illegal to ask for such documentation. (It’s also silly, since the documentation doesn’t exist.)

You can ask if a dog that is brought into your premises is a service dog. You can also ask what tasks it has been trained to perform. You’re required to accept the answer you’re given.

The law requires that the handler always have the dog under control. That usually means leashed and on the floor. While a service dog is allowed in restaurants and theaters and ballparks, the dog is not allowed on seating provided for humans. And the law does not require anyone to allow a service dog to be disruptive.

If the dog is not under control, if it barks, sniffs at people, grabs at food, growls, or otherwise behaves in ways unbecoming of a service dog, you can ask the handler to remove the dog.

The US Department of Justice provides helpful information about service dogs, if you want to know more.

Where can service dogs go?

Most government offices, nonprofit agencies, schools, and businesses must allow service dogs to accompany the people who use them. If the person can enter a space, the dog can go with them.

There are some exceptions. At a zoo, for example, you can’t take a service dog into areas where their presence would upset or agitate the animals on display. In a medical facility, you can’t take a service dog into a sterile area.

In the US, churches fought for and won an exemption from the Americans with Disabilities Act when it was passed. As a result, churches are not required to admit service dogs, although many do.

What about Orthodox churches?

On 13 September 2025, the Holy Eparchial Synod of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America ruled that service dogs would be permitted in all churches subject to them.

Parishes in other jurisdictions may or may not allow service dogs, according to the discretion of their priests and bishops. Some always admit service dogs that arrive with people who have disabilities. Some never admit service dogs under any circumstances. A few admit them on a case-by-case basis, with limits that are important to know. We experienced all of these when our youngest child used a service dog.

Because nobody likes surprises, if you use a service dog, and you are planning to attend an Orthodox Church in another jurisdiction, you should call ahead to verify the policy at that particular parish.

If a service dog visits your parish

If a person who uses a service dog visits your parish, you should treat the service dog the same way you’d treat someone’s wheelchair, glasses, or hearing aids. Don’t talk to it, don’t offer it treats, and don’t touch it without permission. The service dog is there as a four-footed, intelligent assistive device. It’s working. Let it do its job.

In our culture, medical information is generally considered personal, and asking for that sort of information is rude and intrusive. That’s just as true for people who use service dogs as it is for anyone else. The person may voluntarily share limited information. They may even have a tag on their dog that says “Medical alert dog” or the like. But, as a matter of courtesy and dignity, it’s up to the person to decide how much to share. Don’t ask a person who uses a service dog what’s wrong with them or why they need the service dog.

And please, whatever you do, do not suggest that the person doesn’t need the service dog at church because you or other people can do whatever it is that the dog does. You can’t. Most people with service dogs find the idea amusing at best, and offensive at worst. Respect the person who uses the dog, and accept their judgment about what they need.

If you’re thinking of passing your pet off as a service dog

Don’t. Just don’t. Even if it’s a therapy dog or an emotional support animal. Especially if it’s just a pet. For one thing, it’s illegal in some states. But, more importantly, your deception makes it more likely that a person who has a real service dog will be turned away.

This post was updated on November 15, 2025.

Read More

Welcoming everyone to church: Disability and special needs: Have you noticed how few people with disabilities attend church? Have you looked at the barriers that keep them away? These resources will help you start taking down the barriers.

Farewell, Beloved Dog: A few thoughts on the death of a retired service dog.

Hello Goodbye Dog: A Review: The dog in this delightful story is not a service dog, even though the dog’s human uses a wheelchair. It starts out as a pet, and ends up as a classroom therapy dog.