Emotional Support Dog Laws Colorado

Allowing an individual with a disability to have a service animal or an emotional support animal accompany them to work may be considered an accommodation.

Emotional support dog laws colorado.

In this article we go over what is an official emotional support animal how you can get one and what your privileges are as an esa owner. This issue brief defines the terms service animal and assistance animal and discusses the federal and state laws that address. Below is a summary of emotional support animal laws to better understand your rights. Esa ownership is a well documented drug free treatment for mental health conditions such as anxiety depression or post traumatic stress disorder.

Colorado emotional support animal laws colorado is a state perfect for dog owner s. These guidelines allow a person with a disability to reside travel and perform their activities of daily living with a service dog. With a diverse landscape including arid deserts river valleys and beautiful mountains colorado provides a wonderful place to live with any type of emotional support animal. Laws prohibit employment discrimination because of a disability.

The animal provides emotional support and comfort to individuals with psychiatric disabilities and other mental impairments. O businesses and other public entities are not. Colorado law aligns with federal guidelines. Census bureau s american community survey approximately 10 3 percent of colorado s population reported having a disability in 2015.

First as an introduction there is a distinction between service animals and emotional support animals a service animal under colorado law can be a dog or miniature horse that is properly trained and licensed to assist persons with disabilities. Employers are required to provide reasonable accommodation. Under colorado s laws on the civil rights of people with disabilities as well as the federal americans with disabilities act ada people with disabilities may bring their service animals to all public accommodations such as hotels restaurants stores. An emotional support animal is an animal typically a dog or cat though this can include other species that provides a therapeutic benefit to its owner through companionship.

Many of those individuals use a service animal or assistance animal to cope with their disability. Difference between service animals and emotional support animals. According to the u s. If you have a disability you may qualify for a service dog.

To find all about this and more keep reading. Colorado laws on service dogs and emotional support animals by lisa guerin j d.