Anonymous wrote:PP here.
OP, this site has some easy to understand wording:
A service [animal] is trained to do work or perform tasks for a person with a disability. Service [animals] are protected under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) giving them public access rights.
A therapy [animal] is trained to provide affection and comfort to people in hospitals, retirement homes, nursing homes, schools, hospices, disaster areas. Therapy [animals] are not service animals and are not afforded the same privileges.
https://k9partnersforpatriots.com/difference-service-dog-therapy-dog/
So, a service animal would provide support services to your child. A therapy animal would be one you take into external sites to provide comfort to other people.
Which is it you are asking about?
A service [animal] is trained to do work or perform tasks for a person with a disability. Service [animals] are protected under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) giving them public access rights.
A therapy [animal] is trained to provide affection and comfort to people in hospitals, retirement homes, nursing homes, schools, hospices, disaster areas. Therapy [animals] are not service animals and are not afforded the same privileges.
https://k9partnersforpatriots.com/difference-service-dog-therapy-dog/
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Op here. My child has adhd, anxiety, and SPD. We have a cat that we’ve read us often used for pet therapy. Mostly to help with calming. Nothing beyond that.
Why do you need a certification to get a cat? That's not therapy. That's a pet. Just get a pet.
Reading comprehension, people! Sounds like she has the pet but would like it to be certified so she could bring the cat to other places as a therapy animal. I have a dog who does this. Originally a pet, but has an amazing personality (Golden Retriever, so not surprising) and he is certified as a therapy dog and does rounds in nursing homes and the local hospital.
OP- I am not aware of any similar programs for cats.
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Maybe OP wants to take the cat places it is not currently allowed. Perhaps she already tried labeling it a comfort animal and was told that doesn’t legally justify entry.
Nope. Cat stays indoors.
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Op here. My child has adhd, anxiety, and SPD. We have a cat that we’ve read us often used for pet therapy. Mostly to help with calming. Nothing beyond that.
Why do you need a certification to get a cat? That's not therapy. That's a pet. Just get a pet.
Anonymous wrote:Op here. My child has adhd, anxiety, and SPD. We have a cat that we’ve read us often used for pet therapy. Mostly to help with calming. Nothing beyond that.
Anonymous wrote:What therapeutic skills do you feel your cat will offer? I ask this as the mother of a child with multiple, complex disabilities who has years of physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, social skills therapy, and other types of therapy.
It's wonderful that you want to give back to the community. But realistically, OP, your cat does not have skills that will be recognizable in the therapeutic setting. If you imagine your cat will be able to help people feel calm and comfortable and cheer them up, that's great, but that's not a therapeutic skill. And there is a huge problem in the disability community of "therapy animals" and the like distracting actual certified service animals on the job when they are trying to work.
Anonymous wrote:Maybe OP wants to take the cat places it is not currently allowed. Perhaps she already tried labeling it a comfort animal and was told that doesn’t legally justify entry.