So, Aylas doctor wants her to get a service dog. He feels she will benefit, not only from the responsibility of being a pet owner (under my supervision of course) but also, for autistic kids who just can't seem to make any friends, a stable, ALL THE TIME friend in a dog can help with many of the issues that come with autism. And when the doctor heard my daughter telling him about her 'friends' on her back porch (they are rocks! Lol) he asked if she had any kid friends. And she said 'one, but she is little (3 years) and doesn't get to play all the time'

So he suggested her having a service dog.




ANYWAY. I had a lady in my complex tell me that if my daughter does get a service dog, because it is a service animal I don't have to pay the pet deposit or the pet rent. I feel like that MIGHT be true, it sounds plausible, but I want to make sure.
But she also said I don't even have to TELL them that she has the service dog in the apartment. THAT didn't sound right to me.

So is this true?

Hello,
I happen to know quite a bit about this and while things can differ a bit state to state the American Disabilities Act (ADA) protects legit service animals in situations like these. Your apartment complex cannot legally deny a service animal in any apartment despite any rules they may have about pets, etc.

I wouldn't suggest keeping it from the apartment staff though - that could set you up for an ugly confrontation later on and you're fully protected by law to have the service animal.

The key message here is that service animals are not pets.

Hope that helps!

So, how would I go about doing that? I mean, for her its mostly a companion and steady friend, so we were just going to go to the pound or something rather than spend 20 grand on a specially trained dog.
Or does it HAVE to be a trained service dog?
And is there any paperwork or anything I need to have?

Basically a service dog is an animal TRAINED to do tasks, chores, assist a handicapped person. Dogs which are NOT trained in this manner do not qualify.

Here's the law as of March 2011: http://www.abetterpet.com/abetterpet2/wp-content/uploads/2010/02/Service-Dog-Law-Change-2011.pdf

Depending on the needs of your child there are organizations which train and provide dogs to people at little or no charge.