Every real trip needs a paw companion by your side to feel complete! Dogs are our family members, and ensuring they are healthy and happy is a priority for every pet parent.

The role of trained service dogs is even more important, as their assistance can be vital for the health and safety of their handlers. Arranging accommodation for your pet can be challenging depending on your location and travel plans, but is it equally difficult for a service dog to gain access to hotels and other public places, given their essential role?

A common concern among service dog handlers is whether a hotel can refuse their service dog.

Let’s explore this matter to help you be well-prepared when seeking accommodation for your service/ assistance dog at hotels!

What Are Service/Assistance Dogs?

Let’s begin with the clarification that the terms ‘service dogs’ and ‘assistance dogs’ refer to the same type of animal, but the use of both terms depends on the region- ‘service dogs’ is mainly used in North America, while ‘assistance dogs’ is the term primarily used in Europe.

Service/assistance dogs are individually trained to perform specific tasks that mitigate the symptoms of their handler’s disability. These tasks are directly related to the person’s disability.

Because of the specific training service dogs undergo, they are not considered pets but medical aid.

Can Public Places Such as Hotels Treat Service/Assistance Dogs as Pets?

Since service/assistance dogs are considered medical aids essential for a person’s health and safety, they are not treated as pets under public place policies.

In other words, even if a public place, such as a hotel, has a ‘no pets’ policy, it doesn’t apply to service dogs. They are neither pets nor companion animals, which provide comfort and companionship only by being present.

Service dogs complete rigorous training, covering basic obedience, specific task training, and public access training, which helps ensure the dog can reliably support their handler and behave appropriately in high-distracting environments.

Service/Assistance Dog Accommodation in Hotels

As we’ve mentioned in the previous point, hotels’ pet policies don’t apply to service dogs, which are entitled to public access.

Hotel staff are required to offer reasonable accommodation to service dog teams to ensure they have access to the same services as the public. Otherwise, this would be considered a discriminatory practice.

Let’s take a closer look at laws in different countries protecting the rights of individuals with disabilities.

Disability Laws in the UK

Let’s take a look at the laws in the UK that protect assistance dogs, such as the Equality Act 2010.

According to the Equality and Human Rights Commission, which is the body that helps enforce and promote the act, “It would be unlawful to refuse a service to a disabled person accompanied by an assistance dog except in the most exceptional circumstances. Ultimately, only a court can determine whether a refusal of service is unlawful, and such a determination would be highly dependent on the specific facts and circumstances of the particular case”.

If a service dog misbehaves, such as jumping up, seeking food or attention, excessively barking, lunging on the leash, they may not be a legitimate service/assistance dog. Hotel staff and the public, in general, can recognize a trained service dog by their behavior. Trained service dogs walk calmly on the leash, don’t get distracted by the presence of other people, animals, sounds, or smells, sit or lie down quietly in public places, and remain focused on their handlers. 

Legitimate teams should be allowed access to the premises, and the Equality and Human Rights Commission even specifies that these premises include those where food is sold:

“My business sells food products, am I obliged to allow assistance dogs in?

Assistance dogs should be allowed access to restaurants, cafes, hotels, food shops, and other food premises.”

It’s essential to clarify that allergy to dog fur is not a reason for an assistance dog to be denied access to public places such as hotels. You can find more detailed information on the website of the Equality and Human Rights Commission linked above.

Also, it’s important to mention that passersby and guests shouldn’t interact with service dogs without their handler’s permission.

Disability Laws in the EU

While there is no EU-wide equivalent to the UK’s Equality Act, the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union and the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (ratified by all EU states) emphasize equal access and non-discrimination.

Most member states also have national laws requiring reasonable accommodations in public places, including hotels.

For example, in Ireland, the Equal Status Acts 2000–2018 protect individuals from discrimination when accessing goods, services, accommodation, and education. Additionally, the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission Act 2014, which is often referred to as the Public Sector Duty, requires all public bodies to work towards eliminating discrimination, fostering equal opportunities, and safeguarding the rights and fair treatment of their staff, members, and the public they serve.

In the Netherlands, the Equal Treatment of Disabled and Chronically Ill People Act, protects the rights of individuals with disabilities. This legislation makes it illegal to discriminate against people based on a disability or chronic illness in areas such as employment, housing, and access to goods and services.

In Germany, the Teilhabestärkungsgesetz (Participation Enhancement Act) governs how people with disabilities and their assistance dogs can access public services. The law also defines the terminology for assistance dogs and outlines the accreditation requirements.

Disability Laws in the United States

In the US, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) prohibits hotels from refusing entry to service dogs trained to assist a person with a disability. The ADA says:

“A guest with a disability who uses a service animal must be provided the same opportunity to reserve any available room at the hotel as other guests without disabilities. They may not be restricted to “pet-friendly” rooms.”

“Hotels are not permitted to charge guests for cleaning the hair or dander shed by a service animal. However, if a guest’s service animal causes damage to a guest room, a hotel is permitted to charge the same fee for damages as charged to other guests.”

Additionally, the ADA allows employees to ask only two questions to determine whether a dog is a service animal:    

• Is the dog a service animal required because of a disability?  
• What tasks has the dog been trained to perform?

When Can a Service Dog Be Denied Access to a Hotel?

In certain situations, hotel staff might decide to refuse a service dog, but it’s important to distinguish between unlawful discrimination and justifiable exceptions, such as:    

• Aggressive behavior or lack of control: If a dog poses a direct threat to the health and safety of others, hotel staff may ask the guest to leave.  Misbehavior may indicate that the dog has not undergone proper training.
• Lack of proof of training or ID gear (if required by law): In countries with strict certification requirements, handlers should familiarize themselves with local laws to ensure compliance.

In addition, the ADA clarifies certain public health exceptions for service animals:

“Are gyms, fitness centers, hotels, or municipalities that have swimming pools required to allow a service animal in the pool with its handler?

No. The ADA does not override public health rules that prohibit dogs in swimming pools.  However, service animals must be allowed on the pool deck and in other areas where the public is allowed to go.”

Are Emotional Support Animals Also Allowed Access to Hotels and Other Public Places?

Emotional Support Animals (ESA) don’t enjoy the same access rights as assistance dogs, as they are not specifically trained to perform tasks that help mitigate the symptoms of a disability. However, differences across local laws regarding ESAs should also be considered.

For example, the ESAs in the EU are not entitled to public access and are not protected by disability laws. However, according to the Equality Act 2010 in the UK, service providers need to make reasonable adjustments for individuals with disabilities.

“Dependent on the specific facts and circumstances in each case, it may be a reasonable adjustment to give access to a disabled person’s ESA. Service providers should develop a policy that is inclusive and allows for consideration of individual circumstances.”

Emotional support animals in the U.S. are considered pets in public and can be denied access to places like hotels. However, they are protected under the Fair Housing Act, which requires housing providers to accommodate them. This means that even if a building has a “no pets” policy, it does not apply to ESAs.

How to Prepare for Your Stay at a Hotel with a Service Dog?

To prevent any issues at the hotel, it’s essential to review local service dog laws in advance and contact the hotel before your stay. Let them know you will be traveling with a service dog and discuss any information or documentation they may require. Maintaining a friendly dialogue with hotel staff is important, while also being confident and firm in advocating for your service dog’s rights.

Carry documentation, such as an ID card, training certificate, or a doctor’s letter, even if it’s not legally required. These documents can help reassure staff that your dog has been properly trained and that you qualify for a service/assistance dog.

Keep in mind that personal information cannot be requested, and you are not obligated to share any disability-related details you are uncomfortable disclosing.

You may also consider putting identification or training gear on your service dog to signal to the public that they are well-behaved and safe to be around, while also indicating that they are on duty and should not be distracted.