Nebraska, a midwestern state, lies on the prairies of the Great Plains. Majestic rock formations and magnificent dunes make up this charming place, and the awe-inspiring waterfalls never fail to provide comfort and resources to its people.
This gentle and welcoming state also ensures the welfare of people with disabilities by implementing a law on assistance dogs. These dogs are specially trained to assist people who have physical disabilities. An assistance dog helps them move around and do everyday tasks.
There are assistance dog training centers in Nebraska that train dogs to perform a wide variety of tasks. It includes specific duties during life and death situations. Trainers acknowledge the dogs’ role in a person with disabilities’ everyday life and conditions that entail emergency assistance.
Nebraska has combined its own civil rights law and the federal Americans with Disabilities (ADA) law to create guidelines that would benefit persons with disabilities.
If you or your loved one is planning to get an assistance dog in Nebraska, here are the things you need to know for a smooth-sailing experience.
- Under the Nebraskan civil rights law, service animals are defined as assistance dogs, signal, or hearing dogs trained to work and do tasks for someone with a disability. The law does not cover dogs who help people with mental disabilities.
- Service dogs in Nebraska are allowed in lodging places such as hotels and inns. They can also enter recreational venues such as amusement parks and resorts. They can even ride with their owners in public transportation, which includes taxis, trains, buses, and boats.
- The law in Nebraska does not allow public accommodations from charging an additional admission fee for your service dog. You will only pay if there are damages that the animal may have caused.
- Nebraskan laws provide full and equal access to housing accommodations to persons with disabilities who have a service animal. Landlords and housing managers cannot ask for an extra fee or deposit for the presence of the service animals. This law only applies to people with blindness, deafness, or any visual or hearing impairment.
- Local ordinance dictates that service dogs need to be licensed. However, they are not required to pay any licensing fees.
- Nebraskan law also protects service animals from violence or interference by classifying these acts as a Class III misdemeanor. It means that people who intentionally injure, threaten, or harass these dogs will be sentenced up to three months in jail, fined $500 or both.
Assistance dogs are godsent for persons with disabilities. They not only provide valuable help in doing tasks, but they also offer comfort and safety as well. It’s relieving to know that states like Nebraska enact laws together with the ADA that allows persons with disabilities to live a healthy life. These include dining in restaurants, residing in any place of their choice, or enjoying leisure activities.
On the other hand, handlers need to be responsible for following the trainer’s instructions on maintenance and care. They must provide these fantastic dogs with love and fulfill their needs. These service dogs and the accompanying laws help make their journey full of hope and possibilities.
