02/22/2026
What should you understand about service animals as an EMS provider? Service animals, for all intents and purposes are treated as medical devices. So in as much as you wouldn't separate a patient from a medical device that was performing a vital function for a patient, you wouldn't separate them from their service animal. The only exception is if the patient is incapacitated and not in control of the animal, or if there is simply no physical space to accommodate the animal (Almost without exception, every US ambulance can accommodate any size dog). Because it's the law to keep the service animal with the patient, it's important to be able to distinguish between a service animal and an emotional support animal. An emotional support animal has no legal protection and as such, it is treated no differently in the eyes of the law than a pet. And you are permitted to inquire about the status of a service animal with two legally permitted questions (Mentioned in the video). The other important thing to note is that if the animal is in work mode you should not be interacting with the animal.
