Understanding the Role of Service and Support Animals in Everyday Life

A couple was visiting a spa on vacation. Like most spas, this one featured a serene waiting area where guests could relax in plush robes by a trickling water fountain, sip infused water and listen to calming music while awaiting their treatments. As they settled in, one of them noticed a dog. Surprised, their first thought was: What is a dog doing in a spa? Then, they saw the patron beside the dog and quickly realized it was an assistance animal. 

That brief encounter served as a reminder of the significant role animals play in people’s lives. While many are familiar with guide dogs for the visually impaired, assistance animals serve various functions beyond navigation. Some provide emotional support, while others perform specialized tasks tailored to an individual’s needs. However, not all assistance animals are the same; they fall into different categories, each with distinct legal protections, training requirements, and even nutritional needs.  

Types of Support and Service Animals 

Service Animals (ADA-Recognized) 

Service animals are specially trained to perform tasks that assist individuals with disabilities. These tasks must be directly related to the person’s disability. Common examples include guide dogs for visually impaired individuals, hearing dogs that alert deaf or hard-of-hearing individuals to important sounds, mobility assistance dogs that help retrieve items and open doors, medical alert dogs that detect seizures or blood sugar fluctuations, and psychiatric service dogs that support individuals with PTSD or severe anxiety. 

Service animals are covered under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), which grants them full access to public spaces, including restaurants, stores, and public transportation. Businesses may only inquire whether the dog is a service animal and what tasks it performs; they cannot demand documentation or proof of training. Under the Air Carrier Access Act (ACAA), airlines must accommodate service animals, though additional regulations have been introduced in recent years. 

Given their demanding tasks, some service animals require a high-performance diet that is rich in protein, Omega-3 fatty acids, and joint-supporting nutrients such as glucosamine and chondroitin. Their meals should be complete and balanced to sustain focus and endurance. Hydration is essential for the optimal performance of service animals, particularly those who’s roles are physically demanding, such as detection dogs and medical alert animals. Portion control is essential to preventing obesity, as excess weight can hinder their performance. 

Emotional Support Animals 

Similar to service animals, emotional support animals (ESAs) offer comfort and companionship to individuals with mental health conditions such as anxiety, depression, or PTSD, but they do not require specialized training. ESAs can include dogs, cats, rabbits, and other domesticated animals. To qualify for an ESA, individuals must obtain a letter from a licensed mental health professional. 

Emotional support animals do not have public access rights under the ADA, meaning that businesses and public places are not obligated to allow them entry. Although they were previously permitted on airlines, regulatory changes in 2021 revoked the requirement for airlines to accommodate them. Nonetheless, they continue to be protected under the Fair Housing Act (FHA), which mandates that landlords allow them in no-pet housing. 

The nutritional needs of ESAs emphasize overall pet health, and they may benefit from diets that support stress reduction. Probiotics and calming ingredients like L-theanine can help to reduce behaviors associated with stress and anxiety. Providing a consistent and high-quality diet can help to prevent digestive issues and support overall wellbeing.  

Therapy Animals 

Therapy animals provide emotional support and companionship to many individuals in places such as hospitals, schools, nursing homes, and disaster response areas. They do not have the same legal rights as service animals and are only allowed in locations where they are invited. These animals—typically dogs but occasionally cats, rabbits, or miniature horses—must be well-trained and certified by organizations like Pet Partners or Therapy Dogs International. 

While therapy animals do not perform specific medical tasks, they need to be calm, friendly, and adaptable to various environments. Their nutritional needs focus on maintaining a healthy coat and supporting overall health through a balanced diet. Diets rich in Omega-3 fatty acids, B vitamins, and antioxidants can help support a healthy coat and immune system.  

Additional Considerations 

Certification & Legal Variations 

While the U.S. follows ADA, FHA, and ACAA regulations, other countries may have different certification and access requirements. Misrepresenting a pet as a service animal can result in fines and legal consequences. 

Retirement & Aftercare 

Many service and working animals retire due to age or health issues. Senior assistance animals benefit from diets specifically designed to support joint health, cognitive function, and reduced caloric intake to maintain a healthy weight. Antioxidants, Omega-3 fatty acids, and glucosamine can help enhance quality of life. 

Conclusion 

Service animals, emotional support animals, and therapy animals all play important roles in assisting humans. However, they each have distinct legal protections, responsibilities, and dietary needs. Ingredients like L-theanine can benefit therapy and emotional support animals. Joint and cognitive supplements help maintain performance in aging animals. Special attention should be given to meal consistency, and hydration. Understanding these differences ensures that these animals receive the care, respect, and proper nutrition necessary for them to thrive in their roles.  

BSM Partners' deep formulation experience and functional focus make them an ideal partner for creating diets tailored to ESA, therapy and support animals. With a strong understanding of the unique nutritional needs of these animals, BSM Partners excels in developing specialized formulas that promote health, well-being, and optimal performance. By leveraging their expertise in ingredient selection and functional nutrition, BSM ensures that the diets support a calm temperament, immune function, and overall vitality, crucial for animals in therapeutic roles. Their holistic approach to pet food formulation guarantees that each diet meets the specific needs of these highly valued companions. 

Whether helping individuals with disabilities, providing emotional support, or working in hospitals, these animals deserve the best possible care to continue their invaluable work. 

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About the Authors

Dr. Chuck Zumbaugh works at BSM Partners as an Assistant Manager in Nutrition Services. He has experience in biochemistry, chemistry, software development, and animal nutrition. Outside of work, he enjoys spending time outdoors with his family in Kansas.

As Vice President of Product Innovation at BSM Partners, David Perez brings nearly 20 years of experience in the pet food industry, specializing in formulation and product development. He has played a key role in driving innovation, developing products that align with evolving industry trends and consumer needs. Always looking ahead, he enjoys tackling challenges and finding creative solutions that push the industry forward. Outside of work, David can be found competing on the tennis court, composing music in his home studio, or enjoying a good scary movie—always bringing the same curiosity and energy to everything he does. 

Lee Ann Hagerty is Director of Customer Enrichment and Consumer Insights on the BSM Product Innovation team with 29+ years in the pet food industry, working for Iams/Eukanuba, Procter & Gamble, and Mars Pet Care. She brings a unique combination of project management skills with consumer insights, product design, animal nutrition, and sensory science which drives an in-depth understanding of the pet and consumer. Lee Ann has a passion for helping dogs. Over the last year and a half, she has fostered over 22 dogs. Many of them were senior dogs who had lived their entire lives outside as hunting dogs. She has been a foster pet parent for many years, and it brings her great joy to see these pets find fur-ever homes where they live with families indoors with love and care.