service animal vs. therapy animal

Service animals are trained to perform specific tasks that assist individuals with disabilities, such as guiding the visually impaired or alerting a deaf person to sounds. In contrast, therapy animals provide comfort and emotional support to people in various settings, such as hospitals or schools, but they are not specifically trained to perform tasks for individuals. While service animals have legal protections under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), therapy animals do not have the same access rights in public spaces. Both play important roles in enhancing the well-being of individuals, but their functions and legal statuses differ significantly.