Definitions
Under rights/discrimination law:“Service animal” means any dog or miniature horse that is individually trained or in training to do work or perform tasks for the benefit of an individual with a disability, including a physical, sensory, psychiatric, intellectual or other mental disability. Service animal does not include other species of animals, whether wild or domestic or trained or untrained.
A. R. S. § 11-1024
Under criminal injury to service animal law:
"Service animal" means an animal that has completed a formal training program that assists its owner in one or more daily living tasks that are associated with a productive lifestyle and that is trained to not pose a danger to the health and safety of the general public.
A.R.S. § 13-2910
SDIT Covered?
Yes. Any trainer or individual with a disability may take an animal being trained as a service animal to a public place for purposes of training it to the same extent as provided in the other listed subsections.A. R. S. § 11-1024
Accommodation Law
Any person or entity that operates a public place shall not discriminate against individuals with disabilities who use service animals if the work or tasks performed by the service animal are directly related to the individual's disability. Work or tasks include assisting individuals who are blind or have low vision with navigation and other tasks, alerting individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing to the presence of people or sounds, providing nonviolent protection or rescue work, pulling a wheelchair, assisting an individual during a seizure, alerting individuals to the presence of allergens, retrieving items such as medicine or the telephone, providing physical support and assistance with balance and stability to individuals with mobility disabilities and helping individuals with psychiatric and neurological disabilities by preventing or interrupting impulsive or destructive behaviors.Violation is a class 2 misdemeanor.
Law has exception for zoos or wild animal parks where service animals may come into direct contact with the animals.
A. R. S. § 11-1024
Harassment of/Interference with Service Dogs
Per A.R.S. § 13-2910, a person commits cruelty to animals if the person does any of the following:- Intentionally or knowingly interferes with, kills or harms a working or service animal without either legal privilege or consent of the owner (class 6 felony).
- Intentionally or knowingly allows any dog that is under the person's custody or control to interfere with, kill or cause physical injury to a service animal (class 6 felony).
- Recklessly allows any dog that is under the person's custody or control to interfere with, kill or cause physical injury to a service animal (class 1 misdemeanor).
- Intentionally or knowingly obtains or exerts unauthorized control over a service animal with the intent to deprive the service animal handler of the service animal (class 6 felony).
Driving Law
The driver of a vehicle approaching a legally blind pedestrian who is using a service animal or who is assisted by a sighted person shall yield the right-of-way and take reasonable precautions to avoid injury to the pedestrian and the service animal. Drivers shall take the same precautions with respect to pedestrians who have a disability other than blindness and their service animals. A driver who violates this subsection is liable for damages for any injury caused to the pedestrian or the service animal.A. R. S. § 11-1024
Licensing Law
The board of supervisors of each county may not charge an individual who has a disability and who uses a service animal, a person that trains a service animal, or an individual who uses a search and rescue dog a license fee for that dog. An applicant for a license for a:1. Search and rescue dog shall provide adequate proof satisfactory to the county enforcement agent that the dog is a search and rescue dog.
2. Service animal shall sign a written statement that the dog is a service animal as defined. A person who makes a false statement pursuant to this paragraph is guilty of a petty offense and is subject to a fine that does not exceed $50.
A. R. S. § 11-1008
Service Dog Fraud
A person may not fraudulently misrepresent an animal as a service animal or service animal in training to a person or entity that operates a public place. A court or duly appointed hearing officer may impose on the person misrepresenting the animal in violation of this subsection a civil penalty of not more than $250 for each violation.A. R. S. § 11-1024
