Animals play an important role in many people's lives. For most of us, animals serve as
companions; however, some animals help people overcome the impacts of physical or
emotional disabilities. For these people, service or emotional support animals play a crucial
role in their day-to-day lives. Federal and state laws provide protections for such individuals,
and community association boards must understand how to deal with a service animal or
an emotional support animal. Missteps in handling these matters can create both legal and
reputational risks for your community.
As part of Associa's year-long focus on generating awareness about the role of service animals
in communities, we hosted a webinar with leading attorneys in key markets to discuss the ins
and outs of service animals and board responsibilities. This document is a summary of that
program which can be viewed here.
Disclaimer: This document is for information only. The goal is to provide boards and councils
with a framework to inform their decisions related to service and emotional support animals.
Nothing in this document should be considered legal advice. For a legally reliable opinion, please
contact qualified counsel.
