Service and Assistance Animals in Maine: What's the difference, and what are my rights?

Introduction

If you have a disability, and you have an animal that helps you with that disability, you may have the right to bring that animal into places where you wouldn’t be allowed to bring a pet.  

There are different rules, depending on whether it is a service animal or an assistance animal, and what kind of place you want to bring your animal. 

Service animals 

Is my animal a service animal? 

A service animal is a dog trained to do work for a person who has a disability. 

Can I have my service animal in my housing, even if my landlord says no pets are allowed? 

You have the right to have your service animal with you in the place where you live. In your housing, your service dog is called an assistance animal. 

Can I bring my service animal to the grocery store with me? Or to the town office? Or to a hotel? 

You also have the right to have your animal with you in public accommodations like:  

• town or state buildings/agencies,  
• professional offices,  
• movies theaters,  
• stores,  
• schools,  
• trains,  
• airplanes,  
• hotels,  
• hospitals, or  
• restaurants.  

What if the sign says “No pets allowed”? 

A service animal is not a pet, and "no-pet" rules do not apply to this animal. 

Assistance animals 

Is my animal an assistance animal? 

An assistance animal is: 

1. An animal that your medical provider says you need because of your disability, to allow you to use and enjoy your housing, OR 
2. An animal that is trained to do work for a disabled person. 

People sometimes also use the terms "emotional support animal" or "therapy animal." An assistance animal doesn’t have to be a dog. It could be a cat, or any other kind of animal, if your medical provider says that you need it because of your disability. 

Can I have my assistance animal in my housing, even if my landlord says no pets are allowed? 

You have the right to have your assistance animal with you where you live. It is not a pet, and "no-pet" rules in housing do not apply to this animal. 

Read more here about assistance animals in housing. 

Can I bring my assistance animal to the grocery store with me? Or to the town office? Or to a hotel? 

You don't have the right to have your assistance animal with you in public accommodations like:  

• town or state buildings/agencies,  
• professional offices,  
• movie theaters,  
• stores,  
• schools,  
• trains,  
• airplanes,  
• hospitals,  
• restaurants, or  
• during a vacation in a hotel.  

If you are living in a hotel, and you have no other permanent place to live, you may have the right to have your assistance animal with you there. 

Learn more, Find help

If you have questions about these laws and how they apply to you, contact Pine Tree Legal Assistance.   

You can also read more here: 

The Maine Human Rights Commission’s pamphlet on assistance animals in housing. 

The Maine Human Rights Commission’s pamphlet on service animals in places of public accommodation. 

Published July, 2022

The work that provided the basis for this publication was supported by funding under a grant with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. 
The substance and findings of the work are dedicated to the public. The author and publisher are solely responsible for the accuracy of the statements and interpretations contained in this publication. Such interpretations do not necessarily reflect the views of the Federal Government.