assistance animal

[uh-sis-tuhns an-uh-muhl]

noun

1. an animal that is able to provide physical or emotional assistance to a person living with a disability, as alerting a deaf person to the sound of a doorbell.

Word History and Origins

Origin of assistance animal¹

First recorded in 1955–60

Example Sentences

About a dozen states have penalties for falsely claiming a need for an assistance animal in housing, according to Rebecca Wisch, an editor at the Animal Legal and Historical Center at Michigan State University, which keeps track of the laws.

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Ian's view is that Chloe is a properly-trained assistance animal who is an essential "auxiliary aid" - a legal term for something that is providing support for someone with a disability.

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"This includes making sure all our staff are reminded that anyone attending with a guide dog or assistance animal should be allowed access," said an official.

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Second, "does the person making the request have a disability-related need for an assistance animal?"

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With some human assistance, animal populations and habitat are rebounding — even the Great Barrier Reef is getting IVF treatments.

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