Service dogs can be owner trained. they don’t have to be obtained from an organization that trains service dogs. That costs upwards of $60,000. They are considered medical equipment because they mitigate a disability, the same way a walker and wheelchair mitigate a disability. Do you know (some) why service dogs are trained to use pee pads? Because if they’re on a long flight, that might be their only option to relieve themselves. Most service dogs don’t use pee pads.
I wasn’t assuming that all service dogs use pee pads at all. Just as not all dogs, be they service dogs or otherwise shed, or smell like dog. I was just pointing out that regarding a service dog as “medical equipment” is odd, as live animals are not the same as an actual piece of equipment like a walker or a wheelchair, simply because the disabled person is dependent upon it. I can certainly understand them being classified as essential, though, just as a walker might be.
Using pee pads for a long flight didn’t occur to me, but I do understand that a disabled person with mobility or other issues may not be able to take their dog out for a walk as an abled person might.
Thanks for the info on the disabled person being able to train their own service dog, I didn’t know that. But that still doesn’t mean they would have to reveal the nature of their disability to anyone but an entity that would certify and provide documentation for legitimate service animals.
I got an IB from a guest who later disclosed he is bringing a service animal and he will be leaving it in the studio when he goes out for the day with his travel companion.
I sent him this FAQ and he was really unhappy and sent an angry reply before canceling. I told him he could come but he cannot leave the service animal alone in the studio.
I wonder if he will report me. I feel like Airbnb should be on my side, but who knows.
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I hope he does report you because by so doing he’ll be reporting on himself. He cannot leave the service animal alone. That he would seek to do so discredits him only. Of course, maybe I should not wish this on you because Airbnb CS might get it wrong.
In MA the service animal could be a miniature horse, so be grateful it is a dog (presumably).
Well done! Providing the FAQ.
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Direct from Airbnb’s service animal policy:
A guest’s service animal must not be:
- Out of control
- Unhousebroken
- Left alone at the listing without prior approval
So should anything like the guest reporting you happen, have the policy in front of you to quote to CS.
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This looks like Airbnbn is cool with Service animals left alone at a rental.
The only caveat given to the guest is that the host must approve of this “with prior approval”, the timing seems kind of nebulous if this is before accepting the reservation or not. If the animal is already there and the host does not want it left alone and the guest is asking… .
So, a guest who asked and got a negative response might ask again somewhere else and get an ok to leave their animal alone in a rental…
Airbnb is cool with pretty much anything a guest might ask for except to book off-platform. As long as they get their service fee they don’t care if a bogus service dog gets left alone and chews up the sofa.
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This is how Airbnb policy can be summarized in a tweet. This is their guiding corporate mantra.
I’m guessing the Airbnb training manual looks like this.
Guests wants to exceed occupancy limit? No problem.
Guess wants to bring pets to a no pets listing? No problem.
Guests wants to cancel for a random reason and get a full refund? No problem
Host took a booking off platform? Let’s shut them down.
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Why would someone that hikes and bikes in extreme heat need to bring a service dog that would not be there?