This statement is true if the dog is trained to perform SPECIFIC TASKS related to the PTSD--correct. The language of ADA is very specific that it is not merely that the dog is trained to BE with a disabled person, but trained in SPECIFIC, life-saving or basic function tasks and the person with the disability is obligated to describe these specific tasks if asked. If they cannot describe specific tasks related to the disability the accommodation can legally be denied.
Of course, any smart person with a fake service dog could just memorize verbiage of specific tasks. However, if it was later observed that the service animal was not performing these tasks, it would be clear evidence of service dog fraud, which is a crime.
It's also very clear in the ADA language that service animals must be under the control of the person with the disability at all times. This means if it's barking left on the balcony while the disabled person who has asked for accommodation because they cannot function without it goes out for drinks with friends without it, you now have evidence of service dog fraud.
This area has not been tested much legally, because up until recently people were just decent human beings who would never dream of faking such a condition to get a free trip with their pet or avoid a pet deposit. Now, in the era of entitlement, there is an explosion of "me-first" abuse, which eventually will be legally challenged. Hopefully the courts will eventually cause a rewrite of the ADA as it clearly applies to another time and place and underestimates the selfishness of too many people.
I agree with most people that this current system is a horrific system. It allows people with fake, untrained service dogs to ruin it for everyone. Ideally, it should be handled like handicapped placards in vehicles. When showing up at a business or hotel, just have the license visible and readable on the animal and matching a national database that can be verified, or on the possession of the disabled person so that they can quickly show it to the hotel or airbnb or business when asked upon check in. This would make it easier and quick for people with disabilities and cause much less abuse. It would also legitimize actual disabled people with their service animals so they aren't getting the same sideye as the fakers all day. Not sure why no legislators have jumped on this as it's becoming a huge mess.
I also agree with other posters, that Airbnb has lumped service animals in with emotional support animals, which was never the intention of the ADA law.
Since Airbnb has done this, it seems it's better just to say it's an emotional support animal. Lying is king with Airbnb regarding this topic it seems. No one at Airbnb has foreseen that people might lie about it apparently. Federally, there are no protections for emotional support animals in hotels or temporary accommodations as far as I am aware, so a host could ask for proof, however, it looks like Airbnb is not being clear on whether or not this is consistent with their terms?
I'm not sure why Airbnb is going the extra length to accommodate ESA's but it's likely the advice of their legal team.
Sadly, what it does is create a nightmare for hosts who have to pay cleaners extra to remove dog hairs and pee and that terrible smell that some dogs just have that take hours to remove. So the next guest simply cannot arrive 4 hours later after a fast turnover. Costing the host lost nights revenue, or the next guest a dog-smelling, hairy room. All so that others can have the convenience of having a canine companion on their trip without paying a deposit or seeking one of the millions of pet-friendly accommodations. The truth is, most people with pets don't want to stay at pet-friendly accommodations because of how bad it is being around other people's badly behaved pets. Hence the irony, and why it's easier to just go where you're not supposed to as a fake service dog.
I think there should be a balance and I think that on a site with millions of listings, it should be okay to have some that are dog-free except for cases of severe disability that can easily be proven with a license.
The amount of humans who literally cannot function without the specific tasks of a trained service animal is so minuscule (blind, epileptic, SEVERE PTSD) that it would never even be an issue. As usual, it's the Karens and Kens that demand accommodation for their comfort and emotions that ruin it for everyone and basically raise the cost and hassle for everybody else.
This will eventually come to a legal head when a homeless person with a fake service dog attacks or bites and kills or injures a disabled child in a movie theater. Unfortunately, with our current state of dysfunction and uncivility as a country/world, it might take just that before we get smart about this dumb "honor-based" verification system of service dogs.
