Assistance Dogs In Public
Human Relations Act 5 — no refusal because of a guide or support animal
In Pennsylvania, the Human Relations Act makes it an unlawful discriminatory practice for anyone who owns, manages or works at a public accommodation, resort or amusement to refuse, withhold or deny its accommodations to a person because of the use of a guide or support animal.
Who it protects. The protection covers a person who uses a guide or support animal because of blindness, deafness or physical handicap, and a person who is a handler or trainer of support or guide animals.
No unwelcome signs. It is also unlawful to publish, post or advertise that a place's accommodations will be refused to such a person, or that their patronage is unwelcome, objectionable or not acceptable.
Employment too. The same section makes it unlawful for an employer to refuse to hire, discharge or otherwise discriminate against a person because of the use of a guide or support animal.
| The assumption | What the law actually does |
|---|---|
| The assumptionA business can turn away a guide dog | What the law actually doesRefusing accommodations because of a guide or support animal is an unlawful discriminatory practice |
| The assumptionOnly the person with the disability is protected | What the law actually doesHandlers and trainers of support or guide animals are covered too |
Housing, emotional support animals and the complaint process at the Human Relations Commission are not all on this page. What a particular situation carries is a question for a licensed Pennsylvania attorney.
Sources for this section (1)
- Human Relations Act 5 — Unlawful discriminatory practices
Legal information, not legal advice. Verified as of September 2026. Applying it to a particular situation is the work of a licensed Pennsylvania attorney.