Pets and Public Transportation
We received an inquiry from Rob Evans, who happens to manage a Facebook Group called Costa Rica by Bus.
In his group, someone inquired whether it is possible to bring service dogs into public transportation such as buses, taxis, or ferries.
While transit law does not allow pets or animals in general to ride in public transportation, the law for the protection of people with disabilities (Law 7600) allows service animals to use public transportation along with the owners. Notwithstanding the language of transit law, the law 7600 trumps the transit law.
Section 45 of Law 7600 sets forth the freedom and right of access with the following language:
“People with disabilities who use service dogs or other service animals, as well as equipment for their mobility, shall have equal and free access to public transportation as well as access to any building structure regardless of whether it is public or private, without causing any additional costs to them.”
Section 164(h) of the Regulation for Law 7600 states:
“That all public transportation shall be available to people with disabilities who may need additional assistance whether by tools and instruments as well as service animals.”
Furthermore, Section 176 defines service animal as the ones required for mobility, companionship and assistance. A problem, in my opinion, is that Costa Rica does not currently have a certification process for service animals. For people who are blind or ride a wheel chair, the situation is self-affirming and thus not required to produce further evidence about the necessity of the service animal. The issue will arise for people who need companion animals for emotional support. Without appropriate certifications, how can people demonstrate the need for the animal to a bus driver or a taxi driver.
In sum, all people with disabilities who require the assistance of a service animal are allowed in public transportation as well to all government facilities and private businesses. While people with emotional support animals could encounter some difficulties with the enforcement of this law, people with more apparent disabilities should not have any issues bringing their support animals along.
I hope this information to be helpful.
So if you have an emotional service dog or your disability is not apparent like being blind for example, what can one do to ensure one will be able to bring one’s service dog on a bus or in a taxi?
Jim,
I am not very sure about the answer. I think you can carry paperwork indicating what your disability is and the need for the dog.
I have the proper USDA certification for my emotional support animal to travel into Costa Rica. I also have the documentation from the appropriate Mental Health accredited professional as to why she needs to be with me. She has an emotional support animal vest that identifies her as such she’s a 20lb Doxie and is completely manageable trained. Can she ride on public transportation with me?
Yes she can.
Our vested service dog with her medical tags was denied entry to marina ballena national park today. Is this legal? The ranger was quite rude, he seemed to imply that it had something to do with the protests?
What does the law say about people coming on to private property with an emotional support dog. Do the owners have to allow this ? What if someone in the family is terrified of dogs and it would cause them emotional distress having the dog on the property.
Please clarify a few things for people.
1) In the US, by definition, ’emotional support’ animals are VERY different from ‘service animals’ and do not share the same legal protections.
2) in the US, there is no legitimate organization that provides ‘certification’ or ‘proof’ of a service dog. Many people produce cards or ‘certificates’ that they’ve purchased online or elsewhere however are not legit. This makes things much harder for people with legitimate service dogs. (USDA certification is merely a health requirement for bringing any animal into another country. )
Are these 2 things the same in Costa Rica? If not, how does the law differ there? Have things changed in the years since you first wrote this article?
Thank you!
J.
What information I could find is here. It is very different here and your best bet would be to contact your local vet in Costa Rica and ask about service animals and who can certify.
Thank you for letting people know that “certification” of service dogs is not a required thing. When I brought my SD in 2016 I had no problem with my landlord. Now in 2022 I’m house hunting. How do I approach a reluctant landlord? Are there protections for disabled people & their dogs similar to the ADA here?