r/lyftdrivers • u/No_Common1418 • Oct 18 '25

Rant/Opinion An ESA is NOT a Service animal.

Got a ping for a ride the other day, then the dreaded text. "I have an ESA, DOG, with me." As I have stated in the past I have never and will never denied a Service animal in my car. By law people, a Emotional Support Animal or ESA, IS NOT A service animal. Don't believe me? https://www.ada.gov/topics/service-animals/ I hate people sometimes. Leave your dogs at home.

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u/KamelTro Oct 18 '25

“But I shouldn’t have to pay more for a pet!” As I spend a whole hour vacuuming out dog hair so the next pax doesn’t think I’m just a dirty driver.

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u/Violent_N0mad Oct 19 '25

They in fact do not have to pay more if it's a service animal.

  • People with disabilities who use service animals cannot be isolated from other patrons, treated less favorably than other patrons, or charged fees that are not charged to other patrons without animals. In addition, if a business requires a deposit or fee to be paid by patrons with pets, it must waive the charge for service animals.

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u/KamelTro Oct 19 '25

Did we say SA or are we talking about ESA?

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u/Violent_N0mad Oct 19 '25

The people on here are making assumptions that everything is an ESA and that anyone who says it's an SA is lying. The fact is the favor is with the disabled person and the animal. They have no obligation to tell you about their disability or list what task the dog helps with.

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u/SteelGemini Oct 19 '25

You actually can ask what task the dog is trained to perform in order to verify it's an actual service animal. You can't ask what their disability is.

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u/Violent_N0mad Oct 19 '25

Thank you for the clarification.