Under the federal Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), service dogs are permitted in public places, including restaurants, supermarkets, hotels, hospitals and shopping centers — even those with no-pet policies. These animals are trained to perform specific tasks for people with disabilities, such as guiding the blind, alerting to medical emergencies or assisting with mobility. Photo by Andy Luo via Unsplash. Service or support? Confusion over dogs in public spaces When Kathy Gerhold shops at her local ShopRite in Sussex County, N.J., she sometimes finds the aisles more crowded than she’d... Evergreen 19 Nov 2025 | 11:33
