A Santa Clarita veterinarian is explaining the difference between service animals, therapy animals and emotional support animals — three very separate distinctions.

“There are some major differences between a service animal, even a therapy animal, and an emotional support animal,” said Dr. Jaimie Ronchetto of Cinema Veterinary Centre. “I think there is a lot of confusion out there, and I feel like some things are being abused, potentially by people not understanding the importance of these designations.”

Ronchetto described a service animal as one that has been “specifically and specially trained” to help one particular individual with a disability, such as a seeing eye dog who works with a visually impaired person.

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Service animals are protected by certain laws, and thus allowed to be brought into public establishments and even housing that would not ordinarily allow animals, according to Ronchetto.

“When you see them with their vest on and they’re out working, you shouldn’t pet them,” Ronchetto explained, “because they have a job to do, and interacting with them in that manner can actually interfere with their job and can put their human at risk.”

A therapy animal, on the other hand, is owned as a pet by an individual who trains and certifies them to help groups of people by providing companionship.

“Therapy dogs you would see more going to hospitals, going to retirement homes, going to schools, helping after a disaster,” Ronchetto explained. “To have the companionship, to help lower anxiety, help with depression, help just give sort of good feelings and endorphins by just being there and being pet.”

There are no laws in place allowing therapy animals into establishments or housing without explicit permission, unlike with service dogs, Ronchetto added.

Last is an emotional support animal, which is also owned as a pet by an individual, but does not need to be trained and helps only their owner cope with psychological needs.

“Their presence alone can help with certain needs,” Ronchetto explained. “If you do have, let’s say, PTSD, you do have anxiety, you do have depression, they’re fulfilling a psychological need for you.”

Dr. Jaimie Ronchetto, DVM, is a Santa Clarita veterinarian who opened her own veterinary hospital in Valencia after spending several years in private practice as an associate veterinarian at other SCV hospitals. Ronchetto and the staff at Cinema Veterinary Centre strive to give every dog, cat and pocket pet outstanding quality care in the areas of medicine and surgery. A Hart High School graduate, Ronchetto earned her BS degree from UC Davis and graduated with Honors from Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine.

Cinema Veterinary Centre

23460 Cinema Drive

Valencia, CA 91355

(661) 253-9300

Cinema Veterinary Centre – Valencia

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Santa Clarita Veterinarian / Veterinarian in Santa Clarita / Cinema Vet / Cinema Veterinary Centre / Dr. Jaimie Ronchetto