Terms of Use

Open Service Animal Registry, Inc.

Effective Date: Not set
Last Updated: Not set

These Terms of Use (“Terms”) govern your access to and use of the websites, registry, verification services, digital credentials, applications, and other services provided by Open Service Animal Registry, Inc. (“OSAR,” “we,” “us,” or “our”).

These Terms apply to:

visitors to openserviceanimalregistry.org;
handlers and registrants;
parents or guardians managing records for minor handlers;
trainers and training organizations;
working-dog organizations and representatives;
evaluators and other verification participants;
persons using OSAR public verification services; and
anyone else who accesses or uses an OSAR service.

By creating an account, submitting a registry record, completing an attestation, requesting or responding to a verification, making a payment, adding an OSAR credential to a digital wallet, accessing a public verification record, or otherwise using the Service, you agree to these Terms.

If you do not agree to these Terms, do not use the Service.

1. ABOUT OSAR

Open Service Animal Registry is designed as an independent nonprofit public-interest organization focused on:

task-trained service animals;
bona fide working dogs;
voluntary registry services;
transparent verification;
responsible digital credentials;
public education; and
privacy-respecting recordkeeping.

OSAR is not a governmental agency.

OSAR is not affiliated with or endorsed by:

the United States Department of Justice;
the United States Department of Transportation;
the Americans with Disabilities Act;
any state or local government; or
any governmental service-animal certification program.

References to laws, agencies, or governmental forms on the Service are provided for informational purposes and do not imply sponsorship, approval, or affiliation.

2. REGISTRATION IS VOLUNTARY

OSAR registration is voluntary.

Federal law, including the Americans with Disabilities Act (“ADA”), does not require a service animal to be registered with OSAR or another private service-animal registry as a condition of qualifying as a service animal.

An OSAR record:

does not create service-animal status;
does not create public-access rights;
does not replace the requirements of applicable law;
does not constitute governmental registration;
does not constitute governmental certification; and
is not required to exercise rights that otherwise exist under applicable law.

A handler’s choice not to use OSAR does not diminish any rights the handler or animal may otherwise have.

3. PURPOSE OF THE OSAR REGISTRY

OSAR exists to provide a voluntary, portable, transparent record that distinguishes between information supplied by a registrant and information that has been independently confirmed.

An OSAR record may help a handler organize and voluntarily share information concerning an animal’s:

identity;
registry status;
training source;
training history;
handler relationship;
microchip linkage;
independent verification status; and
other information supported by OSAR programs.

The purpose of an OSAR record is to provide useful information.

It is not to manufacture, sell, or imply legal status.

4. NO LEGAL OR MEDICAL DETERMINATION

OSAR does not determine:

whether a person legally has a disability;
whether a person medically requires a service animal;
whether an animal meets every applicable legal definition of a service animal;
whether a handler has a right of access in a particular location;
whether an animal satisfies the laws of a foreign country;
whether an airline must transport an animal; or
whether a particular accommodation must be provided.

Those questions may depend on facts and laws outside OSAR’s knowledge or authority.

OSAR verifies specific facts where indicated. It does not adjudicate legal rights.

5. NO LEGAL ADVICE

Information published by OSAR concerning the ADA, transportation rules, international travel, housing, service animals, working dogs, or other legal subjects is provided for general educational purposes.

It is not legal advice.

Laws and regulations may change and may differ by jurisdiction.

Users are responsible for consulting applicable governmental authorities or qualified legal counsel concerning their particular circumstances.

6. BASIC REGISTRATION IS FREE

OSAR’s basic registry is intended to remain free.

OSAR does not charge an annual subscription or recurring membership fee merely to maintain a basic eligible registry record.

Basic registration may include:

creation of an eligible record;
handler self-attestation;
an OSAR record number;
a public verification page;
a QR verification credential;
basic record management; and
other features identified by OSAR as part of free registration.

OSAR may change or improve the features included with the free Service, but OSAR will not represent a paid verification service as legally necessary for service-animal status.

7. OPTIONAL PAID VERIFICATION

Certain optional verification processes create direct third-party or administrative costs.

OSAR may therefore charge a small one-time fee for services such as:

handler identity verification;
professional trainer confirmation;
training-organization confirmation;
animal-identity verification;
manual credential review;
future independent assessments; or
other optional verification services.

Payment purchases the verification process, not a favorable verification result and not service-animal status.

A verification fee does not make an animal legally more legitimate than an animal without paid verification.

Fees applicable to a particular service will be disclosed before purchase.

8. NO PAY-TO-CERTIFY MODEL

OSAR does not sell ADA certification.

Payment to OSAR does not entitle a user to:

a “Certified Service Animal” designation;
an “ADA Certified” designation;
governmental status;
public-access rights;
a favorable verification result; or
preferential treatment in OSAR’s verification process.

Independent verification means that a particular fact was independently checked according to the applicable OSAR process.

9. OSAR DOES NOT REGISTER EMOTIONAL SUPPORT ANIMALS

OSAR does not currently register animals solely on the basis that they provide emotional comfort or support.

OSAR therefore does not operate an Emotional Support Animal (“ESA”) registry and does not sell or facilitate ESA letters.

This distinction does not mean that emotional-support animals cannot provide meaningful benefits or have recognition under laws applicable in particular contexts.

OSAR’s registry mission is deliberately focused on animals trained to perform identifiable work or tasks.

10. PSYCHIATRIC SERVICE DOGS

Task-trained psychiatric service dogs may be eligible for registration under OSAR’s Service Animal classification.

A psychiatric service dog is distinct from an Emotional Support Animal when the dog has been individually trained to perform specific work or tasks related to a person’s disability.

OSAR eligibility is governed by applicable OSAR registry policies.

11. OWNER-TRAINED SERVICE DOGS

OSAR recognizes that a service dog may be owner-trained.

Professional training is not required merely to establish an OSAR record.

OSAR shall not represent owner-trained service dogs as inherently less legitimate than dogs trained by professional trainers or assistance-dog organizations.

Where training has not been independently confirmed, the record will distinguish between:

Handler Attested

and:

Independently Verified

12. WORKING DOG REGISTRY

OSAR may maintain a separate registry classification for bona fide working dogs.

Working-dog disciplines may include, subject to OSAR eligibility policies:

search and rescue;
detection;
conservation;
agricultural or biosecurity work;
tracking or trailing;
other operational working disciplines; and
other categories approved by OSAR.

A Working Dog record does not create service-animal status or ADA public-access rights.

OSAR may establish different eligibility and verification standards for different working disciplines.

13. ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS

To register an animal, you must satisfy the eligibility criteria applicable to the requested OSAR classification.

OSAR may establish and update eligibility standards consistent with its mission.

OSAR may reject, suspend, archive, or revoke records that:

are materially incomplete;
contain materially false information;
do not satisfy applicable eligibility criteria;
impersonate another person or animal;
misuse another trainer’s or organization’s identity;
violate these Terms;
create material security or fraud concerns; or
otherwise undermine the integrity of the registry.

OSAR will endeavor to apply eligibility requirements consistently and fairly.

14. USER ACCOUNTS

Certain OSAR functions require an account.

You agree to:

provide accurate account information;
maintain a valid email address;
protect your authentication credentials;
use reasonable security practices;
notify OSAR promptly of suspected unauthorized access;
keep account information reasonably current; and
accept responsibility for activity conducted through your account except to the extent caused by OSAR’s own security failure.

You may not:

create an account in another person’s name without authority;
share an account for the purpose of bypassing verification requirements;
transfer an account to another person without OSAR authorization; or
use another person’s account without permission.

15. AGE REQUIREMENTS

OSAR accounts are intended to be created and administered by adults who are at least 18 years old.

A legitimate service-animal handler may be a minor.

Where the handler is under 18, a parent or legal guardian should create and manage the applicable account and record in accordance with OSAR policies.

A minor’s status as the animal’s handler does not make the parent or guardian the service-animal handler.

OSAR may apply enhanced privacy settings or additional restrictions to records involving minors.

16. ACCURACY OF INFORMATION

You are responsible for the accuracy of information you submit to OSAR.

You agree not to knowingly provide information that is:

false;
misleading;
materially incomplete;
fabricated;
fraudulently altered; or
presented in a manner intended to mislead OSAR or another person about its source or verification status.

You are responsible for updating information when you become aware that it is materially inaccurate or outdated.

17. HANDLER ATTESTATIONS

OSAR may require a handler to make specific attestations as a condition of registration or continued record status.

These may include statements concerning:

accuracy of submitted information;
the animal’s training;
the handler-animal relationship;
the voluntary nature of OSAR registration;
the limitations of private registration;
public-record preferences; and
other matters reasonably related to registry integrity.

OSAR may record:

the attestation;
the version presented;
date and time;
associated account and record; and
appropriate technical audit information.

Knowingly making a materially false attestation may result in suspension or revocation of a record.

18. PUBLIC RECORDS AND PRIVACY SETTINGS

Certain registry information is designed to be publicly verifiable.

Handlers control designated privacy settings made available by OSAR.

Depending on those settings and the applicable record type, a public verification page may display information such as:

animal name;
animal photograph;
OSAR record number;
classification;
work or task categories;
record status;
training source;
verification statuses;
masked animal identifiers;
record-confirmation date; and
limited handler information.

OSAR does not intend to publicly display private account information such as:

private email address;
private telephone number;
home address;
payment information;
government identification number;
identity-document image;
identity-verification selfie;
biometric information;
medical diagnosis; or
complete microchip number.

Public information may be viewed, copied, photographed, cached, archived, or otherwise retained by third parties.

You should therefore consider information selected for public display to be public.

19. NO PUBLIC HANDLER DIRECTORY

OSAR is not intended to operate as an unrestricted directory of individuals who use service animals.

OSAR may limit registry lookup to:

exact OSAR record numbers;
QR codes;
secure verification URLs; and
other controlled verification methods.

OSAR may employ rate limits, anti-automation measures, search-engine controls, or other safeguards against enumeration or scraping.

20. PERMITTED USE OF PUBLIC VERIFICATION

OSAR’s public verification service is intended to allow a person to determine whether a specific OSAR record exists and what information that record currently displays.

You may use public verification for legitimate purposes such as:

verifying a credential voluntarily presented to you;
reviewing your own record;
confirming a training or organizational relationship where authorized;
evaluating an OSAR credential in a legitimate transaction; or
other reasonable purposes consistent with OSAR’s mission.

21. PROHIBITED USE OF PUBLIC VERIFICATION

You may not use OSAR public verification to:

create or compile a database of handlers;
scrape registry records;
profile individuals based on actual or inferred disability;
harass or intimidate handlers;
identify people with disabilities for marketing;
sell or broker registry information;
create targeted advertising profiles;
conduct unauthorized background checks;
facilitate unlawful discrimination;
impersonate OSAR;
create misleading derivative credentials;
defeat rate limits or access controls; or
use registry data for purposes inconsistent with these Terms.

OSAR may restrict access where it reasonably believes the verification service is being abused.

22. IDENTITY VERIFICATION

OSAR may offer optional independent handler identity verification through a specialized third-party provider such as Stripe Identity.

Identity verification confirms, to the extent represented by the applicable provider and process, information concerning the identity of the person completing the verification.

It does not establish:

disability;
medical need;
service-animal status;
public-access rights; or
the accuracy of every statement in an OSAR record.

23. THIRD-PARTY IDENTITY PROVIDERS

Identity-verification providers may collect sensitive information directly from the user, including government-issued identification, images, selfies, and biometric information.

Those providers operate subject to their own terms and privacy practices.

OSAR seeks to minimize its own retention of raw identity documents and biometric information, as further described in the OSAR Privacy Policy.

Use of an identity provider may require you to accept that provider’s separate terms.

OSAR is not responsible for acts or omissions of an independent identity provider except to the extent applicable law provides otherwise.

24. IDENTITY VERIFICATION RESULTS

Identity verification may result in statuses such as:

Verified;
Unable to Verify;
Pending;
Incomplete; or
another status supported by the applicable provider.

OSAR does not guarantee that a provider will successfully verify every user.

A failed or incomplete identity verification does not determine whether the user has a disability or whether an animal qualifies as a service animal.

OSAR may establish reasonable retry limits to control fraud and third-party verification costs.

25. TRAINING VERIFICATION

A registrant may request independent confirmation of information concerning an animal’s professional trainer or training organization.

The registrant authorizes OSAR to contact the identified trainer or organization for purposes reasonably related to the requested verification.

OSAR may independently locate professional contact information rather than relying exclusively on contact information supplied by the registrant.

26. WHAT TRAINING VERIFICATION MEANS

A confirmed training status means only what the corresponding OSAR verification label states.

For example:

Professional Trainer Relationship: Confirmed

means OSAR received information sufficient under its process to confirm the stated trainer relationship.

It does not mean that:

OSAR certifies the animal under the ADA;
the trainer possesses legal authority to determine ADA status;
OSAR independently observed every training session;
the animal will perform perfectly in every environment; or
the handler possesses a particular legal right.

OSAR will endeavor to describe verification narrowly and accurately.

27. TRAINER NONRESPONSE

OSAR cannot compel a trainer or organization to participate.

If a trainer or organization does not respond, OSAR may designate the result using language such as:

Unable to Confirm

or:

Not Independently Confirmed

Nonresponse is not proof that the handler submitted false information.

OSAR may establish a reasonable number of contact attempts after which a verification request is closed.

28. TRAINERS AND ORGANIZATION REPRESENTATIVES

If you respond to an OSAR verification request as a trainer or organization representative, you represent that:

you are authorized to provide the information submitted;
your statements are accurate to the best of your knowledge;
you will not knowingly misrepresent your relationship with the animal or handler; and
you understand that OSAR may rely on your response in displaying a verification status.

You are not required to disclose information that you are legally or contractually prohibited from disclosing.

You should not provide unnecessary medical information about the handler.

29. TRAINER AND ORGANIZATION ACCOUNTS

OSAR may later provide verified trainer or organization accounts.

Additional terms, eligibility criteria, or verification requirements may apply to such accounts.

Professional status on OSAR does not constitute endorsement of the trainer or organization unless OSAR expressly states otherwise.

30. ANIMAL IDENTITY AND MICROCHIPS

OSAR may permit handlers to associate an animal’s microchip or other identifier with a record.

A microchip linkage indicates only the scope of the applicable verification process.

OSAR does not guarantee:

ownership of the animal;
accuracy of an external microchip database;
continued functionality of the microchip; or
legal title to the animal.

OSAR may mask full microchip numbers on public verification pages.

31. FUTURE ASSESSMENTS

OSAR may offer optional public-access, task-performance, working-dog, or other assessments.

Unless expressly stated otherwise, an OSAR assessment:

is an observation made under the circumstances of that assessment;
does not guarantee future behavior;
does not constitute governmental certification; and
does not independently determine legal rights.

Additional assessment terms may apply.

32. DIGITAL CREDENTIALS

OSAR may issue:

QR credentials;
Apple Wallet credentials;
Google Wallet credentials; and
other digital credentials.

A credential is a convenient representation of information associated with an OSAR record.

It is not:

government identification;
a license;
an ADA certificate;
proof of disability; or
a substitute for documentation legally required by another authority.

33. APPLE WALLET AND GOOGLE WALLET

Use of Apple Wallet or Google Wallet is also subject to the applicable provider’s terms.

Apple and Google are independent third parties and do not sponsor or certify OSAR merely because an OSAR credential is technically compatible with their wallet services.

OSAR cannot guarantee continued availability of a third-party wallet platform or a particular wallet feature.

34. QR CREDENTIALS

OSAR QR credentials generally link to a live public verification record.

You may not:

alter a QR credential to direct users to a fraudulent website;
reproduce an OSAR credential for another animal;
alter displayed verification information;
create counterfeit OSAR credentials; or
use an expired, archived, revoked, or transferred credential in a misleading manner.

35. NO PHYSICAL ID CARD OR MERCHANDISE REQUIREMENT

OSAR does not require a physical identification card, vest, patch, certificate, tag, or other merchandise as a condition of registration.

OSAR currently does not operate its registry as a merchandise-sales program.

The absence of physical merchandise does not reduce the status of an otherwise valid OSAR record.

OSAR may change the features it offers in the future, but no physical product will create legal service-animal status merely because OSAR offers or recognizes it.

36. AIR TRAVEL

OSAR credentials do not replace airline documentation.

U.S. airlines may require forms or other information permitted under applicable Department of Transportation rules.

OSAR does not guarantee that an airline will accept an OSAR credential as supporting documentation.

Handlers are responsible for satisfying applicable airline requirements.

37. INTERNATIONAL TRAVEL

OSAR registration does not guarantee recognition in another country.

International destinations may impose requirements concerning:

animal importation;
microchips;
vaccinations;
health certificates;
quarantine;
assistance-dog recognition;
approved training organizations;
transportation; or
other matters.

An OSAR record may be used as supplemental information where useful, but it does not replace official documentation required by a foreign government, airline, border authority, or other organization.

38. LOCAL LICENSING AND VACCINATION

OSAR registration does not replace ordinary animal-control, licensing, vaccination, or public-health requirements.

Handlers remain responsible for compliance with applicable local requirements.

39. USER CONTENT

“User Content” means information, photographs, text, documents, descriptions, responses, and other materials you submit to OSAR.

You retain ownership of your User Content except for rights necessary to operate the Service.

You grant OSAR a nonexclusive, worldwide, royalty-free license to host, store, process, reproduce, display, transmit, format, and otherwise use User Content solely as reasonably necessary to:

operate the Service;
maintain the registry;
provide public verification according to your settings;
provide credentials;
perform requested verification;
protect registry integrity;
provide support;
comply with law; and
fulfill other purposes disclosed when the information is submitted.

This license ends when the information is deleted from OSAR’s active systems except to the extent continued retention is reasonably necessary under the Privacy Policy, applicable law, backup processes, fraud prevention, or legal obligations.

OSAR does not obtain ownership of your animal photograph merely because you upload it.

40. RIGHTS TO SUBMITTED CONTENT

You represent that you have the rights and authority necessary to submit User Content to OSAR.

You may not knowingly upload:

photographs you have no right to use;
forged certificates;
altered verification documents presented as authentic;
another person’s private information without authority;
copyrighted materials in violation of the owner’s rights;
malicious files; or
unlawful content.

41. PUBLIC CONTENT LICENSE

When you intentionally designate information as public through OSAR’s privacy controls, you authorize OSAR to display that information through the applicable public verification service.

You may change eligible privacy settings through available account controls.

Changes cannot guarantee deletion of copies previously made by third parties.

42. NO MARKETING USE OF HANDLER IDENTITY WITHOUT PERMISSION

OSAR’s right to operate a public record does not automatically grant OSAR permission to use a handler’s name, photograph, personal story, or animal photograph in unrelated promotional advertising.

OSAR will obtain additional permission where reasonably required before using identifiable registrant content for testimonials, fundraising campaigns, promotional features, or similar marketing.

43. PAYMENTS

Payments for optional services may be processed by Stripe or another payment provider.

By purchasing a paid service, you authorize the disclosed charge.

OSAR does not intend to store complete payment-card credentials.

Applicable taxes, if any, will be handled according to applicable law and OSAR’s payment configuration.

44. REFUNDS AND FAILED VERIFICATION

Verification fees cover the process of attempting independent verification and do not guarantee a successful result.

The specific refund, retry, abandonment, or credit policy applicable to a verification service will be disclosed at checkout or before the verification begins.

Where OSAR incurs a third-party verification charge because a completed verification returns an unsuccessful result, the applicable service fee may remain nonrefundable if disclosed before purchase.

OSAR may provide refunds or credits where:

required by law;
a technical failure prevents OSAR from providing the purchased service;
OSAR elects to do so as a matter of fairness; or
the applicable service policy provides otherwise.

45. DONATIONS

OSAR may accept voluntary donations.

A donation is separate from payment for a verification service.

Donating does not:

improve verification results;
influence registry decisions;
create special registry status;
increase public-access rights; or
entitle a donor to preferential treatment.

OSAR will not represent a donation as tax deductible unless OSAR has a lawful basis for doing so.

The tax treatment of a contribution depends on applicable law and the donor’s circumstances.

46. COMMUNICATIONS

By creating an account, you agree to receive communications reasonably necessary to administer the Service, including:

email verification;
security notices;
registry-status notices;
training-verification messages;
payment receipts;
re-attestation requests;
privacy notices; and
changes to legally significant terms.

If OSAR sends optional newsletters, fundraising communications, or promotional messages, applicable unsubscribe mechanisms will be provided.

47. ELECTRONIC TRANSACTIONS AND SIGNATURES

You agree that OSAR may conduct transactions electronically.

Where permitted by law:

electronic records satisfy writing requirements;
electronic acceptance may constitute agreement;
clicking an acceptance control may constitute an electronic signature; and
OSAR may retain electronic evidence of acceptance, attestations, and consent.

You are responsible for maintaining a functioning email address associated with your account.

48. PROHIBITED CONDUCT

You may not use the Service to:

submit knowingly false or fraudulent registration information;

misrepresent a pet or ineligible animal as qualifying for an OSAR category;

impersonate another handler, trainer, evaluator, organization, or OSAR representative;

fabricate a training relationship;

forge or alter supporting evidence;

bypass verification controls;

create duplicate records for fraudulent purposes;

scrape, crawl, harvest, or bulk-download registry information without authorization;

attempt to identify handlers through systematic record enumeration;

use registry information for unlawful discrimination, harassment, or surveillance;

upload malware or malicious content;

probe or exploit security vulnerabilities without authorization;

interfere with OSAR infrastructure;

circumvent rate limits or access controls;

access information you are not authorized to access;

alter or counterfeit OSAR credentials;

falsely imply endorsement by OSAR;

falsely imply governmental endorsement;

resell OSAR verification results as governmental certification;

use OSAR trademarks in a misleading manner;

violate another person’s privacy, intellectual-property, or legal rights; or

use the Service for unlawful purposes.

49. SECURITY RESEARCH

OSAR supports responsible security research.

Researchers must not:

access or expose private user information;
disrupt production services;
extort OSAR or users;
modify user data;
engage in destructive testing; or
publicly disclose an unremediated vulnerability in a manner that creates unreasonable risk.

OSAR may publish a separate vulnerability-disclosure policy.

Where such a policy exists, researchers should follow it.

50. RECORD SUSPENSION, ARCHIVING, AND REVOCATION

OSAR may suspend, archive, limit, or revoke a record when reasonably necessary to protect registry integrity.

Reasons may include:

material fraud;
knowingly false attestations;
impersonation;
misuse of verification credentials;
material violation of these Terms;
unresolved security concerns;
duplicate or fraudulent records;
legal requirements; or
other significant integrity concerns.

OSAR may temporarily suspend public display while investigating a credible concern.

OSAR will endeavor to avoid publicly characterizing a registrant as fraudulent unless supported by sufficient information.

51. ACCOUNT SUSPENSION OR TERMINATION

OSAR may limit, suspend, or terminate an account that materially violates these Terms or creates a substantial security, fraud, legal, or integrity risk.

Where reasonably appropriate, OSAR may provide:

notice;
an explanation;
an opportunity to correct the problem; or
an internal review mechanism.

Immediate action may be taken when reasonably necessary to protect users, data, security, or the integrity of the Service.

52. USER-REQUESTED ARCHIVAL OR REMOVAL

Handlers may archive or request removal of their records according to available OSAR procedures.

OSAR may retain limited internal records as described in the Privacy Policy where reasonably necessary for:

fraud prevention;
accounting;
legal compliance;
transaction records;
disputes;
security;
audit history; or
enforcement.

Removal from public access does not necessarily mean every internal record is immediately destroyed.

53. THIRD-PARTY SERVICES

OSAR may rely on third parties for services such as:

identity verification;
payment processing;
hosting;
email delivery;
database infrastructure;
digital-wallet services;
object storage;
security;
analytics;
accessibility tools; or
other technical services.

OSAR is not responsible for an independent third party’s services, outages, decisions, or data practices except to the extent required by applicable law.

Use of a third-party service may be governed by separate terms.

54. LINKS TO OTHER WEBSITES

OSAR may link to:

government agencies;
trainers;
service-animal organizations;
working-dog organizations;
veterinary resources;
retailers;
educational resources; or
other websites.

A link does not necessarily constitute endorsement.

OSAR does not control independent third-party websites.

55. OSAR INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY

Except for User Content and third-party materials, the Service and its associated content may include intellectual property owned by or licensed to OSAR, including:

OSAR name;
logos;
credential designs;
software;
documentation;
website design;
written educational materials;
databases;
verification methodology;
graphics; and
other original content.

No rights are granted except as expressly provided in these Terms.

56. LIMITED LICENSE TO USE THE SERVICE

Subject to these Terms, OSAR grants you a limited, revocable, nonexclusive, nontransferable license to access and use the Service for lawful personal, professional, or organizational purposes consistent with the Service’s intended functionality.

This license does not permit:

resale of OSAR services;
creation of a competing registry through scraping;
use of OSAR data for unrelated commercial profiling;
reverse engineering except where law prohibits such restriction; or
unauthorized reproduction of OSAR branding.

57. USE OF OSAR NAME AND MARKS

You may accurately state that an animal has an OSAR record or that a specific verification appears on an OSAR record.

You may not use OSAR branding in a manner that falsely suggests:

sponsorship;
endorsement;
employment;
partnership;
governmental status;
certification authority; or
affiliation beyond the actual relationship.

OSAR may publish separate trademark and brand-use guidelines.

58. AVAILABILITY OF THE SERVICE

OSAR intends to maintain a reliable Service but does not guarantee uninterrupted availability.

The Service may be unavailable because of:

maintenance;
software defects;
service-provider outages;
cybersecurity incidents;
network failures;
legal restrictions;
natural disasters; or
circumstances beyond OSAR’s reasonable control.

OSAR may modify, suspend, or discontinue a feature where reasonably necessary.

59. NO GUARANTEE OF THIRD-PARTY ACCEPTANCE

OSAR does not guarantee that any:

business;
government agency;
airline;
hotel;
employer;
school;
housing provider;
foreign authority;
transportation provider; or
other person

will accept or rely upon an OSAR credential.

An organization’s refusal to accept an OSAR credential does not by itself mean that the organization has violated the law, nor does acceptance by an organization establish legal status.

60. NO GUARANTEE OF ANIMAL BEHAVIOR

An OSAR record, trainer confirmation, assessment, or other verification does not guarantee future animal behavior.

Animals remain under the responsibility and control of their handlers as required by applicable law.

OSAR is not responsible for an animal’s:

behavior;
injury to a person;
injury to another animal;
property damage;
training regression;
illness; or
failure to perform a trained task.

61. NO VETERINARY SERVICES

OSAR does not provide veterinary diagnosis or treatment.

Registry information concerning vaccination, health, microchips, or animal identity does not substitute for veterinary care or legally required veterinary documentation.

62. SERVICE PROVIDED “AS IS”

TO THE MAXIMUM EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW, THE SERVICE IS PROVIDED ON AN “AS IS” AND “AS AVAILABLE” BASIS.

OSAR DISCLAIMS WARRANTIES NOT EXPRESSLY PROVIDED IN THESE TERMS, INCLUDING IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF:

MERCHANTABILITY;
FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE;
NON-INFRINGEMENT; AND
UNINTERRUPTED OR ERROR-FREE OPERATION.

OSAR DOES NOT WARRANT THAT:

EVERY REGISTRY STATEMENT IS TRUE;
EVERY THIRD PARTY WILL RESPOND TO VERIFICATION;
EVERY IDENTITY CHECK WILL SUCCEED;
EVERY RECORD WILL BE ACCEPTED BY A THIRD PARTY;
THE SERVICE WILL ALWAYS BE AVAILABLE; OR
USE OF THE SERVICE WILL RESOLVE AN ACCESS OR LEGAL DISPUTE.

Nothing in this Section excludes a warranty that cannot lawfully be excluded.

63. LIMITATION OF LIABILITY

TO THE MAXIMUM EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW, OSAR AND ITS DIRECTORS, OFFICERS, EMPLOYEES, VOLUNTEERS, AND AGENTS WILL NOT BE LIABLE FOR INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL, CONSEQUENTIAL, EXEMPLARY, OR PUNITIVE DAMAGES ARISING FROM OR RELATING TO THE SERVICE.

THIS INCLUDES, TO THE EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW:

LOST PROFITS;
LOST DATA;
LOSS OF OPPORTUNITY;
BUSINESS INTERRUPTION;
REPUTATIONAL LOSS;
THIRD-PARTY REFUSAL TO ACCEPT A CREDENTIAL; OR
CONSEQUENCES OF RELIANCE ON USER-SUPPLIED INFORMATION.

TO THE MAXIMUM EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW, OSAR’S AGGREGATE LIABILITY ARISING FROM OR RELATING TO THE SERVICE WILL NOT EXCEED THE GREATER OF:

(A) $100; OR

(B) THE AMOUNT YOU PAID TO OSAR FOR THE SPECIFIC SERVICE GIVING RISE TO THE CLAIM DURING THE TWELVE MONTHS PRECEDING THE EVENT GIVING RISE TO THE CLAIM.

Nothing in these Terms limits liability that applicable law prohibits OSAR from limiting, including liability arising from conduct for which a limitation would be legally unenforceable.

64. INDEMNIFICATION

To the extent permitted by law, you agree to indemnify and hold harmless OSAR and its directors, officers, employees, volunteers, and agents from third-party claims, damages, liabilities, costs, and reasonable legal expenses arising from:

materially false information you knowingly submit;
fraud or impersonation by you;
your infringement of another person’s rights;
User Content you submit without authority;
unlawful use of the Service; or
your material violation of these Terms.

This provision does not require you to indemnify OSAR for OSAR’s own negligence, unlawful conduct, or wrongdoing where such indemnification would be prohibited by law.

OSAR will provide reasonable notice of a covered claim where practicable.

65. PRIVACY

OSAR’s collection and use of personal information is described in the OSAR Privacy Policy.

The Privacy Policy is incorporated into these Terms by reference where permitted by law.

If there is a direct conflict between these Terms and a specific privacy right required by applicable law, the applicable privacy law controls.

66. COPYRIGHT COMPLAINTS

OSAR respects intellectual-property rights.

If you believe material available through OSAR infringes your copyright, you may send an infringement notice to:

legal@openserviceanimalregistry.org

The notice should contain sufficient information to identify:

the copyrighted work;
the allegedly infringing material;
the location of the material;
your contact information;
your good-faith belief regarding unauthorized use; and
other information required by applicable law.

OSAR may remove or restrict material while evaluating a credible infringement notice.

67. FEEDBACK

If you voluntarily submit suggestions, ideas, or general product feedback to OSAR, you grant OSAR permission to use that feedback without restriction or compensation.

This provision does not transfer ownership of unrelated confidential material, User Content, personal information, or intellectual property merely because it is communicated to OSAR.

68. CHANGES TO THE SERVICE

OSAR may modify the Service as the organization develops.

Changes may include:

new verification methods;
eligibility standards;
credential formats;
privacy controls;
record statuses;
service providers;
security features; or
optional paid services.

OSAR will not retroactively describe previously unverified information as verified merely because its verification methodology changes.

69. CHANGES TO THESE TERMS

OSAR may update these Terms to reflect:

changes in law;
changes in the Service;
new verification programs;
security requirements;
organizational changes; or
other legitimate operational needs.

The effective and last-updated dates will appear at the top.

If a change materially alters your rights or obligations, OSAR will provide additional notice where reasonably appropriate or legally required.

Continued use after the effective date of revised Terms constitutes acceptance to the extent permitted by law.

Where applicable law requires affirmative consent, OSAR will request it.

70. GOVERNING LAW

These Terms and disputes arising from them are governed by the laws of the State of Florida, without regard to conflict-of-laws principles, except where federal law or another mandatory law applies.

Nothing in these Terms eliminates rights that cannot lawfully be waived under the law applicable to a particular user.

71. INFORMAL DISPUTE RESOLUTION

Before filing a lawsuit concerning a dispute arising directly from these Terms or the Service, you and OSAR are encouraged to attempt to resolve the dispute informally.

You may send a written description of the issue to:

legal@openserviceanimalregistry.org

OSAR will make a reasonable effort to review and respond.

Nothing in this Section prevents either party from:

seeking emergency injunctive relief;
complying with a legal deadline;
reporting unlawful conduct to an appropriate authority; or
exercising a right that applicable law does not permit these Terms to restrict.

72. JURISDICTION AND VENUE

Subject to any mandatory law that provides otherwise, judicial proceedings arising from these Terms shall be brought in an appropriate state or federal court located in the Florida county in which OSAR maintains its principal office, or in another Florida venue agreed upon by the parties.

Each party consents to personal jurisdiction in such courts to the extent legally permissible.

73. NO MANDATORY ARBITRATION IN THESE TERMS

These Terms do not currently require users to submit disputes to mandatory private arbitration.

OSAR may not add a mandatory arbitration requirement to an existing user relationship retroactively except to the extent permitted by law and after providing any notice and affirmative consent required for enforceability.

74. SEVERABILITY

If a provision of these Terms is determined to be unlawful, invalid, or unenforceable, that provision shall be enforced to the maximum lawful extent or severed where necessary.

The remaining provisions will continue in effect.

75. NO WAIVER

OSAR’s failure to enforce a provision of these Terms does not waive OSAR’s right to enforce that provision later.

A waiver concerning one circumstance does not constitute a waiver concerning another.

76. ASSIGNMENT

You may not transfer your account or assign your rights under these Terms to another person without OSAR’s consent where the transfer would affect account security, registry integrity, or verification.

OSAR may assign these Terms in connection with a lawful nonprofit reorganization, merger, transfer of programs, or similar organizational transition, subject to applicable nonprofit and privacy laws.

77. ENTIRE AGREEMENT

These Terms, together with:

the Privacy Policy;
applicable registry policies;
verification-specific terms presented before purchase or participation;
applicable consent forms; and
other policies expressly incorporated by reference

constitute the agreement between you and OSAR concerning use of the Service.

Where specific terms for a particular service conflict with these general Terms, the more specific terms govern that particular service unless otherwise stated.

78. HEADINGS

Headings are provided for convenience and do not limit the meaning of these Terms.

79. SURVIVAL

Provisions that by their nature should survive account closure or termination will survive, including provisions concerning:

intellectual property;
retained records;
payment obligations;
disclaimers;
limitation of liability;
indemnification;
dispute resolution; and
governing law.

80. ACCESSIBILITY

OSAR intends to make its Terms, policies, registration system, and verification services accessible to people with disabilities.

If you cannot access these Terms or another OSAR process because of an accessibility issue, contact:

accessibility@openserviceanimalregistry.org

OSAR will work to provide reasonable access to the information or process through an appropriate alternative format or method.

81. CONTACT INFORMATION

Questions about these Terms may be directed to:

Open Service Animal Registry, Inc.

Website:
openserviceanimalregistry.org

Legal inquiries:
legal@openserviceanimalregistry.org

Privacy inquiries:
privacy@openserviceanimalregistry.org

General inquiries:
[INSERT GENERAL CONTACT EMAIL]

Mailing Address:
[INSERT CORPORATE MAILING ADDRESS BEFORE PUBLICATION]

82. CORE OSAR PRINCIPLE

OSAR exists to make information about voluntarily registered service animals and working dogs more transparent, not more authoritative than the law permits.

Accordingly:

OSAR registration is voluntary;
basic registration is free;
optional verification confirms specific facts rather than legal status;
OSAR does not sell ADA certification;
OSAR does not require professional training;
OSAR recognizes eligible owner-trained service dogs;
OSAR does not operate an Emotional Support Animal registry;
public verification is free;
paid verification does not create service-animal rights;
digital credentials do not replace legally required documentation; and
the handler remains in control of whether and when an OSAR credential is voluntarily presented.

Terms of Use

Open Service Animal Registry, Inc.

Effective Date: Not set
Last Updated: Not set

These Terms apply to:

visitors to openserviceanimalregistry.org;
handlers and registrants;
parents or guardians managing records for minor handlers;
trainers and training organizations;
working-dog organizations and representatives;
evaluators and other verification participants;
persons using OSAR public verification services; and
anyone else who accesses or uses an OSAR service.

If you do not agree to these Terms, do not use the Service.

1. ABOUT OSAR

Open Service Animal Registry is designed as an independent nonprofit public-interest organization focused on:

task-trained service animals;
bona fide working dogs;
voluntary registry services;
transparent verification;
responsible digital credentials;
public education; and
privacy-respecting recordkeeping.

OSAR is not a governmental agency.

OSAR is not affiliated with or endorsed by:

the United States Department of Justice;
the United States Department of Transportation;
the Americans with Disabilities Act;
any state or local government; or
any governmental service-animal certification program.

References to laws, agencies, or governmental forms on the Service are provided for informational purposes and do not imply sponsorship, approval, or affiliation.

2. REGISTRATION IS VOLUNTARY

OSAR registration is voluntary.

An OSAR record:

does not create service-animal status;
does not create public-access rights;
does not replace the requirements of applicable law;
does not constitute governmental registration;
does not constitute governmental certification; and
is not required to exercise rights that otherwise exist under applicable law.

A handler’s choice not to use OSAR does not diminish any rights the handler or animal may otherwise have.

3. PURPOSE OF THE OSAR REGISTRY

OSAR exists to provide a voluntary, portable, transparent record that distinguishes between information supplied by a registrant and information that has been independently confirmed.

An OSAR record may help a handler organize and voluntarily share information concerning an animal’s:

identity;
registry status;
training source;
training history;
handler relationship;
microchip linkage;
independent verification status; and
other information supported by OSAR programs.

The purpose of an OSAR record is to provide useful information.

It is not to manufacture, sell, or imply legal status.

4. NO LEGAL OR MEDICAL DETERMINATION

OSAR does not determine:

whether a person legally has a disability;
whether a person medically requires a service animal;
whether an animal meets every applicable legal definition of a service animal;
whether a handler has a right of access in a particular location;
whether an animal satisfies the laws of a foreign country;
whether an airline must transport an animal; or
whether a particular accommodation must be provided.

Those questions may depend on facts and laws outside OSAR’s knowledge or authority.

OSAR verifies specific facts where indicated. It does not adjudicate legal rights.

5. NO LEGAL ADVICE

It is not legal advice.

Laws and regulations may change and may differ by jurisdiction.

Users are responsible for consulting applicable governmental authorities or qualified legal counsel concerning their particular circumstances.

6. BASIC REGISTRATION IS FREE

OSAR’s basic registry is intended to remain free.

OSAR does not charge an annual subscription or recurring membership fee merely to maintain a basic eligible registry record.

Basic registration may include:

creation of an eligible record;
handler self-attestation;
an OSAR record number;
a public verification page;
a QR verification credential;
basic record management; and
other features identified by OSAR as part of free registration.

OSAR may change or improve the features included with the free Service, but OSAR will not represent a paid verification service as legally necessary for service-animal status.

7. OPTIONAL PAID VERIFICATION

Certain optional verification processes create direct third-party or administrative costs.

OSAR may therefore charge a small one-time fee for services such as:

handler identity verification;
professional trainer confirmation;
training-organization confirmation;
animal-identity verification;
manual credential review;
future independent assessments; or
other optional verification services.

Payment purchases the verification process, not a favorable verification result and not service-animal status.

A verification fee does not make an animal legally more legitimate than an animal without paid verification.

Fees applicable to a particular service will be disclosed before purchase.

8. NO PAY-TO-CERTIFY MODEL

OSAR does not sell ADA certification.

Payment to OSAR does not entitle a user to:

a “Certified Service Animal” designation;
an “ADA Certified” designation;
governmental status;
public-access rights;
a favorable verification result; or
preferential treatment in OSAR’s verification process.

Independent verification means that a particular fact was independently checked according to the applicable OSAR process.

9. OSAR DOES NOT REGISTER EMOTIONAL SUPPORT ANIMALS

OSAR does not currently register animals solely on the basis that they provide emotional comfort or support.

OSAR therefore does not operate an Emotional Support Animal (“ESA”) registry and does not sell or facilitate ESA letters.

This distinction does not mean that emotional-support animals cannot provide meaningful benefits or have recognition under laws applicable in particular contexts.

OSAR’s registry mission is deliberately focused on animals trained to perform identifiable work or tasks.

10. PSYCHIATRIC SERVICE DOGS

Task-trained psychiatric service dogs may be eligible for registration under OSAR’s Service Animal classification.

A psychiatric service dog is distinct from an Emotional Support Animal when the dog has been individually trained to perform specific work or tasks related to a person’s disability.

OSAR eligibility is governed by applicable OSAR registry policies.

11. OWNER-TRAINED SERVICE DOGS

OSAR recognizes that a service dog may be owner-trained.

Professional training is not required merely to establish an OSAR record.

OSAR shall not represent owner-trained service dogs as inherently less legitimate than dogs trained by professional trainers or assistance-dog organizations.

Where training has not been independently confirmed, the record will distinguish between:

Handler Attested

and:

Independently Verified

12. WORKING DOG REGISTRY

OSAR may maintain a separate registry classification for bona fide working dogs.

Working-dog disciplines may include, subject to OSAR eligibility policies:

search and rescue;
detection;
conservation;
agricultural or biosecurity work;
tracking or trailing;
other operational working disciplines; and
other categories approved by OSAR.

A Working Dog record does not create service-animal status or ADA public-access rights.

OSAR may establish different eligibility and verification standards for different working disciplines.

13. ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS

To register an animal, you must satisfy the eligibility criteria applicable to the requested OSAR classification.

OSAR may establish and update eligibility standards consistent with its mission.

OSAR may reject, suspend, archive, or revoke records that:

are materially incomplete;
contain materially false information;
do not satisfy applicable eligibility criteria;
impersonate another person or animal;
misuse another trainer’s or organization’s identity;
violate these Terms;
create material security or fraud concerns; or
otherwise undermine the integrity of the registry.

OSAR will endeavor to apply eligibility requirements consistently and fairly.

14. USER ACCOUNTS

Certain OSAR functions require an account.

You agree to:

provide accurate account information;
maintain a valid email address;
protect your authentication credentials;
use reasonable security practices;
notify OSAR promptly of suspected unauthorized access;
keep account information reasonably current; and
accept responsibility for activity conducted through your account except to the extent caused by OSAR’s own security failure.

You may not:

create an account in another person’s name without authority;
share an account for the purpose of bypassing verification requirements;
transfer an account to another person without OSAR authorization; or
use another person’s account without permission.

15. AGE REQUIREMENTS

OSAR accounts are intended to be created and administered by adults who are at least 18 years old.

A legitimate service-animal handler may be a minor.

Where the handler is under 18, a parent or legal guardian should create and manage the applicable account and record in accordance with OSAR policies.

A minor’s status as the animal’s handler does not make the parent or guardian the service-animal handler.

OSAR may apply enhanced privacy settings or additional restrictions to records involving minors.

16. ACCURACY OF INFORMATION

You are responsible for the accuracy of information you submit to OSAR.

You agree not to knowingly provide information that is:

false;
misleading;
materially incomplete;
fabricated;
fraudulently altered; or
presented in a manner intended to mislead OSAR or another person about its source or verification status.

You are responsible for updating information when you become aware that it is materially inaccurate or outdated.

17. HANDLER ATTESTATIONS

OSAR may require a handler to make specific attestations as a condition of registration or continued record status.

These may include statements concerning:

accuracy of submitted information;
the animal’s training;
the handler-animal relationship;
the voluntary nature of OSAR registration;
the limitations of private registration;
public-record preferences; and
other matters reasonably related to registry integrity.

OSAR may record:

the attestation;
the version presented;
date and time;
associated account and record; and
appropriate technical audit information.

Knowingly making a materially false attestation may result in suspension or revocation of a record.

18. PUBLIC RECORDS AND PRIVACY SETTINGS

Certain registry information is designed to be publicly verifiable.

Handlers control designated privacy settings made available by OSAR.

Depending on those settings and the applicable record type, a public verification page may display information such as:

animal name;
animal photograph;
OSAR record number;
classification;
work or task categories;
record status;
training source;
verification statuses;
masked animal identifiers;
record-confirmation date; and
limited handler information.

OSAR does not intend to publicly display private account information such as:

private email address;
private telephone number;
home address;
payment information;
government identification number;
identity-document image;
identity-verification selfie;
biometric information;
medical diagnosis; or
complete microchip number.

Public information may be viewed, copied, photographed, cached, archived, or otherwise retained by third parties.

You should therefore consider information selected for public display to be public.

19. NO PUBLIC HANDLER DIRECTORY

OSAR is not intended to operate as an unrestricted directory of individuals who use service animals.

OSAR may limit registry lookup to:

exact OSAR record numbers;
QR codes;
secure verification URLs; and
other controlled verification methods.

OSAR may employ rate limits, anti-automation measures, search-engine controls, or other safeguards against enumeration or scraping.

20. PERMITTED USE OF PUBLIC VERIFICATION

OSAR’s public verification service is intended to allow a person to determine whether a specific OSAR record exists and what information that record currently displays.

You may use public verification for legitimate purposes such as:

verifying a credential voluntarily presented to you;
reviewing your own record;
confirming a training or organizational relationship where authorized;
evaluating an OSAR credential in a legitimate transaction; or
other reasonable purposes consistent with OSAR’s mission.

21. PROHIBITED USE OF PUBLIC VERIFICATION

You may not use OSAR public verification to:

create or compile a database of handlers;
scrape registry records;
profile individuals based on actual or inferred disability;
harass or intimidate handlers;
identify people with disabilities for marketing;
sell or broker registry information;
create targeted advertising profiles;
conduct unauthorized background checks;
facilitate unlawful discrimination;
impersonate OSAR;
create misleading derivative credentials;
defeat rate limits or access controls; or
use registry data for purposes inconsistent with these Terms.

OSAR may restrict access where it reasonably believes the verification service is being abused.

22. IDENTITY VERIFICATION

OSAR may offer optional independent handler identity verification through a specialized third-party provider such as Stripe Identity.

Identity verification confirms, to the extent represented by the applicable provider and process, information concerning the identity of the person completing the verification.

It does not establish:

disability;
medical need;
service-animal status;
public-access rights; or
the accuracy of every statement in an OSAR record.

23. THIRD-PARTY IDENTITY PROVIDERS

Identity-verification providers may collect sensitive information directly from the user, including government-issued identification, images, selfies, and biometric information.

Those providers operate subject to their own terms and privacy practices.

OSAR seeks to minimize its own retention of raw identity documents and biometric information, as further described in the OSAR Privacy Policy.

Use of an identity provider may require you to accept that provider’s separate terms.

OSAR is not responsible for acts or omissions of an independent identity provider except to the extent applicable law provides otherwise.

24. IDENTITY VERIFICATION RESULTS

Identity verification may result in statuses such as:

Verified;
Unable to Verify;
Pending;
Incomplete; or
another status supported by the applicable provider.

OSAR does not guarantee that a provider will successfully verify every user.

A failed or incomplete identity verification does not determine whether the user has a disability or whether an animal qualifies as a service animal.

OSAR may establish reasonable retry limits to control fraud and third-party verification costs.

25. TRAINING VERIFICATION

A registrant may request independent confirmation of information concerning an animal’s professional trainer or training organization.

The registrant authorizes OSAR to contact the identified trainer or organization for purposes reasonably related to the requested verification.

OSAR may independently locate professional contact information rather than relying exclusively on contact information supplied by the registrant.

26. WHAT TRAINING VERIFICATION MEANS

A confirmed training status means only what the corresponding OSAR verification label states.

For example:

Professional Trainer Relationship: Confirmed

means OSAR received information sufficient under its process to confirm the stated trainer relationship.

It does not mean that:

OSAR certifies the animal under the ADA;
the trainer possesses legal authority to determine ADA status;
OSAR independently observed every training session;
the animal will perform perfectly in every environment; or
the handler possesses a particular legal right.

OSAR will endeavor to describe verification narrowly and accurately.

27. TRAINER NONRESPONSE

OSAR cannot compel a trainer or organization to participate.

If a trainer or organization does not respond, OSAR may designate the result using language such as:

Unable to Confirm

or:

Not Independently Confirmed

Nonresponse is not proof that the handler submitted false information.

OSAR may establish a reasonable number of contact attempts after which a verification request is closed.

28. TRAINERS AND ORGANIZATION REPRESENTATIVES

If you respond to an OSAR verification request as a trainer or organization representative, you represent that:

you are authorized to provide the information submitted;
your statements are accurate to the best of your knowledge;
you will not knowingly misrepresent your relationship with the animal or handler; and
you understand that OSAR may rely on your response in displaying a verification status.

You are not required to disclose information that you are legally or contractually prohibited from disclosing.

You should not provide unnecessary medical information about the handler.

29. TRAINER AND ORGANIZATION ACCOUNTS

OSAR may later provide verified trainer or organization accounts.

Additional terms, eligibility criteria, or verification requirements may apply to such accounts.

Professional status on OSAR does not constitute endorsement of the trainer or organization unless OSAR expressly states otherwise.

30. ANIMAL IDENTITY AND MICROCHIPS

OSAR may permit handlers to associate an animal’s microchip or other identifier with a record.

A microchip linkage indicates only the scope of the applicable verification process.

OSAR does not guarantee:

ownership of the animal;
accuracy of an external microchip database;
continued functionality of the microchip; or
legal title to the animal.

OSAR may mask full microchip numbers on public verification pages.

31. FUTURE ASSESSMENTS

OSAR may offer optional public-access, task-performance, working-dog, or other assessments.

Unless expressly stated otherwise, an OSAR assessment:

is an observation made under the circumstances of that assessment;
does not guarantee future behavior;
does not constitute governmental certification; and
does not independently determine legal rights.

Additional assessment terms may apply.

32. DIGITAL CREDENTIALS

OSAR may issue:

QR credentials;
Apple Wallet credentials;
Google Wallet credentials; and
other digital credentials.

A credential is a convenient representation of information associated with an OSAR record.

It is not:

government identification;
a license;
an ADA certificate;
proof of disability; or
a substitute for documentation legally required by another authority.

33. APPLE WALLET AND GOOGLE WALLET

Use of Apple Wallet or Google Wallet is also subject to the applicable provider’s terms.

Apple and Google are independent third parties and do not sponsor or certify OSAR merely because an OSAR credential is technically compatible with their wallet services.

OSAR cannot guarantee continued availability of a third-party wallet platform or a particular wallet feature.

34. QR CREDENTIALS

OSAR QR credentials generally link to a live public verification record.

You may not:

alter a QR credential to direct users to a fraudulent website;
reproduce an OSAR credential for another animal;
alter displayed verification information;
create counterfeit OSAR credentials; or
use an expired, archived, revoked, or transferred credential in a misleading manner.

35. NO PHYSICAL ID CARD OR MERCHANDISE REQUIREMENT

OSAR does not require a physical identification card, vest, patch, certificate, tag, or other merchandise as a condition of registration.

OSAR currently does not operate its registry as a merchandise-sales program.

The absence of physical merchandise does not reduce the status of an otherwise valid OSAR record.

OSAR may change the features it offers in the future, but no physical product will create legal service-animal status merely because OSAR offers or recognizes it.

36. AIR TRAVEL

OSAR credentials do not replace airline documentation.

U.S. airlines may require forms or other information permitted under applicable Department of Transportation rules.

OSAR does not guarantee that an airline will accept an OSAR credential as supporting documentation.

Handlers are responsible for satisfying applicable airline requirements.

37. INTERNATIONAL TRAVEL

OSAR registration does not guarantee recognition in another country.

International destinations may impose requirements concerning:

animal importation;
microchips;
vaccinations;
health certificates;
quarantine;
assistance-dog recognition;
approved training organizations;
transportation; or
other matters.

An OSAR record may be used as supplemental information where useful, but it does not replace official documentation required by a foreign government, airline, border authority, or other organization.

38. LOCAL LICENSING AND VACCINATION

OSAR registration does not replace ordinary animal-control, licensing, vaccination, or public-health requirements.

Handlers remain responsible for compliance with applicable local requirements.

39. USER CONTENT

“User Content” means information, photographs, text, documents, descriptions, responses, and other materials you submit to OSAR.

You retain ownership of your User Content except for rights necessary to operate the Service.

You grant OSAR a nonexclusive, worldwide, royalty-free license to host, store, process, reproduce, display, transmit, format, and otherwise use User Content solely as reasonably necessary to:

operate the Service;
maintain the registry;
provide public verification according to your settings;
provide credentials;
perform requested verification;
protect registry integrity;
provide support;
comply with law; and
fulfill other purposes disclosed when the information is submitted.

OSAR does not obtain ownership of your animal photograph merely because you upload it.

40. RIGHTS TO SUBMITTED CONTENT

You represent that you have the rights and authority necessary to submit User Content to OSAR.

You may not knowingly upload:

photographs you have no right to use;
forged certificates;
altered verification documents presented as authentic;
another person’s private information without authority;
copyrighted materials in violation of the owner’s rights;
malicious files; or
unlawful content.

41. PUBLIC CONTENT LICENSE

When you intentionally designate information as public through OSAR’s privacy controls, you authorize OSAR to display that information through the applicable public verification service.

You may change eligible privacy settings through available account controls.

Changes cannot guarantee deletion of copies previously made by third parties.

42. NO MARKETING USE OF HANDLER IDENTITY WITHOUT PERMISSION

OSAR will obtain additional permission where reasonably required before using identifiable registrant content for testimonials, fundraising campaigns, promotional features, or similar marketing.

43. PAYMENTS

Payments for optional services may be processed by Stripe or another payment provider.

By purchasing a paid service, you authorize the disclosed charge.

OSAR does not intend to store complete payment-card credentials.

Applicable taxes, if any, will be handled according to applicable law and OSAR’s payment configuration.

44. REFUNDS AND FAILED VERIFICATION

Verification fees cover the process of attempting independent verification and do not guarantee a successful result.

The specific refund, retry, abandonment, or credit policy applicable to a verification service will be disclosed at checkout or before the verification begins.

Where OSAR incurs a third-party verification charge because a completed verification returns an unsuccessful result, the applicable service fee may remain nonrefundable if disclosed before purchase.

OSAR may provide refunds or credits where:

required by law;
a technical failure prevents OSAR from providing the purchased service;
OSAR elects to do so as a matter of fairness; or
the applicable service policy provides otherwise.

45. DONATIONS

OSAR may accept voluntary donations.

A donation is separate from payment for a verification service.

Donating does not:

improve verification results;
influence registry decisions;
create special registry status;
increase public-access rights; or
entitle a donor to preferential treatment.

OSAR will not represent a donation as tax deductible unless OSAR has a lawful basis for doing so.

The tax treatment of a contribution depends on applicable law and the donor’s circumstances.

46. COMMUNICATIONS

By creating an account, you agree to receive communications reasonably necessary to administer the Service, including:

email verification;
security notices;
registry-status notices;
training-verification messages;
payment receipts;
re-attestation requests;
privacy notices; and
changes to legally significant terms.

If OSAR sends optional newsletters, fundraising communications, or promotional messages, applicable unsubscribe mechanisms will be provided.

47. ELECTRONIC TRANSACTIONS AND SIGNATURES

You agree that OSAR may conduct transactions electronically.

Where permitted by law:

electronic records satisfy writing requirements;
electronic acceptance may constitute agreement;
clicking an acceptance control may constitute an electronic signature; and
OSAR may retain electronic evidence of acceptance, attestations, and consent.

You are responsible for maintaining a functioning email address associated with your account.

48. PROHIBITED CONDUCT

You may not use the Service to:

submit knowingly false or fraudulent registration information;

misrepresent a pet or ineligible animal as qualifying for an OSAR category;

impersonate another handler, trainer, evaluator, organization, or OSAR representative;

fabricate a training relationship;

forge or alter supporting evidence;

bypass verification controls;

create duplicate records for fraudulent purposes;

scrape, crawl, harvest, or bulk-download registry information without authorization;

attempt to identify handlers through systematic record enumeration;

use registry information for unlawful discrimination, harassment, or surveillance;

upload malware or malicious content;

probe or exploit security vulnerabilities without authorization;

interfere with OSAR infrastructure;

circumvent rate limits or access controls;

access information you are not authorized to access;

alter or counterfeit OSAR credentials;

falsely imply endorsement by OSAR;

falsely imply governmental endorsement;

resell OSAR verification results as governmental certification;

use OSAR trademarks in a misleading manner;

violate another person’s privacy, intellectual-property, or legal rights; or

use the Service for unlawful purposes.

49. SECURITY RESEARCH

OSAR supports responsible security research.

Researchers must not:

access or expose private user information;
disrupt production services;
extort OSAR or users;
modify user data;
engage in destructive testing; or
publicly disclose an unremediated vulnerability in a manner that creates unreasonable risk.

OSAR may publish a separate vulnerability-disclosure policy.

Where such a policy exists, researchers should follow it.

50. RECORD SUSPENSION, ARCHIVING, AND REVOCATION

OSAR may suspend, archive, limit, or revoke a record when reasonably necessary to protect registry integrity.

Reasons may include:

material fraud;
knowingly false attestations;
impersonation;
misuse of verification credentials;
material violation of these Terms;
unresolved security concerns;
duplicate or fraudulent records;
legal requirements; or
other significant integrity concerns.

OSAR may temporarily suspend public display while investigating a credible concern.

OSAR will endeavor to avoid publicly characterizing a registrant as fraudulent unless supported by sufficient information.

51. ACCOUNT SUSPENSION OR TERMINATION

OSAR may limit, suspend, or terminate an account that materially violates these Terms or creates a substantial security, fraud, legal, or integrity risk.

Where reasonably appropriate, OSAR may provide:

notice;
an explanation;
an opportunity to correct the problem; or
an internal review mechanism.

Immediate action may be taken when reasonably necessary to protect users, data, security, or the integrity of the Service.

52. USER-REQUESTED ARCHIVAL OR REMOVAL

Handlers may archive or request removal of their records according to available OSAR procedures.

OSAR may retain limited internal records as described in the Privacy Policy where reasonably necessary for:

fraud prevention;
accounting;
legal compliance;
transaction records;
disputes;
security;
audit history; or
enforcement.

Removal from public access does not necessarily mean every internal record is immediately destroyed.

53. THIRD-PARTY SERVICES

OSAR may rely on third parties for services such as:

identity verification;
payment processing;
hosting;
email delivery;
database infrastructure;
digital-wallet services;
object storage;
security;
analytics;
accessibility tools; or
other technical services.

OSAR is not responsible for an independent third party’s services, outages, decisions, or data practices except to the extent required by applicable law.

Use of a third-party service may be governed by separate terms.

54. LINKS TO OTHER WEBSITES

OSAR may link to:

government agencies;
trainers;
service-animal organizations;
working-dog organizations;
veterinary resources;
retailers;
educational resources; or
other websites.

A link does not necessarily constitute endorsement.

OSAR does not control independent third-party websites.

55. OSAR INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY

Except for User Content and third-party materials, the Service and its associated content may include intellectual property owned by or licensed to OSAR, including:

OSAR name;
logos;
credential designs;
software;
documentation;
website design;
written educational materials;
databases;
verification methodology;
graphics; and
other original content.

No rights are granted except as expressly provided in these Terms.

56. LIMITED LICENSE TO USE THE SERVICE

This license does not permit:

resale of OSAR services;
creation of a competing registry through scraping;
use of OSAR data for unrelated commercial profiling;
reverse engineering except where law prohibits such restriction; or
unauthorized reproduction of OSAR branding.

57. USE OF OSAR NAME AND MARKS

You may accurately state that an animal has an OSAR record or that a specific verification appears on an OSAR record.

You may not use OSAR branding in a manner that falsely suggests:

sponsorship;
endorsement;
employment;
partnership;
governmental status;
certification authority; or
affiliation beyond the actual relationship.

OSAR may publish separate trademark and brand-use guidelines.

58. AVAILABILITY OF THE SERVICE

OSAR intends to maintain a reliable Service but does not guarantee uninterrupted availability.

The Service may be unavailable because of:

maintenance;
software defects;
service-provider outages;
cybersecurity incidents;
network failures;
legal restrictions;
natural disasters; or
circumstances beyond OSAR’s reasonable control.

OSAR may modify, suspend, or discontinue a feature where reasonably necessary.

59. NO GUARANTEE OF THIRD-PARTY ACCEPTANCE

OSAR does not guarantee that any:

business;
government agency;
airline;
hotel;
employer;
school;
housing provider;
foreign authority;
transportation provider; or
other person

will accept or rely upon an OSAR credential.

An organization’s refusal to accept an OSAR credential does not by itself mean that the organization has violated the law, nor does acceptance by an organization establish legal status.

60. NO GUARANTEE OF ANIMAL BEHAVIOR

An OSAR record, trainer confirmation, assessment, or other verification does not guarantee future animal behavior.

Animals remain under the responsibility and control of their handlers as required by applicable law.

OSAR is not responsible for an animal’s:

behavior;
injury to a person;
injury to another animal;
property damage;
training regression;
illness; or
failure to perform a trained task.

61. NO VETERINARY SERVICES

OSAR does not provide veterinary diagnosis or treatment.

Registry information concerning vaccination, health, microchips, or animal identity does not substitute for veterinary care or legally required veterinary documentation.

62. SERVICE PROVIDED “AS IS”

TO THE MAXIMUM EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW, THE SERVICE IS PROVIDED ON AN “AS IS” AND “AS AVAILABLE” BASIS.

OSAR DISCLAIMS WARRANTIES NOT EXPRESSLY PROVIDED IN THESE TERMS, INCLUDING IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF:

MERCHANTABILITY;
FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE;
NON-INFRINGEMENT; AND
UNINTERRUPTED OR ERROR-FREE OPERATION.

OSAR DOES NOT WARRANT THAT:

EVERY REGISTRY STATEMENT IS TRUE;
EVERY THIRD PARTY WILL RESPOND TO VERIFICATION;
EVERY IDENTITY CHECK WILL SUCCEED;
EVERY RECORD WILL BE ACCEPTED BY A THIRD PARTY;
THE SERVICE WILL ALWAYS BE AVAILABLE; OR
USE OF THE SERVICE WILL RESOLVE AN ACCESS OR LEGAL DISPUTE.

Nothing in this Section excludes a warranty that cannot lawfully be excluded.

63. LIMITATION OF LIABILITY

THIS INCLUDES, TO THE EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW:

LOST PROFITS;
LOST DATA;
LOSS OF OPPORTUNITY;
BUSINESS INTERRUPTION;
REPUTATIONAL LOSS;
THIRD-PARTY REFUSAL TO ACCEPT A CREDENTIAL; OR
CONSEQUENCES OF RELIANCE ON USER-SUPPLIED INFORMATION.

TO THE MAXIMUM EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW, OSAR’S AGGREGATE LIABILITY ARISING FROM OR RELATING TO THE SERVICE WILL NOT EXCEED THE GREATER OF:

(A) $100; OR

(B) THE AMOUNT YOU PAID TO OSAR FOR THE SPECIFIC SERVICE GIVING RISE TO THE CLAIM DURING THE TWELVE MONTHS PRECEDING THE EVENT GIVING RISE TO THE CLAIM.

Nothing in these Terms limits liability that applicable law prohibits OSAR from limiting, including liability arising from conduct for which a limitation would be legally unenforceable.

64. INDEMNIFICATION

materially false information you knowingly submit;
fraud or impersonation by you;
your infringement of another person’s rights;
User Content you submit without authority;
unlawful use of the Service; or
your material violation of these Terms.

This provision does not require you to indemnify OSAR for OSAR’s own negligence, unlawful conduct, or wrongdoing where such indemnification would be prohibited by law.

OSAR will provide reasonable notice of a covered claim where practicable.

65. PRIVACY

OSAR’s collection and use of personal information is described in the OSAR Privacy Policy.

The Privacy Policy is incorporated into these Terms by reference where permitted by law.

If there is a direct conflict between these Terms and a specific privacy right required by applicable law, the applicable privacy law controls.

66. COPYRIGHT COMPLAINTS

OSAR respects intellectual-property rights.

If you believe material available through OSAR infringes your copyright, you may send an infringement notice to:

legal@openserviceanimalregistry.org

The notice should contain sufficient information to identify:

the copyrighted work;
the allegedly infringing material;
the location of the material;
your contact information;
your good-faith belief regarding unauthorized use; and
other information required by applicable law.

OSAR may remove or restrict material while evaluating a credible infringement notice.

67. FEEDBACK

If you voluntarily submit suggestions, ideas, or general product feedback to OSAR, you grant OSAR permission to use that feedback without restriction or compensation.

This provision does not transfer ownership of unrelated confidential material, User Content, personal information, or intellectual property merely because it is communicated to OSAR.

68. CHANGES TO THE SERVICE

OSAR may modify the Service as the organization develops.

Changes may include:

new verification methods;
eligibility standards;
credential formats;
privacy controls;
record statuses;
service providers;
security features; or
optional paid services.

OSAR will not retroactively describe previously unverified information as verified merely because its verification methodology changes.

69. CHANGES TO THESE TERMS

OSAR may update these Terms to reflect:

changes in law;
changes in the Service;
new verification programs;
security requirements;
organizational changes; or
other legitimate operational needs.

The effective and last-updated dates will appear at the top.

If a change materially alters your rights or obligations, OSAR will provide additional notice where reasonably appropriate or legally required.

Continued use after the effective date of revised Terms constitutes acceptance to the extent permitted by law.

Where applicable law requires affirmative consent, OSAR will request it.

70. GOVERNING LAW

Nothing in these Terms eliminates rights that cannot lawfully be waived under the law applicable to a particular user.

71. INFORMAL DISPUTE RESOLUTION

Before filing a lawsuit concerning a dispute arising directly from these Terms or the Service, you and OSAR are encouraged to attempt to resolve the dispute informally.

You may send a written description of the issue to:

legal@openserviceanimalregistry.org

OSAR will make a reasonable effort to review and respond.

Nothing in this Section prevents either party from:

seeking emergency injunctive relief;
complying with a legal deadline;
reporting unlawful conduct to an appropriate authority; or
exercising a right that applicable law does not permit these Terms to restrict.

72. JURISDICTION AND VENUE

Each party consents to personal jurisdiction in such courts to the extent legally permissible.

73. NO MANDATORY ARBITRATION IN THESE TERMS

These Terms do not currently require users to submit disputes to mandatory private arbitration.

74. SEVERABILITY

If a provision of these Terms is determined to be unlawful, invalid, or unenforceable, that provision shall be enforced to the maximum lawful extent or severed where necessary.

The remaining provisions will continue in effect.

75. NO WAIVER

OSAR’s failure to enforce a provision of these Terms does not waive OSAR’s right to enforce that provision later.

A waiver concerning one circumstance does not constitute a waiver concerning another.

76. ASSIGNMENT

OSAR may assign these Terms in connection with a lawful nonprofit reorganization, merger, transfer of programs, or similar organizational transition, subject to applicable nonprofit and privacy laws.

77. ENTIRE AGREEMENT

These Terms, together with:

the Privacy Policy;
applicable registry policies;
verification-specific terms presented before purchase or participation;
applicable consent forms; and
other policies expressly incorporated by reference

constitute the agreement between you and OSAR concerning use of the Service.

Where specific terms for a particular service conflict with these general Terms, the more specific terms govern that particular service unless otherwise stated.

78. HEADINGS

Headings are provided for convenience and do not limit the meaning of these Terms.

79. SURVIVAL

Provisions that by their nature should survive account closure or termination will survive, including provisions concerning:

intellectual property;
retained records;
payment obligations;
disclaimers;
limitation of liability;
indemnification;
dispute resolution; and
governing law.

80. ACCESSIBILITY

OSAR intends to make its Terms, policies, registration system, and verification services accessible to people with disabilities.

If you cannot access these Terms or another OSAR process because of an accessibility issue, contact:

accessibility@openserviceanimalregistry.org

OSAR will work to provide reasonable access to the information or process through an appropriate alternative format or method.

81. CONTACT INFORMATION

Questions about these Terms may be directed to:

Open Service Animal Registry, Inc.

Website:
openserviceanimalregistry.org

Legal inquiries:
legal@openserviceanimalregistry.org

Privacy inquiries:
privacy@openserviceanimalregistry.org

General inquiries:
[INSERT GENERAL CONTACT EMAIL]

Mailing Address:
[INSERT CORPORATE MAILING ADDRESS BEFORE PUBLICATION]

82. CORE OSAR PRINCIPLE

OSAR exists to make information about voluntarily registered service animals and working dogs more transparent, not more authoritative than the law permits.

Accordingly:

OSAR registration is voluntary;
basic registration is free;
optional verification confirms specific facts rather than legal status;
OSAR does not sell ADA certification;
OSAR does not require professional training;
OSAR recognizes eligible owner-trained service dogs;
OSAR does not operate an Emotional Support Animal registry;
public verification is free;
paid verification does not create service-animal rights;
digital credentials do not replace legally required documentation; and
the handler remains in control of whether and when an OSAR credential is voluntarily presented.