California legal term
Facility dog in California Criminal Law
Current through 2026 California legislative session
In California criminal law, “Facility dog” is a term defined by statute rather than by its everyday meaning. Its statutory definition — quoted verbatim below — controls how the term is applied throughout the California criminal code.
What does “Facility dog” mean in California criminal law?
“Facility dog” means a dog that has successfully completed a training program in providing emotional comfort in a high-stress environment for the purpose of enhancing the ability of a witness to speak in a judicial proceeding and reducing his or her stress level, provided by an assistance dog organization accredited by Assistance Dogs International or a similar nonprofit organization that sets standards of training for dogs, and that has passed a public access test for service animals. (Cal. Penal Code § 868.4)
Statutes defining or using this term
Related terms in the same statutes
This reference is informational and is not legal advice.