The terms here are being used incorrectly are that is what is causing some confusion. The dog in question is NOT a therapy dog. It is an assistance dog. People who need assistance dogs do have rights under the ADA. I don't know whose rights trump in this situation, but it would help if the authors of the article at least got the legal terms correct.
Therapy dogs provide nothing but emotional comfort to a variety of people. They are not trained to perform specific tasks for a specific person. Think dogs who provide comfort to people in traumatic situations or in hospitals.
Service dogs are trained to perform specific tasks to assist one specific person who has specific disabilities.
Service dogs vs. therapy dogs
