[Coda]

Lucid, fortunately it's not quite as ridiculous as it sounds. People CAN'T get a certification for just any run-of-the-mill pet, and non-disabled people can't get a service/support animal registration. For starters, even though a disabled person doesn't have to tell the specifics about the disability, there is a requirement to verify one's disability with the registration board by having a licensed mental health professional write a letter to the board verifying that the animal is medically necessary. And not just any pet can get the registration; the pet must be "manageable in public" which means that it must never show aggression towards humans or other animals when unprovoked. And if that pet is a dog on a leash, there are a set of commands that the pet must recognize and obey.

The registration is, technically, not a requirement. It just makes things easier because you can show the registration and avoid a lot of questions. (You can't be asked to show registration, but you can show it if you want.) However, if your service/support animal misbehaves in any way, even if registered, you can get kicked out like anyone else.

The law also says you also have to be able to explain how the animal assists you to anyone who asks, and provide verbal evidence about the necessity of the animal and the role the animal plays. If it looks like you're making something up, or if the animal isn't necessary to perform the task (for example, if the animal carries supplies that you could carry yourself in a bag), then again, you can get ejected.

So basically... the idea that you don't have to explain anything is misleading. You have to explain EVERYTHING about the animal -- just not about yourself. So you'd better be practicing your story.

As an aside: "Therapy dogs" that provide comfort and affection are not service animals and entertain no protection under the law. (This is different from an emotional support animal, whose presence mitigates psychological issues.) If some service is claiming to register them, they're a scam.