ESA stands for Emotional Support Animal, and is recognized as an Assistance Animal by Federal law. An Assistance Animal is any domesticated animal that works, performs or provides assistance. The animal carries out tasks for the benefit of a person with an emotional disability. He or she also provides emotional support to help alleviate one or more symptoms of a person’s emotional disability.
Getting an ESA is not a way to avoid pet deposits and pet rent. ESAs are usually prescribed for people with panic disorders, different types of anxiety, depression, phobias, and PTSD. They have also been shown to help those with Bipolar Disorder and other mental or emotional health issues.
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How does an Emotional Support Animal help?
For starters, an ESA creates stability, as animals need to be cared for. Dogs, for example, require a structured schedule for things like feeding, exercise, playtime, naps, and training. This type of routine is quite helpful for people who have Bipolar Disorder, depression, high stress, or are lonely. Having an ESA to care for encourages those who need them to be responsible for an animal regularly.
Activities like play and walking get people outdoors, which lowers stress and anxiety, naturally. Playtime can also be beneficial, as it breeds joy and laughter, releasing much of the day’s stress. Animals are naturally fun, loving, cuddly, entertaining, and they like to live in the moment. They can truly teach us how to live happily.
Their behavior and pure joy are infectious. They make us smile, laugh, foster positivity, and encourage us to get out of bed to walk them. Dogs also provide the unconditional love we are missing in our life.
Dogs are comforting, which helps when you feel depressed, hopeless, and withdrawn from life. Some people need to feel more grounded, and ESAs can also help with this too. Just petting your Emotional Support Animal can bring you back to the present.
Many people with mental or emotional problems struggle with feeling judged by others. Animals never judge, so it’s easy to feel safe around animals. An Emotional Support Animal will never judge you, hold grudges, or decide not to love you anymore. It’s a strong relationship you can rely on.
How do I get an ESA Letter that’s valid?
It’s important to see your therapist to see if an Emotional Support Animal is a good fit for you. If it is, your therapist may automatically recommend an ESA for you. Alternatively, you can bring it up if you think an ESA could help you. Having a discussion about it will help you better understand how one might be able to help you. You can only acquire an ESA prescription from a mental health professional who knows you, and works with you.
There are tons of “ESA letters” available online. Even if they’re legitimate, and you’ve filled out long questionnaires, those ESA letters will likely not be accepted by many landlords. They may also be rejected by schools and others. I don’t agree with this, but it’s how the system works.
Finding the Right Emotional Support Animal
There is no perfect way to find the ideal Emotional Support Animal. It’s ideal to have an animal who easily bonds with you, which will likely be a dog or cat. If you’re looking for a dog, some breeds bond more than others. I know from experience that Australian Cattle dogs, Labrador Retrievers, and Border Collies are very loyal, bonding with their owners. You can look up other breeds online that are also inclined to bond.
Please don’t rule out mixed breeds and rescue dogs. My ESA is a Cattle dog and Bully mix from a shelter. I already had her. I realized she was naturally becoming my ESA. That is when I decided to talk to my therapist about getting an ESA letter for her.
Also know that your ESA can be any reasonable type of animal that you prefer. Obviously, having a pony in an apartment is unreasonable, but a rabbit is reasonable.
Do I need to register my ESA?
No, you don’t. Emotional Support Animals do not require any kind of registration. There is no current requirement to register your ESA. You don’t need to put a banner on their harness. You also aren’t obligated to identify them in any way to the public.
There are dozens of websites out there, selling ESA letters. Many will tell you that you need to register them. They will also advise you to purchase special ESA cards, tags, collars, and harnesses. However, there’s really no point. ESAs are not recognized as Service Animals (dogs). You would be wasting your money. The only proof you need for your ESA is your ESA letter from your mental health professional.
The only time you’ll need to show proof that your ESA is legitimate is when looking for permanent housing. You must present the ESA letter from your mental health practitioner. This will prove that you need an Emotional Support Animal for mental health reasons.
ESAs are NOT service animals, but they do qualify as Assistance Animals under HUD, and do have some allowances under Federal Law.
What allowances to ESAs have under Federal Laws?
Under the Fair Housing Act, those who have ESAs cannot be discriminated against due to a disability that requires an ESA when it comes to housing. An Emotional Support Animal cannot be banned, and breed restrictions do not apply to an Emotional Support Animal under these laws. People with an ESA cannot be charged pet deposits or pet rent for having an Emotional Support Animal living with them.
Individuals who use ESAs are provided certain accommodations under federal law, in the instance of permanent housing. The Fair Housing Act includes ESAs in its definition of assistance animals.
Emotional Support Animals used to have rights in air travel, but that is no longer the case. The U.S. Department of Transportation no longer recognizes ESAs as a service animal, so there are no allowances for them in regard to air travel. They are treated as no more than pets by the DOT.
How does an ESA Differ from a Service Animal?
The most obvious and important difference between an Emotional Support Animal and a Service Dog is clear. Service dogs are specifically trained to do work. They perform different tasks for the welfare of a qualified person with a disability. This includes a physical, sensory, psychiatric, or other mental disability.
On the other hand, Emotional Support Animals, Therapy dogs, Comfort and Companion animals have not been individually trained. Therefore, they are not considered Service Dogs by the ADA. It is noted, however, that some state and local governments will allow ESAs in public places.
Do you have an Emotional Support Animal? Tell us about your experience in the comments below.
