Why Comfort, Training, and Clinical Evaluation Are Different Questions

An emotional support animal is a companion that provides relief for individuals dealing with mental health issues. They offer unconditional affection, reduce feelings of anxiety, panic, or hopelessness, and require no formal, specialized training in order to qualify for the job. They can be any species, whether dogs, cats, or rabbits, differing from service animals that perform medical or physical tasks for disabled people in that they don’t perform any specific tasks and their presence is the only way in which they help. Understanding the difference between these categories is crucial since it dictates public safety, legal rights, and whether the animal is a working one or a pet.

What makes an animal ESA?

You’ve probably heard of animals that help people with mental or physical illnesses, assisting them in daily life and providing companionship as well as making daily tasks easier. However, not all of them have the same designation and status. In fact, there are so many differences that you may be confused about what they all mean. According to Prairie Conlon, Clinical Director at CertaPet, a therapy animal is there to help multiple people, such as in hospitals, nursing homes, schools, or libraries. An emotional support animal is for one person, but its legal protections are specific to housing. A psychiatric service dog is also for one person, but is specifically trained to perform tasks that mitigate that person’s disability. Unlike therapy animals or ESAs, psychiatric service dogs can accompany their handler in public places without needing special permission to be there.

Apart from that, the distinction also matters because a service dog, for instance, is trained to remain non-reactive even in unpredictable, high-stress surroundings. ESAs get legal protection as well though, particularly in the form of housing rights in accordance with federal law, which means that landlords can’t charge pet deposits, enforce breed restrictions, or deny you housing because you have an emotional support animal. You need to have a diagnosed mental or emotional health condition and documentation from a licensed therapist, psychiatrist, or other qualified service providers that confirms the animal’s role in your life and as part of your treatment.

Dogs and cats are still the most popular choices when it comes to picking an ESA animal, but rabbits, birds, guinea pigs and other domestic animals qualify too. Research shows that a majority of those who spend time with a pet report that they get genuine mental health benefits from the bond and interactions.

How do you choose the right ESA for you?

While all domestic animals can become ESAs the one that’s best for you depends on several personal factors. Dogs are the most common choice as they’re social animals and typically attuned to human emotions. There are many types of dogs as well, from the tiniest to the largest and they all have different energy levels and needs so it’s not difficult to find a dog that’s great for you. They do, however, require daily exercise and maybe some training too. Cats (who are very popular themselves) are lower maintenance because they don’t need daily walks, are quieter, and more independent.

According to Prairie Conlon, Clinical Director at CertaPet, when you’re deciding which pet you should get you should take your lifestyle, finances, work schedule, and the type of care the animal requires (and whether you’d be able to keep up with the demands) into consideration. In fact, getting an animal that matches your living situation should be your top priority. If you have an active lifestyle or would like to get more movement, have been battling depression, or need motivation to push through with daily routines you most likely need a dog. On the other hand, if you work long hours, have anxiety, and your space is on the smaller side you’ll have an easier time adapting to a cat. Rabbits are great for apartments and especially if you have noise concerns. They are both quiet and sociable, but need you to be home more often. CertaPet's emotional support animal guide provides further information about ESAs and the aspects you need to focus on when choosing one. 

If you travel a lot, you need to figure out who’s going to take care of your pet in your absence. If you move a lot, take into account how easy it is to transport the animal. Patients with anxiety or depression do best with affectionate animals, while social anxiety symptoms are lessened by gentle, non-reactive pets. In the case of PTSD, you’d do best with an intuitive dog that, ideally one that is PSD-trainable, meaning that it can learn how to soothe panic attacks or remind people of their medication, as simple emotional support isn’t enough to qualify.

Can you get an ESA?

Several mental health conditions allow you to qualify for an emotional support pet. Most ESA owners have a form of anxiety disorder such as social anxiety or panic disorder. Being diagnosed with depressive disorders like persistent depressive disorder or seasonal affective disorder as well as conditions related to stress or trauma makes you eligible to bring an emotional support animal into your life. Other conditions include learning disabilities, eating disorders, ADHD, OCD, bipolar disorder, and autism spectrum disorder.

Conlon outlines that wanting to avoid pet fees isn’t a sufficient or ethical reason to get an ESA since the pets exist for individuals who have genuine therapeutic needs. Using the status of your animal as a way to avoid pet rent can count as fraud, and if you’re unable to meet the requirements an animal needs in order to remain well and healthy you must look for alternative methods of treatment.

What are your legal rights as an ESA owner?

If you have an ESA, you cannot be charged monthly pet rent or pet deposits. Breed restrictions, size or weight limits, as well as requiring the animal to be confined to certain areas is also not allowed.

Landlords can’t demand to see your medical records either, as they remain confidential. However, a landlord can verify your ESA letter to assess its authenticity and charge for damages if your animal causes any. They can also deny accommodation if the animal poses a direct threat and require that your ESA be well-behaved and follow a few basic commands.

Some housing exemptions where FHA protections don’t apply include single-family homes that are rented without brokers and buildings occupied by owners and which have 4 units at most. Nonetheless, many landlords choose to accommodate emotional support animals of their own volition. Remember that the ESA documentation you can buy online might not work for housing, so although it is often cheaper and faster it is still very important to talk to a clinician and get a genuine assessment that will withstand landlord scrutiny and secure you a place. It’s worth it have the peace of mind that you did things right. 

As of 2021, ESAs are treated as regular pets during flights, meaning that breed restrictions apply and the animal must fit into a carrier under the seat. ESAs don’t have automatic workplace protections either, but you might be able to bring your pet along anyways. This is typically decided based on the nature of your job and whether the animal would create any problems or not.

In conclusion, getting an ESA is a relatively simple yet incredibly effective way of managing mental and emotional distress. It takes about a day or two for your letter to be delivered and since pretty much any domesticated animal can become an emotional support aide, there are many different options to choose from.