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animals are different from service animals. Federal law defines an
ESA as a pet. The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) states that
an animal that provides emotional comfort is not recognized as a
service animal. A service animal is defined by the ADA as a “dog
that is individually trained to work or perform tasks for people
with disabilities.” Emotional Support Animals differ from service
animals in that service animals go through a rather rigorous
training program to learn to provide support for a specific ailment.
Some common conditions that qualify for a service animal include
autism, blindness, asthma, diabetes, and epilepsy. Most service
animals are limited to a particular breed, but Emotional Support
Animals come from a wide range of critters. These Emotional Support
Animals are used to treat issues like depression, anxiety, phobias,
and other psychological or emotional difficulties. Any type of
animal or breed can qualify as an Emotional Support Animal if it
provides you comfort.
Types of Emotional Support Animals
The most common Emotional Support Animals are dogs and cats, but
animals such as parrots, bunnies, ferrets, and hedgehogs can qualify
as Emotional Support Animals too. As you are selecting the type of
animal that would benefit you, take into account your personal
preferences and living situation.
Housing with Emotional Support Animals
According to federal law and the Fair Housing Amendments Act (FHAA)
it is illegal to discriminate against someone with a recognized
impairment. This law relates to Emotional Support Animals because it
means that housing rights must be given to those animals. A “no
pets” policy must be considered void, and the landlords must make
reasonable accommodations for Emotional Support Animals, however
there are some exceptions. A private club does not have to accept
Emotional Support Animals. A landlord occupied dwelling with four or
less rental units, and a single-family dwelling that is rented also
does not have to accept Emotional Support Animals. Public dwellings
such as dorms and public housing facilities must abide by the FHAA
as long as it does not supersede public health recommendations. For
instance, some states have regulations that prohibit dogs in
swimming pools, including emotional support and service animals.
Traveling with Emotional Support Animals
The “Air Carrier Act” used to ensure that Emotional Support Animals
could fly in the cabin of the airplane for free. The law has since
been updated and now Emotional Support Animals are treated as
regular pets by the airlines. You will be charged a fee for your ESA
to fly with you and if your pet is larger than what is allowed in
the cabin of the airplane then they may be required to ride in
cargo.
Service Animals are always allowed to fly with you for free. Hotels
have the right to make their own determinations about Emotional
Support Animals, so before you travel check out the hotel’s website.
Airbnb sites used to allow ESAs in their properties free of charge.
Now, the law has changed, and they can charge a free or not allow
your ESA at all.
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Making your Emotional Support Animal Official
It is always smart to have documentation to support your claims.
Registering your Emotional Support Animal with US Service Animals
will allow you to provide a certificate of registration to airlines,
hotels, and other essential spaces. You will also get an official
Emotional Support Animal vest, ID tag, and become part of the
largest support animal and Emotional Support Animal database in the
United States.
There are fees involved with legally registering your pet as an
Emotional Support Animal. If you are thinking of registering your
animal, be aware of scams. It is crucial to realize that registering
your Emotional Support Animal shouldn’t be too easy. There is more
involved than paying a fee and printing a certificate, many of which
are not recognized as official. It is essential to speak to a
board-certified physician, receive a diagnosis that would qualify
you to have an ESA, and then receive written documentation from that
physician. Also be aware that you will need to update that
certification with a board-certified physician every year, there is
no such thing as a lifetime certification.
Emotional Support Animals can be an important part of the life of a
person with mental or emotional conditions. When people who do not
have the disability misuse the system by misrepresenting their pets
as Emotional Support Animals to obtain special privileges, they
undermine the importance of the accommodations made for individuals
in legitimate need of assistance. Please, take the time to research
all of the options, advantages, and disadvantages to registering
your pet as an Emotional Support Animal.
Sources
https://www.usserviceanimals.org
https://www.akc.org/expert-advice/news/everything-about-emotional-support-animals/
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