What Are Emotional Support Animals?
Emotional support dogs are so much more than pets — they provide support and comfort to individuals who are dealing with mental and emotional disabilities. Living with a disabling mental illness can negatively impact major activities of life as well as daily activities. An emotional support dog can be helpful. As medical professionals learn more about mental health, they can diagnose and treat previously neglected conditions. In many cases, ESA is an important part of coping with mental or emotional disabilities.
ESAs are not the same as service animals in that they are not trained to perform specific tasks, such as guiding blind people. ESAs can be just as important to a person as a service animal by offering a supportive and comforting presence. ESA has certain rights under state and federal law.
Some mental illnesses that can benefit from ESAs include anxiety, stress disorders, panic attacks, bipolar disorder, depression, and PTSD. Although any animal can qualify to become an ESA, dogs and cats are some of the most common examples.
How Did Your Dog Become an Emotional Support Animal?
Most states recognize the need for emotional support animals for the emotionally and mentally challenged. However, state and local government agencies have enacted special state laws regarding emotional support animals.
While service animals are protected by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), emotional support animals are protected only under the federal Fair Housing Act.
Applicants must have an emotional support animal certificate for housing for their dog to be a state-recognized emotional support animal.
Those in the states will be eligible to receive emotional support animal letters online by following simple steps.
Take the prequalification quiz
This quiz depends on whether you already have a pet that you’d like to identify as an emotional support dog, or if you’d like to get an emotional support animal letter, then adopt an emotional support dog afterward.
Suppose you adopt an emotional support animal after receiving your emotional support animal letter. In this case, you may be asked how many pets you have, what kind of emotional support dog you are looking for, and what type of emotional support letter you need.
Evaluated
After taking the quiz, you’ll receive a link in your email to schedule a telehealth appointment with a Pettable licensed mental health professional. One of these professionals will meet with you to assess how an emotional support animal can benefit your mental disability and help alleviate your mental or emotional disability symptoms.
Receive Your Letter
A licensed mental health professional can write you a valid ESA letter which can be provided to your landlord or housing provider stating that your emotional support animal is a requirement due to a medical condition. You can receive your letter within 24 hours of consultation, with the exception of California residents who obtain an ESA letter in California.
Source: Things You Need to Know About Emotional Support Animals
