Archive for the ‘Emotional Support Animal’ Category
Have you seen dogs in the airport and wonder why they are allowed to fly? Chances are, they are emotional support animals. Below we will address steps to qualify for an ESA Letter so you may travel with your dog.
Step #1 – Understand and identify your disability Do you qualify for an ESA letter?You can be eligible for an ESA letter if you have disabilities, as noted in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (DSM). A few examples are:
Depression Social Anxiety Disorder Anxiety Disorder Post-traumatic Stress Disorder Panic Attacks What is an Emotional Support Animal?An Emotional Support Animal is a pet that provides comfort and love to their handler. An ESA can be any type of animal through an Emotional Support Dog is the most common choice.
Unlike a Service Dog, an Emotional Support Dog does not require special training but does have to be well behaved.
Step #2 – Understand your rights Are Emotional Support Animals allowed to fly?On January 11, 2021, rules by the U.S. Department of Transportation went into effect, giving airlines the option to no longer recognize emotional support animals. As a result, many airlines are no longer accepting emotional support animals on flights. A few airlines still allow ESAs into the cabin of the airplane at no extra cost, but their rules and policies may be adjusted at any time.
Please check with your airline prior to booking a flight to confirm their current policy for ESAs as it may change. It is better to contact the airline ahead of time to feel confident that you have all the required documentation needed for your trip.
If you’re flying with an airline that no longer has an ESA program, your animal must meet the airline’s requirements for regular pets.
Step #3 – Qualify for a Legitimate ESA letter How to qualify your dog as an Emotional Support Animal?If you feel that you may qualify for an Emotional Support Animal, you may contact your therapist for support. If your therapist is unaware of ESA regulations, you may refer to a legitimate online referral company. It is important that you work with a therapist who believes in animal therapy and understands the regulations as the ESA letter requires specific language.
Click here to qualify for your ESA letterIf you qualify for an Emotional Support Animal and have an ESA letter, we recommend that you submit your ESA letter to the participating airline ahead of time for approval. Each airline has their policy and procedure, so it’s best to inquire about their requirements as soon as possible not to run into any problems at the airport.
You are not required to register your Emotional Support Animal – only an ESA letter from a licensed therapist may make your pet an official Emotional Support Animal.
Step #4 – Train your ESA to be a “good citizen”Although an Emotional Support Animal does not require special training, they need to be well behaved. If you plan on taking your ESA onto an airplane, the participating airlines has the right to deny you access if they determine that your ESA may cause harm to others.
Examples of good citizen behavior are:
Walking with you and within the leash length; not pulling or lunging Ignoring food on the floor or in other passenger’s hands Not barking or lunging Sitting and staying on command Step #5 – Prepare your ESA for success Exercise and prepare for your ESA’s flightAs mentioned earlier, inquire with your airline regarding their assistance animals policy well in advance. We recommend contacting the airline as soon as you book your flight and submit any required documentation at least 48 hours before departure.
Here are some helpful tips for travelling with your ESA:
Do not give your ESA food or water 3-4 hours before the flight. Make sure they have ample opportunity to relieve themselves before the flight. Prepare treats for good behavior in the airport. This is an excellent opportunity to reward them for positive behavior and enforce it for the next trip. Your ESA should associate the airport as a fun place where they get tons of treats in return for behaving well. Make sure your ESA exercises 1-2 hours before the flight. This will help them get rid of excess energy. Outfit your ESA with an easily identifiable vest. Although not required by law, accessories like vests and tags make identifying your dog as an ESA easier and may prevent unnecessary confrontations. You may also choose to give your ESA Dramamine for motion sickness or Benadryl to help them sleep. Each animal is different; please consult your veterinarian before giving your ESA medicine.See if you qualify for an Emotional Support Animal letter from ESA Doctors by clicking the link below.
More articles that you may find helpful: Emotional Support Animal Laws What to do if Your Landlord Does Not Accept Your ESA
Do you know the difference between a Service Dog and an Emotional Support Animal? Many people lump these assistance animals into one category. However, they are not the same.
A Service Dog is an assistance animal that is specifically trained to perform a task for a disabled individual. This work could include any number of things. It could be as simple as picking up dropped items all the way to alerting the person to an oncoming health issue. You may read this article if you want to focus on training and certifying your dog into a service dog.
An Emotional Support animal is an assistance animal who provides love and comfort to a disabled individual. ESAs do not require special training and cannot pose any harm to others. You may choose to certify your dog as an ESA while you train them to become your service dog. Emotional Support Animals have two special rights. We will address it briefly below and you can also read more about them in detail here – ESA Travel and Housing Rights.
In this post, we will address the rights of the ESA and how one can go about getting a legitimate ESA letter.
What Are the Legal Rights of an ESA?The Emotional Support Animal has specific rights under Federal Law. These rights are not as extensive as Service Dog rights, but are just as important.
1) You have the right to access to “no pets” policy rental units with your Emotional Support Animal.The landlord, building manager or owner must make reasonable accommodations for your ESA as long as it does not cause him/her undue financial or administrative burdens. These regulations are set by the FHA and the HUD.
Below are a few examples of reasonable accommodations and also what may not qualify.
Example #1 – Sally has 2 ESA cats and 1 ESA dog. The landlord has a “one cat” only policy. However, they will grant Sally reasonable accommodations and allow her to live with her 3 ESA. Example #2 – Rick has two ESA dogs. The landlord has a specific “breed restriction” against pit bulls or dogs larger than 35lbs. They will still grant Rick reasonable accommodations so he can live with his 2 ESA dogs. Example #3 – Jenny has an ESA horse and lives in an apartment. The landlord can deny Jenny’s ESA horse housing access since having a horse in an apartment will cause the landlord undue burdens.You can, however, be asked to leave or be denied housing if your ESA is destructive or causes any danger or is a threat to the other tenants. It is important that your ESA is well trained and does not hurt or disturb others.
2) On a few airlines, you can take your ESA into the cabin of an aircraft at no extra charge.A few airlines are tolerant of ESAs and allow you to take your ESA into the cabin of the aircraft. To be able to fly in the cabin with its owner, the emotional support animal has to be well-behaved, and it is expected to sit on the floor in front of your legs. The ESA will also have to be of a reasonable size.
Some participating airlines have their own form they require completed. When booking tickets you should always inquire with the airline about what their policy is for ESAs and if there are any deadlines to submit additional documentation. If you fail to do so, you might risk being denied access to the aircraft.
How Do I Get a Legitimate ESA Doctor’s Note?Before you get an animal with the expectation of making it an Emotional Support Animal, there is a process to be followed to make it legitimate; the note from a licensed therapist who is well versed in ESA law.
Seeking medical help from a mental health professional is your first step. This person can help you with your condition and they can prescribe you an Emotional Support Animal as part of your treatment plan. The letter must be signed and dated and include your doctor’s license number, evaluation date, and direct contact information. This document may only be valid for one year.
Unfortunately, animal therapy is still a relatively new concept so not all doctors and therapists believe in emotional support animal therapy or may not be aware of ESA regulations. If this is the case, you can seek support from a referral service that specializes in supporting people in need, such as yourself, through the use of technology. You can connect with a doctor or therapist online using the link below.
Click here to start the ESA letter process. Get On the Road to RecoveryIf you are suffering from an emotional or mental illness, be sure to seek medical help. Once you are under a therapist’s care, ask them if they could provide you with an ESA letter. If so adopt an animal that you can bond with, then get on the road to recovery. The Emotional Support Animal may just be what will help you begin to live again
The presence of a furry or a scaly or a feathery companion can provide a form of unconditional love, acceptance, and support. This is why many mental health professionals are now prescribing an Emotional Support Animal to those patients that would benefit the most.
In this post, we will discuss the number of emotional support animals allowed, the laws governing ESAs, and how a person can get a legitimate Emotional Support Animal letter.
How Many Emotional Support Animals Can I Have?You can have more than one ESA. There are no specific rules stating the maximum number of ESAs you may have. As long as the animal(s) does not violate any state or local laws and your therapist agrees your ESAs are there for your well-being, you can have more than one emotional support animal. The number of emotional support animals you have must also make sense. For example, having one or more horses in an apartment may not be feasible.
The Fair Housing Act states that a landlord, building manager, or owner of any rental unit must make reasonable accommodations for a person with an emotional support animal. As long as this reasonable accommodation clause does not cause any undue burden to the rental unit’s landlord, manager or owner.
The health and wellbeing of the ESA must also be addressed. All animals will need to be fed, groomed and given veterinarian care. Does your budget allow for these financial extras?
Can my landlord deny reasonable accommodations if I have multiple ESAs?There are only a couple of circumstances that may allow your landlord to reject your emotional support animals.
When it comes to multiple ESAs, it would depend on the species and number of animals that are being housed. For example; 6 large dogs that bark in a small apartment or 2 goats in a condo can be considered an undue financial burden to the property owner. Thus, challenging the reasonable accommodation clause.
How Do I Get an Official ESA Letter?There is a simple process that needs to be followed to either make an existing pet an Emotional Support Animal or if you are going to adopt a new animal.
Step # 1 – Work with a Mental Health ProfessionalThe law states that you must be working with a mental health professional such as a therapist, psychologist or psychiatrist. This mental health professional must then write you a prescription for the ESA in the form of an ESA letter.
Step # 2 – Get a legitimate ESA Letter from a TherapistThe letter is more than a few words scribbled onto your doctor’s prescription pad. The document must include or state –
– Your therapist believes that an Emotional Support Animal would be beneficial in your treatment plan – The laws that protect you as an Emotional Support Animal handler – Your therapist’s direct contact information and licensing information – Written on your therapist’s official letterheadThe letter is typically only valid for one year.
Step # 3 – What if you do not have access to a therapist?You may choose to work with a legitimate online ESA letter referral company. Not all online referral companies are the same. A few things to look out for –
Referral services that provide “instant approval” or are priced too low (under $100) – a real licensed therapist’s time is more valuable Referral services that pair you with an out of state therapist Make sure that your therapist’s licensing information is listed on the ESA letter Step # 4 – Register your Animal(s) and order your ESA License and CertificateYou are not legally required to have your ESAs registered, but some people chose to do so for the benefits. Certifying your emotional support animals will put you into a database, as well as provide you with custom identification cards, vest, and certificate.
Having this extra validation will help when you are applying for housing or booking a flight with your emotional support animal.
One, Two or More ESA’s Work!When deciding how many emotional support animals are necessary, consider the space and time you have along with your finances. Once you have your ESA(s) and the letter you need from your mental health professional to make it legitimate you are well on your way to living a happier and healthier life.
TESTIMONIALS
My landlord use to bully me about my emotional support animal. Service Dog Certifications informed me about rules associated with emotional support animals. Now I live with my ESA, Biscuit, without any worry.
Service Dog Certifications promptly responded to all my questions and was extremely helpful during the whole process. Thanks for everything!
I have been able to travel with my service animal stress free after getting help from Service Dog Certifications.
I have a disability that is not “obvious”. The service dog ID card helps me show people that I need my service dog without having to explain my disability to them.
We can take our Buford everywhere we go without being harassed anymore. The identification cards help us resolve any issues before it becomes an issue. Thanks!!!
FREE SHIPPING
On orders over $75, to all 50 US States!
Use free shipping code FREESHIPPING75
