Archive for the ‘Emotional Support Animal’ Category
The use of Assistance Animals can be a great help to those with various disabilities, but some people still don’t fully understand everything about them. Here we will debunk the 10 most common myths about Assistance Animals. We have also included links to helpful articles throughout this page that includes more information.
Myth #1 – Service Dogs, Emotional Support Animals, and Therapy Dogs are the sameThis is absolutely not true! While each serves similar purposes – which is to aid the well-being of their owner in some way – Service Dogs, Emotional Support Animals and Therapy Dogs are used for very different forms of therapy and have different rights in the eye of the law.
Service Dogs are specifically trained to perform tasks that aid their owners’ disabilities, allowing them to live an independent lifestyle. Emotional Support Animals can be any animal that is used to provide their owner with emotional comfort and do not require special training. Therapy Dogs are often found in establishments where various forms of therapy are applied – ranging from care homes to physical rehabilitation centers. Their roles can vary significantly, from aiding a child to confidently read out loud from a book to assist those requiring physical therapy. A Therapy Dog is basically an ESA that helps a lot of people and not just their handlers. Unfortunately, therapy dogs do not enjoy the legal protection that the other assistance animals have. Myth #2 – Emotional Support Animals can come with me into hotels, restaurants, and marketsNo – only ADA accredited Service Dogs may accompany their owners into public areas, as they will have been adequately trained and certified to behave appropriately, and are deemed a necessity for their owners. However, there are some exceptions. When adequate documentation has been presented, Emotional Support Animals are allowed to live with their owners, even in pet-free buildings, and travel with them in the cabin of airlines with ESA programs. Only animals that have received a Service Dog Certification are automatically granted public access rights.
Myth #3 – Service Dogs must wear a vestContrary to popular belief, it is not a legal requirement for Service Dogs to wear a vest. However, many Service Dog owners choose to have them wear a vest to avoid any unnecessary hassle.
Myth #4 – You need a doctor’s note for your Service DogA doctor’s note is not necessary for a Service Dog. When entering public establishments, it is only necessary to verbally inform staff of your Service Dog – if they ask. The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) states they may only ask 2 questions:
Is the dog a service animal required because of a disability? What work or task has the dog been trained to perform?Service Dog owners may choose (though are not required) to order an ID card, as these can make the identification process much smoother. Rather than have to explain a disability, which can cause embarrassment, presenting an ID card can instantly verify the Service Dog. Emotional Support Animals, however, do require an ESA letter from a licensed therapist.
Myth #5 – It is illegal to qualify for an ESA letter onlineWrong. In fact, the opposite is true. Telehealth – a collection of means for enhancing the education and care of a patient – encourages online applications for ESA letters. Rules vary from state to state when obtaining an ESA letter. By using an accredited online organization that follow your state’s telehealth service laws, you can be sure you are abiding by your state’s relevant laws.
Myth #6 – All ESA letter referral sites are the sameNo. There is a broad range of referral sites ranging from mental health professionals who offer the provision of ESA letters as a part of their service, to dedicated single therapist letter mills. It is highly recommended to conduct as much independent research before choosing an ESA letter referral company, as you need to be certain the vendor is genuine and abides by your state’s rules.
Myth #7 – Each state has different Service Dog lawsNo. Service Dogs are protected by federal law under the ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act). However, Service Dog are subject to certain state-specific regulations. For example, Connecticut law recommends Service Dogs only access public areas with their owner while wearing a harness or an orange-colored collar and leash.
Myth #8 – A landlord can reject an ESA or Service Dog if they do not feel the tenant has a disability or needs an ESAUnder the Fair Housing Act (FHA), landlords are permitted to accept tenants with an Emotional Support Animal, regardless of any pet-free policies they may have in place. If a landlord does not accept your ESA, you should file a claim with HUD (US Department of Housing and Urban Development). They will assist you with each step of your claim.
Myth #9 – Service Dogs are only for the blind and people in wheelchairs, all other service dogs are fakeWhile guiding and pulling are perhaps the most well-known tasks performed by Service Dogs, they perform a variety of other specific tasks to aid a disability of any form. It’s not just physical disabilities that Service Dogs can be used for, but mental disabilities, too. Here are some examples:
Visual impairment/blindness Hearing Impairments Mental illnesses such as posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) or chronic depression Seizure disorder Mobility impairment Diabetes Myth #10 – Therapy dogs have the same access rights as ESA or Service DogsNo. Therapy Dogs must be granted access by prior agreement to certain establishments such as hospitals, libraries, and skilled nursing facilities. While Service Dogs are legally permitted to accompany their owners in all public areas, and Emotional Support Animals are protected in certain areas such as housing and travel, Therapy Dogs do not benefit from similar access rights.
An ESA letter is a prescription letter written by a licensed mental health professional (ie registered therapist, psychiatrist, psychologist) that recommends your pet as your Emotional Support Animal.
For those people who suffer from an emotional or mental disability, there’s a treatment that doesn’t involve drugs; an emotional support animal (ESA). You must find it difficult or unable to perform major life activities due to your emotional disability.
An ESA can be of any species and is there to provide comfort, companionship, and even a boost of confidence for you. However, having an emotional support animal may not be as simple as having a family pet and calling it an ESA.
In this post, we will take a look at the proper channels in which to get an emotional support animal and a legitimate ESA letter.
How Do I Get an ESA Letter?The letter must be written on your mental health professional’s own letterhead and will include his/her name, license number, date of issue and place it was issued. It should also include his/her signature. Your ESA letter may only be accepted for one-year of the issued date so annual renewals may be required.
In order to qualify for an ESA letter, you must have a mental or emotional issue that falls under the documented illnesses laid out by the DSM-IV or V (the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, version 4 or 5) which your mental health professional will either know of or have access to.
Who Will Accept My ESA Letter?An emotional support animal is not considered a service animal and has different rights under Federal law.
Your ESA prescription letter should be accepted by “no pets” policy housing and will be presented to the building manager/owner. Once accepted you should have the same rights to the building and areas as any other tenant would. The landlord/owner of the building also cannot charge you any extra fees for having an ESA. However, if your animal should do damage to the property, you can be held liable and even evicted if the issue(s) are serious enough.
What Can I Do If My ESA Letter is Not Accepted?Since there are a number of people trying to get special privileges for their family pets, building owners are becoming increasingly suspicious of ESA letters. This is why it is vital that you follow the rules for obtaining this important letter.
If you have a documented need for an ESA and your ESA is denied access to “no pets” policy buildings there are actions you can take.
The Fair Housing Act (HUD) protects people with emotional support animals, so they would be your first line of defense.
Your second option would be to contact a lawyer and have that person write a letter on your behalf to the building owner/landlord.
Lastly, there are ESA advocates that may also be able to step in and point you in the right direction.
However, be also aware that not all landlords have to accept an ESA. These circumstances include when the building has four or fewer single dwellings and the landlord occupies one of them and when the house has been rented or sold without a real estate broker (private sale).
You and Your ESAEmotional support animals are more than pets and therefore you can exercise your rights to live with your ESA in most types of housing. Go through the proper channels to obtain a legitimate ESA letter, then start living your life to the fullest.
How to Get an ESA Letter Online?
Aug 14
Emotional Support Cat
Cats can legally be emotional support animals because they are the perfect companions for boosting your mental health. One study showed that cat owners had better psychological health than non-pet owners, and another showed that cats can help reduce stress by lowering blood pressure and resting heart rates. If you want to turn your cat into an official emotional support animal, all you need is an ESA letter from a state-licensed healthcare professional, which we can help you get online.
Making your cat an emotional support animal is easy. This guide will walk you through everything you want to know, including how to prepare it and the best way to get your ESA letter.
What is an emotional support cat? Do you need to register your emotional support cat? Can a cat be a service animal? Emotional Support Cat Certification How many emotional support cats can I have? 1. What is an emotional support cat?An emotional support cat is any feline that provides their owner with relief from active mental health issues through their presence, noises, or touch. All cat breeds can qualify to become emotional support animals, and some can have instincts that work better for specific disorders, like Maine Coons whose friendly and sociable demeanor can work well for depression, or Ragdolls and Persians, whose gentle calmness can soothe anxiety.
An emotional support cat does not require any special training, and the cat you already have may be the perfect ESA for you. You just need to obtain an ESA letter from a therapist or doctor to legally show that they’re an actual emotional support animal.
2. Do you need to register your emotional support cat?No, you don’t need to register an emotional support cat, but although it is not required by law, many owners choose to register their cat in a searchable registry for certain benefits. For example, by registering your emotional support cat with us, you can obtain a linked ID card which is a handy way to quickly show others that your cat is an emotional support animal and not a regular pet. If you already have an ESA letter, you can register your cat here.
3. Can a cat be a service animal?Unfortunately, no. The job of a service animal falls to dogs and miniature horses. These animals need to be specifically trained to do a task for a disabled individual. This can include picking up dropped items, opening doors, or alerting the person to a drop in their blood sugar or of an oncoming seizure. Even though cats can be highly intelligent and trainable, the ADA does not recognize them as service animals.
Emotional support cats still have rights under Fair Housing law. Landlords must allow for your emotional support cat if you submit an ESA letter, even if they have a “no pets” policy. Emotional support cats are also exempt from pet fees and deposits. Even if you currently live in a building that allows pets, having an ESA letter can give you peace of mind if you need to move in the future.
4. Emotional Support Cat CertificationAll that is needed to make your cat a legitimate emotional support animal is a letter from a therapist or mental health professional. You can get a certificate once your cat is qualified as an emotional support cat as another way to demonstrate to others that you have an ESA, but they are not required by law. Your landlord can’t insist on seeing a certificate to prove that you have an emotional support animal, but they can demand to see your ESA letter).
Cats can be wonderful emotional support animals, but they cannot qualify as service animals. 5. How many emotional support cats can I have?Many people need more than one emotional support cat, and that’s completely okay as long as your mental health professional agrees. While there’s no legal limit, the real question is what makes sense for you and your situation.
Your landlord does need to make reasonable accommodations under the Fair Housing Act — but they might have concerns if you’re planning to turn your apartment into a cat sanctuary. Fair enough, right? Landlords can limit the ESAs you have if they have legitimate safety or health concerns.
Another question is what you can handle. Each cat needs vet care, attention, space to romp around, and, of course, food and supplies. Those costs add up quickly, and each kitty needs quality time to be an effective emotional support animal.
Most mental health folks suggest starting with one cat and seeing how it goes. You can always welcome another furry friend later if you feel you need more support and can manage the extra responsibility.
At the end of the day, it’s about finding what works best for you — balancing the emotional support you need with making sure each cat gets the care and attention they deserve. Sometimes one perfect feline companion is all you need, while others might benefit from having two or three support cats in their life.
TESTIMONIALS
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