Emotional support animals assist their owners every day to complete daily activities, but they are often still misunderstood by many. In this short post, we hope to dispel some of the misinformation surrounding ESAs by providing some key facts that we should all be familiar with, whether for our own ESAs or for loved ones who benefit from them. Let’s take a closer look.
ESA Letters Must Include Specific Information
All ESA letters must abide by a similar template to prove their legitimacy. In addition to rules surrounding who can write an ESA letter, there are guidelines relating to what the letter must include. Generally, the body of the letter must describe your specific situation and why you require an emotional support animal. More administratively, essential information includes:
- The type of medical license your healthcare provider possesses
- The contact number of your licensed healthcare provider
- The state in which the medical license of your healthcare provider was issued
- The date the license was issued
- The complete contact information of your healthcare provider (email, phone number, postal address, etc.)
Your therapist should also print your ESA letter on official letterhead. One of the purposes of your letter is to provide legitimate validation for your animal’s presence. Therefore, it should explain, in full, why you require one.
They Help with Numerous Conditions
There is no singular purpose for emotional support animals, which is a significant distinction between them and service animals. Service animals train with a specific job in mind. For example, guide dogs specifically train to help those with visual impairments to navigate their daily lives. Emotional support animals are much more diverse.
There is no one job that emotional support animals specifically help with—they can assist with anxiety, depression, OCD, PTSD, and many other mental illnesses that can prove highly debilitating to sufferers. Emotional support animals provide general calm to their owners in various ways, and it isn’t always obvious what their role is. Remember, not all disabilities are visible!
Relevant Legislation
Although emotional support animals do not receive the same legal protections as service dogs, there is some legislation that all owners should be aware of to protect their rights and that of their emotional support animal. We have listed two key examples below.
The Fair Housing Act
This legislation exempts your support animal from no-pet policies set out by landlords, enforcing that ‘reasonable accommodations‘ must be made in these instances. The FHA also exempts you from pet fees or deposits.
The Air Carrier Access Act
In previous years, the Air Carrier Access Act meant that you could bring your ESA on a flight without question. Now, the law has changed to protect only service animals. You can still appeal to an airline, but they are not legally required to allow your support animal to fly in the cabin with you.
Emotional Support Animals Aren’t Going Anywhere
More and more of us have personally experienced or know someone who has had mental health difficulties. Emotional support animals provide significant support to their owners, so you may encounter (or own!) one throughout your life. Staying informed is the best way to prepare for this outcome.