If you are in the US, you may have heard of emotional support animal or ESA. An emotional support animal works like a companion animal for people and patients, with the intention of offering therapeutic benefits. Although not always compulsory, such animals are either dogs or cats, working with people, providing relief and support for psychological symptoms or emotional stress. Check some of the basic facts you need to know before getting ESA certificate.

The Procedure

To get an emotional support animal, you have to check with your physician to consider the option of proving verifiable disability, as stated by law. Your doctor or medical professional will give a statement or a certificate, which will mention the concerned disability and the need for emotional support animal, which will offer therapeutic care and healing. However, the animal isn’t treated a service animal and therefore, there is no need for any formal training to become an emotional support animal. In fact, all domesticated animals, including rodents, birds, reptiles, cats and dogs, can become an ESA.

Why People opt for ESA Certificate?

Do note that having an ESA Certificate is a matter of choice but should be verified by a physician. If your pet is your ESA at the same time, you can choose to fly with your companion in the cabin of an aircraft. Also, in case you intend to stay in a community, which has a no-pet housing policy, your pet cannot be denied admission. However, this doesn’t apply to public entities, such as stores and restaurants. In short, your ESA will be treated as a pet. It is wise to understand that Emotional Support Animal (ESA) isn’t same as a service dog because these animals don’t work and don’t have any special training. Only when a physician finds it right, he will then prescribe you an ESA certificate.

What Else to Know?

If you have an ESA companion, you will not be charged anything extra for owing the animal, as per U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. No initial security deposit must be paid to the landlord, although your landlord may charge an amount for any damage caused to the property at the end of the lease term. Also, one can have multiple emotional support animals, but as long there is adequate documentation to support the same. Your medical practitioner will have to provide detailed information on how each animal can help you with your disability in detail.

There are professional companies, which can assist you in evaluating if you qualify for ESA evaluation letters, but these services are just meant for assistance. Ultimately, only licensed Mental Health Professionals can offer you the certificate on their professional paper. Check online, and you can find if you can qualify to take your pet for all travelling needs in the future as you ESA. Don’t miss on asking the rules and regulations to your doctor in detail.

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