An Emotional Support Dog is a dog that a licensed mental health professional has determined provides some benefit to an individual with a mental or emotional disability. They do not require specific training and provide emotional or mental stability to their owner through their love and companionship. Emotional Support Dogs are also commonly called Companion Dogs and are a specific type of Emotional Support Animal (ESA). They are not service dogs.
Curious to know if you could potentially qualify for an emotional support animal? Get started by taking our free, 5-minute screening survey and receive an instant result.
Your emotional support dog could help you overcome social anxiety fear and boost your self-confidence.
Whether you’re constantly worried or have trouble concentrating, your ESA or emotional support dog can be there to relieve some of the daily anxiety.
Your emotional support animal or dog is there to comfort you if you struggle with depression and will be there to get you out of bed each morning.
Your emotional support dog could be there to calm you (sometimes this just means having them by your side) when you face a panic attack.
Having postpartum depression can be extremely tough, but your ESA or emotional support dog could help ease the pain you are going through.
No matter your alter in moods, energy or activity levels, your emotional support animal or dog could be your constant in the midst of irregular change if you suffer from bipolar disorder.
Having OCD is a real disorder and affects your day-to-day life. By being a pet owner to your emotional support animal or dog, you could have a furry friend to help you relax.
Your emotional support dog can help you with your urges and impulses not only with their sweet faces but also their ability to comfort you in need.
It could be a fear of heights or fear of social situations; your emotional support animal or dog is there to reduce some of the stress.
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder PTSD can be anything from nightmares to extreme worry/anxiety of past experiences, but your ESA or emotional support dog can be by your side during hard times and help you with your mental health.
It’s difficult when dealing with depression at the same time every year so having your ESA or emotional support dog at your feet, hip, or head (it’s not just the small pets that do it either), you can start to feel a little bit better.
An Emotional Support Animal Prescription is actually a letter from a Licensed Mental Health Professional or Physician. This is the ONLY requirement for your dog or cat to be an Emotional Support Animal, nothing else (this includes certifications, registrations, emotional support dog registry, etc.).
When searching on the Internet about ESAs, psychiatric service dog, emotional support animal prescriptions, emotional support dog letter, and emotional support dog registration, there is sometimes a blurred line.
So to help you understand more about the full definition of an emotional support dog, let’s debunk some myths.
“The only thing different about emotional support animals and service dogs is one is for mental health disabilities and one is for physical disabilities.”
While it’s true to some extent, it’s not the only that separates the two assistance animals apart.
Like other emotional support animals, emotional support dogs do not require any specific training and there aren’t any qualifications or requirements for an emotional support dog.
It’s true! It’s a great way to distinguish a service dog and therapy dog, which are both trained in their own separate ways.
Also, service dogs are guide dogs who have public accommodation and permission to enter a lot of public establishments. Emotional support animals or dogs do not.
“An emotional support animal prescription is your ESA letter AND a certification of your emotional support animal registration.”
An emotional support animal prescription is ONLY the ESA letter.
Emotional support animal registration? Not a real thing.
There are a number of websites and companies that offer to “register” your animal or dog – this is not required and does not legally allow you to live or travel with your animal.
Many pet owners think they can register their pets as ESAs. That couldn’t be further from the truth. There’s no such thing as an “emotional support dog registry” or “certification.” Companies selling these are fraudulent and out to get your money—and offer nothing worthwhile in return.
Only people with emotional or mental disorders can get an ESA. No vest, “certificate,” or “registration” will ever replace a legitimate emotional support dog letter.
The fraudulent selling of fake ESA letters is a booming industry. You will NEVER get a legitimate ESA letter from an online company offering ESA documentation in exchange for money. Luckily legislation changes across the US are making it more difficult to get (and use) fake ESA letters. There is also an increasing number of states making misrepresenting an ESA a felony.
There is no such thing as ESA certification or registration. Steer clear from anyone trying to sell you an ESA letter, no matter how convincing and “legit” they sound. They will draw you in with their ESA swag like vests and ID cards, but none of that is official or legally binding!
No, you cannot get an emotional support dog for sale. However, you CAN buy a dog. Or rescue one. Or adopt one. Literally any dog can become an emotional support dog, all a dog needs to achieve ESA status is that ESA letter!
The only requirement for an emotional support dog is that you share a connection with them and that their companionship has a calming and supportive effect on you. Whether you love poodles, french bulldogs, labrador retrievers or mutts: any dog, regardless of breed (or lack thereof) can be an ESA!
Two Federal Laws primarily protect the rights of people with Emotional Support Animals.
Although the rights are not as expansive as those granted to Service Animals, there are still two very important points to be aware of.
The Fair Housing Act ensures that an individual requiring an Emotional Support Dog will be allowed to live with their animal.
Furthermore, it prevents landlords and rental companies from being able to charge pet fees or deposits.
Disclaimer: If the landlord/owner witnesses neglect of the emotional support dog or significant damage done, they may be able to charge fees later on.
The Air Carrier Access Act ensures that people are able to fly with their Emotional Support Dog without having to pay additional fees.
The airlines do require that they are informed in advance and that a recent (less than one-year-old) medical letter is provided as well.
CertaPet makes the process of getting your (legitimate) ESA letter for your dog very easy. We know the invaluable contribution animals make to help people cope with mental illnesses and other emotional conditions. Whether they’re suffering from depression and anxiety, PTSD or bipolar disorder: ESAs have a massively beneficial impact on their owners.
What CertaPet does is make it easier for people to connect with a LMHP in their state. For some people, the process of finding and meeting up with a therapist is an overwhelming concept. All you need to do to get started with our process is to take a free 5-minute pre-screening. If your answers indicate that you may qualify for an ESA, we will connect you with a LMHP in your state.
Skip the “emotional support dog for sale” scam. At CertaPet our sole purpose is to help people get their legitimate ESA letters.
Prairie Conlon, LPC
https://journeyswithprairie.com/
Licensed mental health professional and the world’s leading emotional support animal expert. Founder of Emotional Support Animal Assisted Therapy. Utilizing animal assisted interventions to induce healing and wellness.
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