Getting an emotional support animal is simpler than you might think. Start with a pet that helps ease your mental health symptoms. Go for a dog or cat, though any domesticated animal can qualify. Next, consult a licensed mental health professional in your state. They’ll determine if your pet meets the criteria for an ESA based on how it supports you daily. If approved, they’ll provide an ESA letter, enabling you to live with your support animal even in housing with no-pet policies.
Consider Your Mental Well-being
The first step in considering an emotional support animal is to reflect on your emotions. Determine if having a pet could enhance your well-being. If you’ve been feeling down, anxious, or not quite like yourself, an ESA may provide meaningful support. These animals can assist with conditions such as depression and anxiety, especially if they are long-term and significantly impact your daily life.
Select a Pet
If you already have a pet, moving forward with ESA documentation may be simpler. However, if your current living situation doesn’t allow pets, selecting one will need to be your final step. While ESAs don’t require specialized task training, it’s important to choose a pet that can be trained to behave well. This helps ensure a smooth transition in your living arrangements.
Consider adopting from local shelters or rescues, but take care to pick an animal that fits your lifestyle. You can get a Wellness Wag support animal letter online to help you navigate this and demonstrate your need for an ESA.
Understand You’re Taking On a Big Responsibility
While your ESA is there to support your mental health, it’s important to remember that you are still their caretaker. Even the most intelligent dog can’t prepare their meals or head outside for a bathroom break without your help, unless you’ve got a doggy door for that.
Viewing this relationship as a partnership can help you understand that you each play distinct roles in supporting one another. Be patient and kind to yourself as you adjust to this new bond. With time and mutual understanding, you and your ESA will find a rhythm that works beautifully.
Obtain Approval from Your Property Manager
If you qualify for an emotional support animal (ESA), your housing should make reasonable accommodations, even in a no-pet building. People with disabilities have the right to adjustments in policies to help them fully participate in everyday life. This includes allowing emotional support animals in places that typically ban pets or enforce restrictions on breed, size, or number.
Legally, building managers cannot outright deny your ESA without first having a constructive discussion. Laws are in place to protect your right to keep an ESA. To verify your ESA, someone familiar with your disability and how your animal supports you can write a letter. The letter must simply be credible, it doesn’t necessarily need to come from a healthcare professional.
Ensure the Pet Aligns Well With Your Lifestyle
Once you have your letter and approval from your building manager, you’re ready to start the process of finding your ESA. According to the Department of Housing, an ESA can be any domesticated animal typically kept for companionship rather than commercial use.
That said, current lockdown measures in some states and the growing demand for emotional support animals might mean you’ll face a waiting list. When it’s finally your turn to meet your ESA, it’s important to ensure the animal aligns with both your needs and personality. Reaching out to reputable local dog breeders or trusted animal charities can guide you in finding a suitable match or providing assistance with training.
Teach Your ESA to Be Well-behaved
Emotional support animals don’t require the specialized disability-related training that service dogs do. Service dogs are specifically trained to perform tasks such as:
- Guiding individuals who are blind
- Detecting seizures before they happen
However, an ESA provides emotional comfort and support simply through companionship. That being said, ESAs must still have basic obedience training. This is crucial, since a well-mannered ESA can:
- Be a more effective source of emotional support
- Fit more easily into housing situations
- Help you avoid conflicts with landlords
- Prevent damages that you would otherwise need to cover
An ESA that is properly behaved helps safeguard your housing rights. While you aren’t required to pay pet fees or deposits for an ESA, landlords can reject requests if the animal is a safety concern or causes property damage. Basic obedience training ensures your ESA is the reliable companion you need while being a considerate resident.
Endnote
Many types of pets can serve as ESAs, but it’s important to follow the required steps to comply with the laws governing them. You should only request an ESA letter from your doctor if you truly need one. Misrepresenting pets as ESAs or service animals can negatively impact individuals who depend on these animals for essential support.