How to Register Your Dog as an Emotional Support Animal
If you have a mental health disorder, having a dog can bring you comfort, the likes of which can be hard to find anywhere else. Dogs offer support through challenging situations and provide you with routine during days that seem too hard to get through. Unfortunately, there are certain situations in life where your best friend can’t accompany you. Moving and air travel can cause a few setbacks since every establishment has its pet policy, but registering them as an ESA can help you avoid them.
What is an Emotional Support Animal?
An emotional support animal is an animal that provides love and comfort as a form of therapy instead of disorder-specific services like service or therapy animals. These animals aren’t trained for specific actions, so they don’t have the certifications as other service animals. However, they’re still protected by the law. ESAs are protected from discrimination under the Fair Housing Act. If you’re moving to a new home, you are legally allowed to have your ESA, even if the policy states that no pets are allowed. Similarly, ESAs are given special accommodations during air travel.
How Do I Register My Dog as an ESA?
Unfortunately, there isn’t an official database for you to visit. Certifying your dog as an ESA isn’t really “certifying.” You don’t register your dog for a title. To have your dog labeled as an ESA, you simply ask your therapist or preferred mental health professional for a letter clearly explaining your needs for the ESA. Make sure it’s on professional letterhead, with their license number, signature, and the date it was signed. When you apply for a new home or purchase tickets for air travel, simply present the letter to those in charge, and the pet policy can be bent for you.
If you don’t have a therapist or health professional, visit an ESA letter service site to get your letter. Sites like ESA Doctors and CertaPet can provide you with a legitimate letter for your needs. Keep in mind that these sites require money for the letter and a mental health evaluation for legitimacy.