A dog is more than just a furry friend – they’re an integral part of many people's mental health support system. If you have a mental illness, such as anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder, or depression, your dog may provide a comforting presence that helps you cope with your symptoms. Emotional support dogs offer more than just physical support for their owners. Assistance animals are capable of assisting individuals who struggle with a mental illness, mental disability, or varying types of mental health issues. Show
If you rely on your dog for emotional support and comfort, you may be able to certify them as an emotional support animal. ESA status can make it easier for you to keep your dog with you when you travel or move to a new home. What Is An Emotional Support Dog?An emotional support dog is more than just a pet – they provide support and comfort to individuals dealing with mental and emotional disabilities. Living with a disabling mental illness can negatively affect major life activities as well as day-to-day activities. An emotional support dog can help. As medical professionals learn more about mental health, they can diagnose and treat previously overlooked conditions. In many cases, an ESA is an essential part of coping with a mental or emotional disability. ESAs are not the same as service animals because they aren’t trained to perform specific tasks, such as guiding a blind person. An ESA can be just as important to a person as a service animal by offering a supportive and comforting presence. ESAs have certain rights under state and federal laws. Who Can Get An Emotional Support Dog?To qualify for an ESA, you must have a psychological condition or mental illness (diagnosed by a licensed professional) for which your animal provides support and comfort. Some mental illnesses that can benefit from an ESA include anxiety, stress disorder, panic attacks, bipolar disorder, depression, and PTSD. While any animal can qualify to be an ESA, dogs and cats are some of the most common examples.  How Do Emotional Support Dogs Help Your Mental Health & Well-Being?The therapeutic effects dogs can have on humans have been heavily researched, and the impacts they can have on mental health, well-being, and longevity are dramatic. 74% of pet owners report mental health improvements due to interactions with their animals, and studies have shown that service animal companionship can effectively treat mental disorders like PTSD. The impact pets can have does not just stop at improving people’s mental health and well-being – it turns out dogs can also help you live longer. In a recent study published in the journal Circulation in 2019, researchers reviewed data between 1950 and 2019 to determine the impact of dogs on longevity. They found that people who owned dogs lived longer than those without a dog. Additionally, they found that people at risk of having a heart attack and owning a dog had a 65% reduced mortality risk. What's The Benefit Of Having An Emotional Support Dog?Getting your dog certified as an emotional support pet comes with several benefits resulting from special permissions and accommodations granted under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). These let you: Live Anywhere With Your PetYou have the right to bring your pet with you into any home, even if the place where you live has restrictions on pets, breed restrictions, dog weight restrictions, or other policies designed to keep pets out. The reason you are granted this benefit is the federal department in charge of housing wants to make sure people's mental health does not suffer as a result of them not being able to keep their emotional support animals with them. Many apartment units say things like "no Pitbulls" or no emotional support dogs "over 50 lbs", but you are protected by federal law, and a landlord can't discriminate against emotional support animals, regardless of breed, weight, or size. Waive Pet FeesYou also have the right to ask for any pet fees to be waived from your apartment or housing units. Landlords and other services will try to charge you for your pets or emotional support animals. Federal law prevents them from doing so if they have been certified as emotional support animals. Common charges include:
No fees are allowed to be charged by any housing unit as per the fair housing act (the law that governs emotional support dogs, cats, and other animals). Travel On Airlines With Your PetESAs can fly freely on many different airlines, but it is a case-by-case decision by the airline. We recommend calling your airline in advance to ensure they still accept ESAs. Emotional support dogs and cats used to fly freely on any US airline until a recent change by the Department of Transportation in March 2021. Now you need to call your airlines to see if they will accept your emotional support dog or cat. Airlines still accepting an emotional support dog or cat include:
If you are interested in flying with your dog, you should look into a Psychiatric Service Dog or Cat (which requires some specialized training, and you can read more about it here). Be More Accepted In Public PlacesWhile ESAs are not federally protected in public settings like restaurants or supermarkets, they are generally more welcome in our experience, given the nature of the support they provide. In our experience, if you have an emotional support dog or cat, you can keep your certification handy on your phone and show the restaurant host, supermarket attendant, or other professional that is asking you about your emotional support dog or cat. We've seen that people react extremely favorably to an emotional support dog or cat because the awareness of how they impact health and well-being has continued to grow. How Does Your Dog Become An Emotional Support Dog?In general, to make your dog an emotional support dog, a licensed mental health professional needs to determine that you meet two criteria. Then they can prescribe you an ESA letter that certifies your dog as an assistance animal & emotional support pet. A Licensed Mental Health Professional Needs To Evaluate You For A Mental Health DisabilityThis can sound intimidating, but many people can qualify as various issues fall under mental health disabilities. This can include stress, anxiety, panic attacks, phobias, depression, bipolar, other mood disorders, eating disorders, personality disorders, PTSD, ADHD, and various other symptoms. The standard medical professionals will look for to determine whether or not you qualify is that it needs to make your standard of living generally harder as a result (anxiety makes you less present in conversations or more irritable, as an example). As a result, if you experience any kind of mental or emotional challenge, it's worth considering whether or not you'd benefit from an emotional support pet. The Mental Health Professional Needs To Determine Your Dog Helps Alleviate Symptoms Of Your DisabilityNext, your dog needs to in some way alleviate symptoms of your mental or emotional health disability. This can include helping you get outside, which relaxes you and eases your anxiety or gets you through depressive symptoms by getting you to focus on something else other than your thought patterns. What's pretty incredible is dogs are literally built to help humans thrive, and the impact they have on mental well-being is remarkable. Talk to any pet owner, and they'll tell you how their emotional support dog or cat has radically improved their life or well-being in some way. As a result, if you're considering an emotional support animal, it makes sense to think about all of the different ways your animal helps you thrive. Consult With A Mental Health Professional To Get An ESA Letter PrescriptionFor a mental health professional to determine whether or not you meet the above two criteria, you need to have a live consultation either via phone, video call, or in person. This allows the provider to collect information about your mental health history and then make a recommendation that you would benefit from an ESA. Typically in these evaluations, a clinician will try and get context on your emotional or mental disability as well as if your pet acts as a therapy dog or therapy cat. If you and your animal companion meet these criteria as determined by a licensed therapist, then that same medical professional can write an ESA letter that certifies your dog as an emotional support animal. How Do I Know If I Qualify For An Emotional Support Dog?If you are like many Americans and experience difficulty with anxiety, stress, fatigue, depression, or other mental or emotional health challenges (bipolar disorder, ADHD, etc.), then chances are you'll benefit from having an emotional assistance pet. 1 in 2 Americans will experience a mental health illness in their lifetime, and mental health challenges have become more and more commonplace. Additionally, finding out if you qualify is completely risk-free with Pettable. If you don't get approved, we'll refund your purchase 100%. To find out if you qualify, start by completing our quick assessment. After this, you can book a consultation with a licensed therapist. If the therapist can determine that a) you have a mental health disability, and b) your mental health challenges are alleviated or reduced by the presence of your support dog (or other animal), then you qualify for an emotional support dog. Then, your therapist will be able to write an ESA prescription letter for you. What Laws Protect Emotional Support Dogs?Housing and travel rights for emotional support animals are based on a set of very specific federal laws. Fair Housing ActThe Fair Housing Amendments Act of 1988 states that a landlord is not allowed to discriminate against a tenant on the basis of their need for a therapy dog (like an emotional support animal) or a service dog. In practice, this means that an official ESA letter gives dog owners and cat owners the right to have their emotional support animal live with them in any type of housing, including places that generally prohibit pets. Requesting to live with your emotional support animal is called a request for reasonable accommodation. The FHA also prohibits landlords from charging a pet fee or pet deposit for emotional support animals, service animals, or psychiatric service dogs. Let’s say you have an emotional support dog and want to move into an apartment with a “no pets” policy or a restriction against a specific dog breed. As long as you have an official emotional support animal letter, your landlord cannot prevent you from keeping your dog in the apartment. Emotional support dogs are also not usually subject to weight or breed restrictions. For example, even if the apartment complex only allows dogs under 40 pounds, you can still keep your 60-pound Golden Retriever ESA. The FHA prevents a landlord from denying your rental application based on your disability or your need for an ESA. Once you have submitted your emotional animal support letter to your landlord, they are not allowed to ask for more details about your condition or request additional documentation. The Air Carrier Access ActThere are some ESA rights related to travel, but these changed significantly in January 2021. Before then, the U.S. Department of Transportation required air carriers to allow ESAs under the Air Carrier Access Act. The ACAA prohibits air carriers from discriminating against passengers with disabilities and requires them to accommodate disabled passengers’ needs. Up until 2021, that meant that you could bring your ESA with you in the plane’s cabin for no additional fee. However, the DOT amended the Air Carrier Access Act in January 2021 – the law no longer protects ESAs. Trained service animals are still protected under the ACAA, but emotional support animals are not. While the amended law does not prevent air carriers from allowing ESAs to fly for free in the cabin, it no longer requires them to. Some domestic and international airlines have chosen to continue allowing ESAs. Other carriers have changed their policies to allow only certain types of ESAs, such as small dogs. Unfortunately, many airlines have discontinued their ESA programs. Before you fly, it’s essential to check with your airline to see if you can keep your ESA with you. If not, your emotional support animal may be able to fly as a pet, which means they must be in a carrier in the cargo compartment. What’s the Difference Between An Emotional Support Dog vs Service Dog?An emotional support dog is a furry companion that has been shown to relieve or reduce symptoms of mental health challenges. This kind of support dog requires no special training but is recommended to complete basic training for good behavior in public and around other people (as any pet should). Service dogs, on the other hand, are specially trained to complete specific tasks. Some service dogs are trained to help people with physical disabilities. A guide dog who helps a blind person find their way around is a classic example. A psychiatric service dog is specifically trained to help an individual with a mental health disorder, such as panic attacks, autism, phobias, or schizophrenia. Keep in mind the distinction between this and an emotional support animal – though an emotional support animal can help with mental health disorders, as well, a psychiatric service dog has special training to complete specific tasks that are helpful in reducing symptoms related to the owner’s disability. Service dogs are also generally allowed in any public place, whereas not all public places are required or willing to accommodate emotional support animals. Frequently Asked QuestionsWhat is an ESA letter?An emotional support animal letter is the official document signed by a licensed mental health professional. It’s similar to a prescription from a medical doctor – it recommends a legal treatment for a specific condition. In this case, the “treatment” is your ESA. This letter is how your dog becomes certified as an emotional support animal. What Makes an ESA letter Legitimate?You need to keep in mind a few key criteria to ensure that your emotional support animal letter meets the criteria laid out by federal law. Licensed Mental Health Professionals
Live Consultations Over The PhoneThat mental health professional needs to evaluate you, typically over a phone call, video call, or in person, and determine you have a mental health disability (mild, moderate, or severe) and that your symptoms benefit from having a pet. Letters Meet HUD CriteriaIf you get approved, you’ll get an ESA letter from your licensed mental health professional, and it must contain all the following criteria:
There are many not entirely reputable websites out there, so it's paramount you work with a compliant service. How Do I Get An ESA Letter?We can help you get an emotional support animal at Pettable! Here is what you get with our service:
How Do I Know My ESA Letter Will Work?Pettable is also the only certification service with a 100% satisfaction guarantee. We believe in our service, and we want to make sure that if you get approved for an emotional support dog or cat, it works for your specific needs. What Is A Psychiatric Service Dog?Psychiatric service dogs are very similar to having a dog that serves as your emotional support animal in that they relieve a symptom of your mental health disability. However, due to special training (which can be done at home), they are conferred additional legal rights, such as air travel (they can travel on any airline) and be federally protected in any public setting (including staying in a hotel room) regardless of the pet policies in place. You are not legally required to have your dog trained by a specialized trainer, and they can be individually trained from the comfort of your own home. The standard of training PSD dog owners need to meet is their dog needs to behave well in public and be trained in a task that helps them with a symptom of their mental health disability. This can be anything from your dog sitting on your lap to your dog putting their paw on your chest. What do emotional support dogs do?Emotional support dogs provide companionship to the owner that helps ease a mental health condition, such as anxiety, depression, or phobias. While service dogs help their owners perform tasks that involve physical elements, an emotional support pet helps its owner cope with any mental illnesses they may live with. Where can I get an emotional support dog?If you already own a dog, they can become your emotional support animal once you get that ESA prescription. However, if you’re ESA-approved and still don’t own a dog, you have a few choices. You can find a friend whose dog has had puppies, buy from a puppy farm, or rescue one from a dog shelter. It’s best to avoid getting a dog from a puppy farm, as these tend to treat their animals quite poorly. This can sometimes lead to anxiety or even aggression in the puppies. In addition, buying from a puppy farm only gives them money to help keep them in business, and also tends to be much more expensive than caring for one that’s been rescued from a shelter. What are the requirements for an emotional support dog?To have an emotional support dog, you must first be approved by a licensed therapist, certifying that you have a mental health disability that is improved by the presence of your support animal. Your dog does
not need to be registered, as there is no official registry. But you will need an ESA letter for them to become an official emotional support dog. There are no breed or size requirements for an emotional support dog. Your pet must be well behaved around others, under your control at all times, and must not pose any threat to the health and safety of others. Also, though not required, it’s a good idea to get them spayed or neutered to prevent the arrival of an unexpected puppy litter, as well as any aggressive behaviors related to mating. How to train an emotional support dog?An emotional support dog requires no specific training, legally. They do, however, need to be “housebroken,” under your control in public (preferably with a leash), and up to date on their vaccines. You can train on your own at home by implementing a routine and rewarding good behavior with treats. Or, if you’re not comfortable doing it yourself, you can hire a professional trainer to train your dog. Can emotional support dogs fly?It used to be that an emotional support dog was required to be allowed on any flight with any airline. Recently, however, this has changed.
Airlines are no longer required to accommodate emotional support animals – only service animals. Some companies have still kept their ESA programs in place. Be sure to check with airlines before choosing your flight to find out if they will accommodate your furry companion. Is an emotional support dog a service dog?No. Service dogs require specialized training to complete specific tasks that aid the owner with a physical or mental disorder. An emotional support dog requires no special training beyond basic training for general good behavior, and simply offers a comforting presence for the owner. Can emotional support dogs go anywhere?While a service dog can generally go anywhere in public, an emotional support dog cannot. Emotional support animals are required by law to be allowed in any residence, regardless of whether that place typically allows pets or not. But only some airlines allow ESAs. Local government agencies cannot require airlines or other places to allow ESAs. Other public places, such as restaurants and stores, have no obligation to allow your ESA to enter. However, it doesn’t hurt to ask, and some places may accommodate emotional support animals if you simply show your ESA letter. An emotional support dog does not receive the same benefits as a service dog, either. Service dogs can fly with their owners while emotional support pets may not, depending on the airline. Can a landlord refuse an emotional support dog?Essentially, an emotional support dog is legally protected in all places of residence. The only circumstances that allow a landlord to refuse an emotional support animal are if accommodations for the ESA would be unreasonable (such as a large dog breed that there is simply no room for in a small apartment), or if the dog poses a threat to the health or safety of others. Can any dog be an emotional support dog?Any size or breed of dog with general good behavior has the potential to become an emotional support dog. Certain breeds have characteristics that can help a person stay calm and experience feelings of stress relief. Some dogs offer comfort and love while other dogs may cause stress with loud barks or excitable behavior. To make it official, you must receive an ESA letter from a licensed therapist certifying that you have a mental health condition that is improved by the presence of your pet. What airlines allow emotional support dogs?The following airlines still allow emotional support dogs on their flights:
Can emotional support dogs go on airplanes?Since the recent policy changes no longer require airlines to accommodate ESAs, only the airlines listed above have stated that they will accept emotional support animals on their flights. Service dogs, however, are still required to be allowed on any flight with any airline. Can emotional support dogs go on cruises?While a select few cruise lines may allow for pets on board, most will not accommodate any animals – not even ESAs – except service dogs. Can hotels refuse emotional support dogs?As there is no law protecting an ESA’s right to public access, hotels are not required to allow emotional support dogs. However, it may be worth asking the hotel before you book if they will accommodate your support animal. You can have a copy of your valid ESA letter on hand in case they want a copy, but there's no guarantee they'll offer reasonable accommodation for ESAs. Otherwise, seek out a pet-friendly hotel to stay at, instead. Can I take my emotional support dog to Walmart?Only service animals are allowed inside Walmart – no pets or ESAs can enter. Can Pitbulls be emotional support dogs?Yes, Pitbulls can make excellent emotional support dogs. Though some legislation is restrictive of certain breeds deemed aggressive or vicious (and Pitbulls are one of these), this does not take into account that some Pitbulls can be extremely gentle and loyal, depending on their natural temperament and the environment in which they were raised. Nor does it prohibit a Pitbull from becoming an ESA. Are Shih Tzus good emotional support dogs?Yes! Shih Tzus tend to be affectionate and loyal, making them a wonderful breed for emotional support. Can an Australian Shepherd be an emotional support dog?Yes! Australian Shepherds are obedient, protective, and good-natured, and can make a wonderful companion as an ESA. Can Animals Besides Dogs Offer Emotional Support?While dogs have traits that make them excellent support pets, other animals can also be support animals. An ideal companion animal is one that offers comfort and love to its owner without causing extra stress in a person’s life. It’s best to avoid animals that can cause extra stress like a very large animal or an exotic animal. Support animals don't need to be individually trained as long as they are generally well-behaved. How do I register an emotional support animal in Kentucky?To get a legitimate Emotional Support Animal, go through a licensed mental health professional in the real world or online. The ESA letter must be written on the licensed mental health professional's official letterhead and include their licensing information.
How do I register my emotional support animal in Virginia?How Can I Legally Get an ESA in Virginia? You'll need to get an official letter written and signed by your licensed mental health provider in order to qualify for an ESA in Virginia. You'll most likely have to meet with your licensed mental health provider first to explain your situation and desire for an ESA.
How do I register my emotional support animal in NC?To qualify for an emotional support animal in North Carolina, you must have an ESA letter from a healthcare professional licensed for your state. If you are ready to connect with an online healthcare professional specializing in ESAs, you can get started by completing the questionnaire at the link below.
How do I register an emotional support animal in Colorado?You can obtain an ESA letter through an in-person visit or an online therapist. If you do not have access to a licensed health professional, you can connect with a professional online. ESA Doctors works with online healthcare professionals who are licensed for Colorado and familiar with ESA recommendations.
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How to get a dog registered as a support animal
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