How To Register An Emotional Support Animal?

For someone struggling with mental health issues, having an emotional support animal can save their life. Emotional support animals provide essential assistance in addition to the non-judgmental, unconditional love that animals already freely give, from companionship and regular stability to acting as a trusted guide through anxiety-inducing social situations.

According to the specific language we say, emotional support animals—are often abbreviated as “ESAs.

In this article, we will dive into what it means to have an emotional support animal, how to become eligible for one, how to register an ESA, and many more.

Difference between ESA/ Service/ Therapy Animal

People who deal with mental illnesses have discovered that having a devoted, loving pet by their side can help them get through the difficulties caused by their sickness.

ESAs are animals that offer therapeutic advantages to those who care for them. An ESA supports their person via love and friendship, as opposed to a psychiatric service dog, which can, for instance, switch on the lights before its handler enters a room to assist them in dealing with phobias or symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder.

Any breed can be an excellent emotional support animal, but when looking for the ideal friend, remember that you should go for a dog that is easy to handle. For instance, if you live in an apartment, a small dog might be easier to manage than a large dog, who might require more exercise and space to wander.

Emotional Support Animal Rights

Travel and lodging are the two main spheres of emotional support for animal rights. Emotional support animals may be used to get around rental properties’ no-pet rules because they are allowed to fly without a carrier or additional cost.

You may have noticed that there is some disagreement regarding the legitimacy of ESAs as a result of these allowances, particularly when it comes to air travel. However, right now, emotional support animals and those who care for them have some legal protections beyond those afforded to regular pets and their owners. And these rights are priceless for those who depend on their ESAs for financial help.

How to Register for an ESA?

There is no such ESA registry or governing body to get your ESA letter. Instead, a letter from your doctor or a mental health professional, such as a therapist, can attest that you require an emotional support animal to lessen disability-related impairment. Your specific impairment must be included in the letter, along with how the pet supports you. The letter should:

• Be authentic, i.e., written by a licensed doctor or mental health professional on business letterhead.
• Include the signature, date, and the license number for the provider.
• Justify your need for an emotional support animal in detail.

Please keep your letter handy once you have certified your ESA because it can be needed when you live with your pet in a rented apartment.

Emotional Support Animal Housing Policy

Your furry family members are allowed to live in buildings that forbid pets, and animals with their owners. Because you have an ESA, landlords cannot demand any fees or deposits from you. Building regulations that apply to typical pets are not relevant to ESAs. This means, for instance, that landlords cannot place limitations on the breed or weight of ESAs.

If you have submitted an ESA letter, your landlord is also not permitted to inquire about private information about your illness. When it comes to specifics about your diagnosis and medical background, you have a right to privacy and secrecy as an ESA owner.

Landlords are prohibited from discriminating against renters who utilize animals for help, including emotional support, under the Fair Housing Act (FHA). However, they may do so if you don’t have the letter. Although unnecessary, you might also get your animal a vest that identifies them as an ESA.

How much does it Cost to Register an Emotional Support Animal?

Your dog must have a letter from a qualified medical professional to be certified as ESA. The organisation, however, decides how much it will cost to register your dog as an ESA. Some websites and companies charge between $100 and $150 to do the examination. A scam therapist who has the credentials to write an ESA letter should be avoided.

What is the main difference between the ESA Letter and the ESA Registration?

There’s no such ESA registry for your emotional support animal. A website that offers to “register” your pet in a registry or database is known as an ESA registry is (usually for a fee). This is not necessary and is not required by law. An emotional support animal cannot receive any legal advantages by being registered. You should not trust in those websites or company who says that the registration is important for your pet.
Only a legitimate ESA letter from a qualified mental health practitioner, such as a psychologist, social worker, psychiatrist, licenced counsellor or mental health nurse, qualifies a pet as an official ESA.