How Do I Register My Dog as an Emotional Support Animal? Tips & FAQ
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Emotional Support Animals, or ESAs, can be a lifesaver for many people with emotional disabilities and mental illnesses. They are becoming more widely accepted, and more and more people are becoming interested in finding out how to get their dog registered as an ESA. After all, we know that pets can provide emotional support in the best of situations, so having a pet when you are suffering from emotional distress or mental illness can be a real game-changer.
Getting your dog documented as an ESA isn’t as straightforward as you might think, though, and it’s important that you don’t fall for the websites that promise that they will add your dog to a registry for a fee. Here’s what you need to know about having a dog as an ESA.
What is an Emotional Support Animal?
An ESA is an animal that has been, essentially, prescribed as part of supporting the mental health of its handler. ESA can be any type of domesticated animal, including dogs, cats, ferrets, birds, guinea pigs, and rats. They can be prescribed to anyone who has a diagnosed mental illness or emotional disability and whose medical provider feels the person can benefit from the presence and support of the pet. An ESA is not the same thing as a service animal, and they are not specially trained to perform tasks like service animals are.
How Do I Document My Dog as an ESA?
1. Choose a suitable dog
This can be the first or last step of getting an ESA. If you already have a pet dog that you want to be considered an ESA, then you’re good to go. If you are living in an environment that doesn’t allow you to have a pet, then you may need to choose a dog as your last step.
While ESAs are not specially trained, it is important that your dog is well behaved and isn’t a nuisance. The protections for ESAs are limited enough, but if your pet is not in your control or is a nuisance animal, you may lose the privilege of keeping your dog as an ESA.
2. Talk to your doctor
Talk to your doctor if you feel an ESA could be beneficial to you. If you don’t already have a diagnosis, then you should be given one to legally have an ESA. This can be anything from clinical depression to PTSD. If you simply want your ESA paperwork to be able to take your dog anywhere with you, you might be disappointed (more on that in a minute).
If you feel you have a mental illness or emotional disability, your doctor will be able to give you guidance toward a diagnosis and a treatment regimen that includes more than just having your ESA paperwork.
3. Get the proper documentation from your doctor
There is no registry for ESA. To have your dog as an ESA, your doctor must provide you with a letter that explains that you have an emotional disability or mental illness and that they feel you could benefit from having an ESA. They must also address how they feel having an ESA will make a difference in your life. A letter from your doctor is the only required ESA paperwork.
Can My ESA Dog Go Anywhere with Me?
ESA are not given the same protections that service animals are, and that includes the places they are allowed to go. ESA are not allowed to go places where pets are not allowed, like restaurants and hospitals. The only special protections that are given to ESA are certain housing privileges. The Fair Housing Act (FHA) allows ESA to live in housing that doesn’t allow pets, but only if there is proper documentation from a doctor.
It’s also recommended that you provide your landlord with a letter stating that you will require fair and appropriate housing. If you are refused housing because of your ESA, you can file a complaint with the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), and they will do an investigation to determine if you’re being discriminated against.
Conclusion
There is no way to register your dog as an ESA, but your doctor can provide you with paperwork that provides your dog some protection as an ESA. The primary reason for getting ESA paperwork is to allow your ESA dog to live with you, although you may also be able to use the paperwork for purposes like flying on certain airlines that allow ESA.
Make sure not to be taken in by unscrupulous websites that offer to register your dog with an ESA registry because there is no national ESA registry in the United States. All you need is the paperwork from your doctor, and some landlords may appreciate a written statement letter from you as well. Make sure to thoroughly educate yourself on the allowances and protections offered to ESAs, because they are not the same that are extended to service animals.
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Featured Image Credit: River Roaming, Shutterstock
