People that have emotional support animals will tell you how great it is and how it helps them live their lives to the fullest. Every year there are thousands of people that will use an emotional support animal to help them out. If you have been thinking about getting an emotional support animal, then it is important to understand how the process works.
Here is everything you need to know about the emotional support animal certification process.
What is an Emotional Support Animal (ESA)?
An emotional support animal (ESA) is an animal that helps people deal with both physical and mental disabilities. Generally, these animals are used to help people feel more comfortable in public places as the animals provide their owners with emotional support. For people that have anxiety, depression, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), an emotional support animal can make all the difference when it comes to living an ordinary life. It is important to understand that an ESA is much different than a pet because these animals have an official designation that comes with special privileges. Although dogs are one of the most common types of animals that become ESAs, there are many different animal species that can qualify for ESA statuses such as cats, snakes, reptiles, and even birds.
Benefits of getting your pet ESA certified
When you have a certified emotional support animal, there are many benefits. One of the most common benefits is that you will be able to take your animal on airplanes and most public places. If you are planning to take your support animal with you somewhere, it is important to make sure you get a vest for your animal so people understand that it is not just an ordinary pet. It would also be a good idea to call ahead and make sure you will not have any issues boarding a place with your animal.
Step One: Determine your eligibility
In order to have a pet for emotional support, you will first need to make sure that you are eligible. Your eligibility is determined based on the type of disability you have, as well as the severity of symptoms. In most cases, you will be eligible if you experience anxiety, depression, PTSD, phobias, or are dealing with recovery.
Step Two: Find the right animal
The second step that you need to take if you want to get an animal for emotional support is deciding what kind of animal you want. As it was previously mentioned, there are many different types of animals that can qualify for ESA status, but the one you pick will depend on your specific situation. Most people like using dogs because many people are comfortable with them, however, there is nothing stopping you from having a cat or gerbil as your ESA. In order to choose the proper animal, you will need to think about the maintenance required to take care of your animal.
Generally speaking, dogs and cats are easy to take care of, but if you are thinking about having a gerbil or snake, you will need to make sure you have the necessary knowledge on how to take care of them before you make them your ESA. After all, you will need to take care of your animal to make sure they are able to take care of you and provide you with the emotional support you need. One thing that many people do not realize is that they can actually use their existing pets as long as they follow the application process.
Step Three: Obtain an ESA Letter
In order for your animal to be there for support, make sure you get an ESA letter. This letter can only be issued by Licensed Mental Health Professionals (LMHP) like a psychiatrist or therapist. You will have to make sure the LMHP signs off on the ESA letter, and you will need to show them that you meet the eligibility requirements when they access your situation. They will then use their professional judgment to determine if they will give you an ESA letter. For those that own a dog, it is important to understand that you will need to get emotional support dog certification which is slightly different than a simple ESA letter. The good thing is that the process is generally fast and it only takes 10 minutes to submit your application for dog support certification.
An emotional support animal can benefit many people with disabilities. Having the right animal to help support you emotionally is important if you want to live an ordinary life or be in public places. If you are thinking about getting an ESA, make sure you do your research and speak to an LMHP.
