Category: Pet

Learn more about emotional support animal

Pets are the best companion to humankind. They turn out to be as an important member in every family. When you spend little time with your pets, you will feel active and fresh from your regular stress. It is scientifically proved that pets have the ability to treat a disability or mental disorder conditions without the need of medications. It is the main reason for the growth of emotional support animals in all over the world. But, you cannot simply choose or carry your pets with you to any places. There are some certain rules and regulations you want to follow for obtaining the help of emotional support animal. First, you want to spend your time and efforts to read emotional support animal information thoroughly. After that, you will know how to obtain a certified ESA letter from a right professional.

Young Girl Being Visited In Hospital By Therapy Dog

Reduce the negative symptoms

You can obtain emotional support animal letter from any licensed mental health specialist. The professional doctors will examine your health conditions and prescribe for an emotional support animal when you are really needed of it. The emotional support animal has the ability to decrease your negative signs in an effective way. Persons who are suffering due to emotional disability can obtain the help of ESA as a part of the treatment. All domesticated animals like birds, dog, cats, rats and even more are qualified as an emotional support animal. The emotional support animal information describes that these ESA animals do not require any specific training in any case. But, it has the ability to treat the pessimistic symptoms of any individual. The emotional support animal needs to be controllable in public and it should not create a trouble around the home setting.

Get letter from a qualified professional

An individual who wants to qualify for an ESA needs to be considered emotionally disabled by a certified professional. The specialist may be a qualified therapist, psychiatrist, psychologist and even more. Further, he wants to provide a formatted prescription letter for the patients to be qualified for the emotional support animal. Letters provided by an unqualified professional is not considered as a legal emotional support animal letter. The letter should contain all detailed information regarding that you are a patient of the specialist for treating your emotional or mental disability. Further, the emotional support animal letter wants to explain that ESA is an important part of your medical treatment.

ESA-More Than Just Best Friends

The term Emotional Support Animal (ESA) has a broad meaning and is not just restricted to dogs. It refers to a person’s pet that has been prescribed by a licensed mental health professional and can include any animals like dogs, cats, rabbit, snakes, hedgehogs or any bird of any age. The important consideration over here is that the owner and the ESA need to have a strong emotional and mental bonding responsible for the wellbeing and support of the owner. Such animals are a part of the treatment process for the disabled person and helps in bringing comfort and reducing the negative symptoms of emotional or psychological disability. They do not require any special training as their very presence mitigates the negative effects on the individual, unlike service dogs. It is necessary that the animal should be manageable in public and does not pose a threat to anyone.

emotional-support-animal-letter

Flying with an ESA

In order to fly with an ESA and accommodate it in the cabin of the aircraft it is necessary to obtain an emotional support dog certification along with an authorization letter from the airlines authority concerned. The laid down regulations require that the airlines authority accommodate an individual with an ESA into the flight if requested within 48 hours prior to departure and the requisite details filed as required by the authorities (sent via fax or email). If the aforesaid time period is not provided to the airlines authority in order to verify the genuinity of the situation, they have the right to deny such accommodation. So, instead of showing up at the end and trying to accommodate your ESA into the flight it is better to inform the required authority well in advance to avoid any last minutes hassles.

Restrictions on certain dog breeds

The U.S Dept. of Housing and Urban Development lays down that size, breed and weight cannot be applied as a limitation in case of ESA. However, the housing provider must look whether the specific breed of animal provided for assistance pose a threat to other residents. But it should be noted that breeds of animals which are banned in a particular state can only be allowed in housing and that the banned breed cannot be taken to public places like other service animals. To avoid any future legal complications, the laws of the respective state relating to ESA must be strictly adhered to.