FAQ’s
FAQ’s
Frequently Asked Questions
An Emotional Support Animal (ESA) can be an animal of any species that helps alleviate the symptoms associated with emotional or mental health issues. These animals are typically a cat or a dog. They do not have to be trained to perform any specific task. However, a licensed mental health professional must prescribe it to provide therapeutic support to an individual with emotional/mental disabilities.
If you are experiencing and/or have an emotional or mental health issue and your pet provides support, comfort, and the ability to cope with your symptoms, then you could qualify to be approved for an emotional support animal.
The simple answer is no. Some apartment managers/owners do not understand the laws and you may likely run into issues. However, your rights are protected by The Fair Housing Act. In other words, you should be allowed to live with your ESA even if the property has a “No Pets Allowed” policy. Keep in mind that the law requires that all ESA’s must be accompany by a signed ESA letter by a licensed mental health professional.
The Fair Housing Act outlaws discrimination against home renters and buyers by landlords, sellers, and lenders on account of race, color, religion, sexual orientation, nationality, disability (including mental health) or family status. The Act is enforced at the federal level by the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). As long as your pet(s) has qualified as an ESA and have the signed ESA letter by the LMHP, your rights are protected by law.
Psychiatric Service Dogs are dogs that are specially trained to work with people who have emotional or mental health illness, including learning disabilities. These dogs can help their owners perform tasks that they otherwise might not be able to do or help them live a more independent lifestyle. Service dogs are permitted to accompany their owner into private and public buildings, facilities, and use public transportation including flying with their owner in the cabin of an airplane at no additional cost. These rights are protected under The American with Disabilities Act (ADA).
While PSDs can be dogs of any breed, it is important that these dogs are good-tempered and well-behaved. They shouldn’t be too aggressive or easily stressed, since they will help and guide their owners when they are around others. Although it is not encouraged for these dogs to be touched by others, they should like to be touched as they will be with their owners often.
An emotional support animal are pets or animals that can provide the individual with emotional support and comfort simply by being present. The pet provides the comfort and emotional support to owners with an emotional or diagnosable mental health illness. Unlike PSD’s, ESAs do not require to be trained to do specific tasks in the way that service dogs do. Due to the new Department of Transportation (DOT) regulations, ESAs are no longer permitted to fly in the cabin with their owner.
Any pet can qualify as an emotional support animal if the owner of the pet is found to be in need of the therapeutic benefits that their pet gives them. The same rule applies for a psychiatric service dog as long as it is trained to perform a specific task(s).
Yes, in order for your pet to be legally recognized and validated as an ESA or PSD, you must be diagnosed by a licensed mental health professional. Service animals are most often prescribed to people with diagnosable emotional or mental disabilities that are recognized in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5) or the International Classification of Diseases (ICD 10). Most disabilities include: depressive disorders, mood disorder/bipolar disorder, anxiety, phobias, schizophrenia/psychotic disorder, and other emotional condition.
Yes, each one of our mental health professionals licensed in the state in which they practice.