Many emotional support animal (ESA) owners register their pets to receive a registration number and ID card. Registration is optional and not a substitute for having an ESA letter. An ESA letter from a licensed mental health professional is necessary to officially qualify for an emotional support animal. ESA registration offers peace of mind and added convenience. Only ESA owners with a legitimate ESA letter should register their emotional support dog into a database and receive an ID card.
Emotional support dog registration is popular because it makes it easier to demonstrate to third parties that their animal is more than just a pet. Anyone you share your ESA registration number with can look up your animal’s information in an online database for support animals.
Possessing an ID card for your emotional support dog can be helpful for preventing misunderstandings and confusion. They are popular with ESA owners who wish to visually show they have a support animal and avoid verbal confrontation. For example, if your building has a no-pet policy, an ID card can be shown to a doorman or other tenants so they can immediately understand that your animal has been granted special accommodation in your building as an ESA.
To qualify for an emotional support dog, you need a recommendation letter (known as an “ESA letter”) from a licensed healthcare professional in your state. The healthcare professional must determine that you have a mental or emotional health condition that would be supported by the presence of an emotional support animal. You can apply for an ESA letter through an in-person consultation or through an online provider.
ESAs provide support and comfort to people with mental and emotional health issues. ESAs can be many types of domesticated animals such as dogs, cats, birds, rabbits, fish, turtles, rodents, and lizards.
Emotional support dogs play a significant role in their owner’s mental well-being. For example, ESAs are commonly utilized by those with chronic depression, severe anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder, phobias, learning disorders, and panic disorders. ESAs can help a person maintain emotional stability and also provide a calming influence during times of crisis or when their condition is triggered.
Emotional support dogs differ from service dogs in several ways. One key distinction is that ESAs do not require any specialized training. The job of an emotional support animal is not to perform trained tasks, but rather to be a comforting and dependable presence in their owner’s life, especially during times of distress. ESAs can also be many types of animals, while service dogs can only be dogs.
If you own an emotional support animal, you are protected under federal law from housing discrimination. The Fair Housing Act and guidelines from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development require landlords to make reasonable accommodations for ESA owners. That means your housing provider must allow your ESA even if the building prohibits all pets. ESA laws are very clear, landlords are also never allowed to charge any pet fees, deposits or registration fees to accept your ESA.
ESAs are considered a type of assistance animal under federal guidelines and are therefore exempt from building rules that restrict pets. For example, ESAs are not subject to breed, size and weight restrictions that may apply to tenants’ pets.
