Many Emotional Support Animal (ESA) owners register their pets to receive a registration number and ID card. While ESA registration is optional, a registration number and ID card are not a substitute for an ESA letter. An ESA letter is essential if you want to officially qualify to own an emotional support animal. ESA registration offers peace of mind and added convenience. Only ESA owners with a valid ESA letter should register their emotional support animal in the database and receive an ID Card.
Emotional support animal registration is popular because it makes it easier to prove 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 the online database for support animals.
Possessing an ID card for your emotional support animal can be useful to prevent misunderstandings and confusion. They are popular with ESA owners who wish to visually show that they have a support animal and avoid verbal confrontations. For example, if your building has a no-pet policy, the 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 to own an emotional support animal, you need a recommendation letter (referred to as an “ESA letter”) from a licensed healthcare professional practicing in your state. The healthcare professional must determine that you have a mental health condition that would be improved by the presence of an emotional support animal. You can obtain an ESA letter through an in-person consultation or via 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 animals play a significant role in the mental health of their owners. For example, ESAs are often utilized by people who suffer from chronic depression, severe anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder, obsessions, 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 animals differ from service dogs in several ways. One key difference is that ESAs do not require any specialized training. An emotional support animal’s job is not to perform trained tasks, but to be a comforting and dependable presence in their owner’s life, especially during challenging times. ESAs can also be a variety of animal types, while service dogs can only be dogs.
If you own an emotional support animal, you are protected from housing discrimination under federal law. The Fair Housing Act and guidance 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 permitted to charge any pet fees, pet deposits, or registration fees in order to accommodate 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 might apply to tenants’ pets.
