Pets may do wonders for your mental well-being (or may not, depending on which study you’re quoting), but emotional support animals (ESAs) take it a step up. This kind of assistance animal is prescribed to people with mental health conditions like post-traumatic stress disorder to provide comfort and companionship in their hour of need. ESAs are different from service animals, which have received specialized training to aid people in certain tasks.
ESAs aren’t any different from regular pets in terms of physique or behavior, only that a pet is considered one if prescribed by a licensed mental health professional (LMHP). That said, your mental well-being is a key factor in the choice of ESA. Below are several tips on finding the right support pet for your needs.
Secure Your Emotional Support Animal Letter
If your LMHP deems an ESA necessary to support your treatment but your home doesn’t allow pets, you’d want to secure a legitimate ESA letter first. Produced and signed by your LMHP, this letter explains your need for a support pet to anyone stopping you from living with one.
The letter is often addressed to landlords or property owners who impose rules prohibiting animals on their properties, including all forms of assistance animals. Under the Fair Housing Act, housing providers are obligated to provide reasonable accommodation to ESA owners if a valid request is made. All the more reason to acquiesce if the provider can’t show that a pet would be detrimental to other tenants.
You can pick up an official ESA letter from services like Wellness Wag and others for a fee. To make an ESA request, you’ll be first set up with an LMHP for a consultation to assess whether your condition needs one. After which, they’ll produce the letter that contains pertinent details such as (but not limited to):
- The ESA’s ID and verification link
- LMHP’s name and license number
- Health provider’s contact details
- National Provider Identifier number
- The nature of the mental disability/condition
An ESA letter typically covers one pet, but it can be made to cover as many as three. Take note that the letter can’t be used to fly with your pet in the cabin due to a recent update to the Air Carrier Access Act, which reclassifies ESAs as normal pets.
Choosing The Animal
Unlike service animals, which are restricted to dogs under the Americans with Disabilities Act, an ESA can be any domesticated pet. These include sheep, chickens, pigs, birds, and rabbits, but cats and dogs are the most common.
The choice between cats and dogs has recently been the subject of heated debate among psychiatry circles. In a 2022 study of people with serious mental illness (SMI) participating in a local ESA program, researchers discovered that those with cats for ESAs showed lower depression levels.
However, not everyone is a cat person, nor can they have one even if they want to. Felines usually don’t enjoy physical activity as much as canines, a sign that’s easy to misinterpret as cats ignoring you. Additionally, being crepuscular creatures, they’re prone to “zoomies” or hyperactivity when you’re trying to sleep.
For people allergic to pet dander, furry cats and dogs are out of the question. While some pet breeds are hypoallergenic, the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America states that pet allergies aren’t only limited to their fur but also their saliva and urine. The same applies to those allergic to bird feathers.
Understanding your needs and circumstances is the all-important first step in choosing the right ESA. If you want your pet to accompany you in your major life activities, a dog may be a more prudent choice. If you’re a cat person and don’t mind the “zoomies,” a cat is also a good option.
Adopting is Good, But…
You’re probably familiar with the phrase “adopt, don’t shop,” a rallying cry for many animal welfare advocates who urge pet owners to get their pets from shelters instead of breeders. While great advice to live by, adoption isn’t ideal for ESA owners under certain circumstances.
It’s important to consider the fact that shelter pets were rescued from abuse and neglect by their previous owners. These pets often don’t come with reliable past records, so it’s anyone’s guess as to how they’ll behave under a new owner, let alone one in need of an ESA. Some may even have special needs, adding to the rigors of pet ownership.
Not that pedigree pets don’t have disadvantages, either—starting with the cost. The price depends on the breed, but you can expect breeders to charge around four figures for one purebred cat or dog. Also, due to practices like inbreeding, certain pet breeds are likely to possess genetic disorders, some of which can reduce their lifespan if left unmanaged.
Experts advise not dismissing one option for the other too quickly. Weigh the pros and cons of both choices relative to your ESA needs. Whether you choose a rescued or purebred pet in the end, both deserve unconditional love and care.
Conclusion
An ESA is any fur (or furless) baby that your LMHP has deemed necessary to help you cope with your mental health condition. Take time to go through your options and compare their pros and cons to find a companion worth all the hugs and kisses you have to give. Above all else, know that owning one is protected under United States federal law.
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