For millennia, pets have enriched the lives of humans the world over. Pets impart invaluable lessons about loyalty and responsibility as well as being a source of devoted, unconditional love for their human friends. In addition to these priceless contributions, pets can also serve in specialized roles to assist the specific needs of the disabled. Perhaps the most familiar example of this is the guide dog, a canine extensively trained to lead the blind. But in the 21st century, guide dogs are not the only type of service animal available to those in need. An emotional support pet (also known as an emotional support animal) is an animal that provides aid to an individual with a mental or intellectual disability as determined by a medical expert. Depression, anxiety, agoraphobia and post-traumatic stress are just a few of the disorders that can potentially be assuaged with the help of an emotional support pet. In order to be certified as an emotional support pet, the designated pet must display a demonstrable therapeutic benefit to its owner. Typical benefits are stress relief, self-esteem enhancement and mitigation of condition-related symptoms.
Types of Emotional Support Pets
Emotional support pets come in many forms. Below are several of the most common.
- Dog – Bearing the celebrated title of man’s best friend, a dog naturally makes for a wonderful emotional support pet. The gentle, uplifting nature of this beloved creature can imbue its adoptive parent with a sense of calm and reassurance in stressful situations. With a high level of mobility and a keen desire for adventure, a precious pooch will easily and eagerly accompany its owner on virtually any outing.compa
- Cat – Folks of a feline persuasion will be pleased to learn that cats are well-suited to serve as emotional support pets. As any cat enthusiast can testify, kitties are lovable, affectionate animals that form strong, indeed unbreakable bonds with their humans. With personalities as varied as those of people, it’s no surprise that cats are one of the most popular emotional support pets.
- Rodent – These diminutive critters often get a bad rap that is largely undeserved. The truth is rodents make fantastic pets for anyone willing to open their hearts and homes to them. The diverse rodent family includes mice, rats, hamsters, gerbils and guinea pigs. Rodents are highly intelligent and very friendly, two attractive traits for an emotional support pet. Contrary to popular belief, rodents are also fastidiously clean, and their compact size makes them easy to keep and care for.
- Bird – With their delicate beauty and vocal talents, birds are an ideal choice for an emotional support pet. Canaries and finches like to sing soothing songs while cockatiels and parrots are actually capable of mimicking human language. It is important to note that birds tend to live longer than most mammalian pets. In fact, a number of species have a life expectancy similar to that of humans. Able to thrive in small environments, birds are perfect for people with limited space.
- Reptile – A reptile might not be the first animal that comes to mind for some when pondering possible pets, but for those in search of an emotional support pet that really stands out, a scaly specimen may be just what the doctor ordered. There are numerous varieties of reptile to choose from, including turtles, snakes and lizards. As well as being relatively low-maintenance, reptiles are a great alternative for people with fur-induced allergies.
Frequently Asked Questions About Emotional Support Pets
Q: Who can receive an emotional support pet?
A: Any person with a verifiable mental disability is eligible for an emotional support pet. A licensed mental health professional in the United States can approve an animal as an emotional support pet. This includes psychiatrists, psychologists and therapists.
Q: How can one obtain an emotional support pet?
A: The first step is for the patient to acquire the animal he/she wishes to act as their emotional support pet. This decision should be given careful consideration, as pet ownership is an enduring commitment.
Q: What kinds of animals can become emotional support pets?
A: Any domesticated animal in accordance with federal and state law can perform as an emotional support pet.
Q: Must an emotional support pet be trained?
A: No explicit training is required for an emotional support pet, however, it is understandably expected that the animal will be well-behaved and properly contained, if applicable, in a public setting.
Q: Do emotional support pets have to be registered with any government organization or other agency?
A: Emotional support pets are currently not legally required to be registered with any authority.
Q: Is an emotional support pet the same thing as a service animal?
Ar: Although emotional support pets and service animals may share certain characteristics, they have distinctly different purposes. An emotional support pet is an animal that helps to alleviate the suffering associated with mental illness via sheer friendship, whereas a service animal is trained to carry out defined tasks on behalf of the disabled person.
Q: Are emotional support pets allowed in places of business?
A: Federal law does not presently compel businesses to tolerate the presence of emotional support pets. The determination of whether to permit an emotional support pet entry into an establishment is at the proprietor’s discretion.
Q: Can a landlord that bans pets deny housing to a person with an emotional support animal?
A: No. The Fair Housing Act prohibits discrimination against disabled tenants. Lessors with pet exclusions must offer reasonable accommodation for official emotional support animals by law.
Q: Can an emotional support pet travel on a commercial airplane?
A: Yes. The Air Carrier Access Act mandates that emotional support pets are permitted to travel with their owners. Official documentation is required by most airlines and should be presented upon request.
Q: Do colleges and universities permit emotional support pets in residence buildings?
A: Yes. In compliance with the Fair Housing Act, all higher education institutions that receive federal funding must allow emotional support pets in on-campus dormitories for qualifying students. A formal letter from a mental health provider should be submitted to the school at the time of enrollment.
