Emotional animals support letters

Emotional support animals support people all over the country through various challenges. Thanks to the Americans with Disabilities Act, ESAs can accompany people onto airplanes or residences that don’t allow pets. While they aren’t service dogs, an ESA and their owner can expect substantial accommodations.

Emotional support dogs have been shown to help individuals suffering from the following:

• Agoraphobia (the fear of leaving the home)
• Anxiety
• Depression
• General Anxiety Disorder
• PTSD
• Social Shyness
• Stress-Induced Situations

With the help of emotional support dogs, those suffering from the above disorders have been able to begin recovering and regaining the confidence and freedom with the help of their emotional support dog.

Travel Laws (Air Carrier Access Act)

According to the Air Carrier Access Act (ACAA), as long as all the required paperwork is in order, your ESA cannot be denied access to flights. This takes some planning though, so be sure to have the following documents ready before booking your ticket.

A letter from a licensed mental health professional (LMHP). This letter needs to verify that you do in fact have a mental or emotional disorder which complies with the Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. It should also confirm that you require the assistance of an ESA, as well as explain the nature of the support that the animal gives you.

Employment Laws

According to the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), employers may not discriminate against individuals with disabilities. This means that an employer is obliged to allow service dogs into the workplace and make reasonable accommodation to support them.

That being said, this ruling does not cover ESAs. Allowing ESAs or companion animals in a workplace is up to the discretion of the employer and will be assessed on a case-by-case basis.

Housing Laws (Fair Housing Act)

The federal Fair Housing Act (FHA) protects people from discrimination when they are buying or renting a house or apartment.  Under the FHA, an emotional support animal is looked upon as a “reasonable accommodation” in a housing unit that has a ‘no-pets policy’.

If you have a valid ESA letter, your landlord cannot discriminate against you because of your ESA.

How Can I Make My Dog An Emotional Support Dog?

1. Get an ESA letter from a licensed medical healthcare provider at Arvada West Family Medicine
2. Provide your ESA letter to your landlord.
3. Get your ESA identification card and register your Emotional Support Dog.
4. Enjoy living with your Emotional Support Dog.