Emotional support animals are some of the best companions a person can have. Not only do they offer emotional support when someone needs it, but they can also be any type of animal as long as they’re domestic and not aggressive. Essentially, you can turn your favorite pet into an ESA in Illinois once you have an ESA letter.
Still, it’s not as simple as announcing to the world that you have an ESA. Instead, you need to register your companion and make sure you’re following Illinois’ ESA laws. Thankfully, this article takes you through everything you need to know from the definition of an emotional support animal to the process of adopting one. Read on to learn more.
What Is an Emotional Support Animal (ESA)?
An emotional support animal is truly a life-saving asset for hundreds of thousands of Americans. From rabbits to dogs (and many species in between), emotional support animals provide assistance and therapeutic benefits to help those living with mental disabilities or emotional trauma. Anxiety, depression, or post-traumatic stress disorder, just to name a few, can make it extremely difficult to perform everyday activities.
However, an emotional support animal can help ease the burden and make life a bit easier for those struggling with these issues. Thankfully, getting an emotional support animal in Illinois is relatively easy, especially if you acquire a hassle-free ESA letter through US Service Animals.
What’s the Difference Between an Emotional Support Animal and a Service Animal?
It is important to note the difference between a service animal and an emotional support animal. Service animals (typically dogs) have been trained to perform specific tasks that a person is incapable of performing on their own. For this reason, service animals are allowed in public spaces where other animals (possibly including emotional support animals) may not be allowed to go.
Alternatively, emotional support animals are not trained in specific tasks, nor are there as many limitations on the types of animals that qualify; dogs, cats, birds, and even miniature horses can qualify as emotional support animals. In Illinois, as with other states, the Fair Housing Act covers the legal definitions of emotional support animals. This law helps protect emotional support animals and their owners when attempting to rent a living space.
Emotional Support Animal Laws in Illinois
Emotional support animals may not have protections outlined in the ADA but that doesn’t mean there aren’t laws that focus on them. We take you through ESA laws for travel, employment, and housing below.
Travel Laws
Once upon a time, the Air Carrier Access Act provided emotional support animals with the right to travel in airplane cabins with their owners free of charge. However, the law has since changed and airlines are no longer required to allow ESAs to ride in the cabin.
Now, only service dogs are protected by the Air Carrier Access Act. Even then, the airline is within its rights to require travelers to fill out a form with information about the dog’s training. This form also requires service dog owners to agree that if their dog is aggressive or unruly, the airline can charge a pet fee and have the dog put in a carrier.
If you want to bring your ESA into the cabin of an airplane, you’re left with two options, the first of which treats your ESA as a regular pet. The first depends on your animal’s size. If it is small enough, it may be able to qualify as a carry-on that you stow under your seat. Otherwise, if you have a dog, you can have it trained as a psychiatric service animal. PSDs perform tasks that provide relief to handlers during times of distress. For instance, a PSD might ground their handler during an anxiety attack by licking, pawing at, or laying on them. Because PSDs are trained to perform specific tasks, they are considered service animals and are protected by the Air Carrier Access Act.
Employment Laws
Although employment is covered under the Americans with Disabilities Act, which states that employers cannot discriminate against anyone with a disability, emotional support animals are not protected under this law. However, if you have an ESA letter to show your employer in Illinois, you may be allowed to bring them into the workplace. This is determined on a case-by-case basis, so if your employer does not approve of having an emotional support animal in the workplace, unfortunately, you must abide by their decision.
Additionally, the Illinois White Cane Law grants service animals the ability to be in certain public spaces with their owners, but this right does not extend to emotional support animals.
Housing Laws
In Illinois, the Fair Housing Act provides certain protections for those with certain kinds of assistance animals.
According to the Fair Housing Act, landlords have the right to request an ESA letter when applicants request accommodations for their service animal. However, they are limited in how and what they can ask of a potential tenant. They are only permitted to ask the following questions:
- “Does the person seeking to use and live with the animal have a disability (a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities)?
- Does the person making the request have a disability-related need for an assistance animal? (afford a person with disabilities an equal opportunity to use or enjoy the dwelling).”
Additionally, landlords must abide by the following guidelines related to assistance animals:
- “Breed, size, and weight limitations may not be applied to assistance animals.
- Animals other than dogs can be assistance animals.
- Housing providers may ask for documentation of the disability-related need for an assistance animal if a disability is not apparent.
- Decisions must be based on individualized assessment relying on objective evidence about the specific animal’s actual conduct–not based on mere speculation that the animal may cause harm or on evidence of harm or damage caused by other animals.
- Landlords can request proof of current vaccination and/or license for the assistance animal.
- Landlords can expect the tenant to conform to the rules of the complex, i.e. picking up animal waste, and maintaining the unit to the extent expected of every other tenant.
- A landlord cannot require the assistance animal to have any specific training or certification.
- A landlord cannot require the assistance animal to wear or carry any special collar, harness, vest, emblem, or other means of identifying it as such.
- Pet deposits or pet fees are not allowed.”
While Illinois state law requires landlords to admit service animals, this same protection does not extend to emotional support animals. However, the FHA does provide this protection at the federal level.
In any case, you should make sure to get your ESA letter with US Service Animals as soon as possible, especially if you plan to travel with your pet. You can also learn more about Illinois’ state requirements and regulations for emotional support animals right here.
Are There Different Laws for Service Dogs in Illinois?
Yes, there are different laws for psychiatric service dogs in Illinois. This is because psychiatric service dogs (PSD) are protected under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). In this act protections exist for public and private spaces that allow service animals to accompany their handlers. In fact, businesses and public places must have accommodations in place for people who have service animals in Illinois.
Psychiatric Service Dog Laws in Illinois
Psychiatric service dogs are specially trained service dogs that help individuals who may be suffering from certain mental health conditions or psychiatric disabilities. Conditions that a psychiatric service dog can help with include anxiety, depression, PTSD, OCD, or intellectual disabilities.
The tasks that psychiatric service dogs complete vary based on the individual and condition they are helping with, but you can expect these companion animals to open and close doors, guide their owners to safe spaces, interrupt harmful behavior, and provide a comforting or calming presence.
Illinois does have additional state protections put in place for service dogs and their handlers, though this law doesn’t explicitly include psychiatric service dogs. In Illinois, psychiatric service dogs are protected by the federal protections granted in the Americans with Disabilities Act. That being said, Illinois criminal law does state penalties for public areas that refuse to accommodate service animals, including psychiatric service dogs.
It’s also important to note that PSDs have protections under the Air Carrier Access Act (ACAA) as well. This allows service dogs to accompany their handlers on airlines and other types of public transportation. There are rules you have to follow and your companion has to be well-behaved, but protections are in place nonetheless.
PTSD Service Dog in Illinois
A PTSD service dog is one that has been trained to help relieve symptoms associated with the psychiatric condition of post-traumatic stress disorder. Individuals with this condition may deal with flashbacks, nightmares, anxiety, depression, or agitation, and a PTSD service dog helps to interrupt harmful behavior, bring medication and water as needed, and guide their owners to safe spaces.
A PTSD service dog may also give their owner more confidence in public as they check rooms for them and guard their back, easing any sense of anxiety or fear.
How to Get an Emotional Support Animal in Illinois
It is quite easy to get an emotional support animal in Illinois. All you need is the pet you want to register and some personal details like your name, birthday, and why you need an emotional support animal. From there, we can help you connect with a licensed mental health professional to get an ESA letter.
Simply contact US Service Animals to speak with one of our medical professionals. They will assess your situation to see if you and your animal qualify. If you do, you will be permitted to continue the registration process and receive your ESA letter. This letter is very important, as many landlords in Illinois may ask for it.
With US Service Animals, you can talk to a mental health professional and register your emotional support animal quickly. Simply follow the steps provided on our website. You won’t have to pay anything unless the mental health professional approves your request. Then, you will receive your ESA letter, granting you all of the rights and benefits associated with an emotional support animal!
Emotional Support Animal Laws in Illinois FAQ
Have additional questions about ESA laws in Illinois? We have answers to the most common questions below.
Can Places Deny Emotional Support Animals in Illinois?
Yes, places can deny emotional support animals in Illinois. There aren’t any laws in Illinois that force businesses or public spaces to allow emotional support animals, so it’s important to call ahead if you plan on bringing your companion with you. That said, the Fair Housing Act (FHA) does protect emotional support animals as long as you have an ESA letter.
Are ESAs Protected Under ADA in Illinois?
The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) is a federal law that sets the foundation for disability protection laws. It ensures that public and private spaces offer accommodations for people who have disabilities and covers service animals. While the ADA protects service animals, it doesn’t protect ESAs. The only protection for ESAs in lost places is the Fair Housing Act.
Are Emotional Support Animals Allowed in Stores in Illinois?
Yes and no. Ultimately, it depends on the business owner and the type of space. Since ESAs aren’t protected under the Americans with Disabilities Act, businesses and public spaces don’t have to allow ESAs. Still, you’ll find that many stores are accommodating! Just look for pet-friendly stores in Illinois before traveling with your ESA. Also, check to ensure that they’re comfortable with the type of animal you’re bringing.
Register Your Emotional Support Animal in Illinois Today!
Having an emotional support animal in Illinois offers a lot of benefits for people dealing with mental health disorders. Whether you need an ESA letter for yourself or a loved one, United States Service Animals has you covered. We’ll help you connect with a licensed mental health professional and ensure that you get your paperwork fast.
That said, make sure you understand emotional support animal laws in Illinois before you register your support animal. The last thing you need is a penalty for having the wrong paperwork.