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 Nebraska is relatively easy, especially if you acquire a hassle-free ESA letter through US Service Animals.
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 Nebraska, 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.
Travel Laws
In the past, the Air Carrier Access Act required airlines to allow emotional support animals to ride in the cabins of their airplanes. However, the Act has been modified to protect service animals only. This means that ESAs are no longer allowed to fly with you in the cabin of a plane.
Some airlines will allow you to bring your ESA aboard as a carry-on as long as it meets the weight and dimension qualifications. However, it will have to be stored in a pet-safe carrier under your seat.
If your ESA is a dog, another option would be to have it trained as a psychiatric service animal (PSA). Psychiatric service dogs perform tasks that help relieve distress caused by mental health disorders like PTSD, depression, and anxiety. PSAs are a type of service dog, so they are also protected by the Air Carrier Access Act and can ride with you in an airplane cabin free of charge.
However, be aware that it completely legal for the airline to make you fill out a form about your dog. These forms were created by the Department of Transportation and ask about your dog’s training. They also require you to agree that your dog must be well behaved or it can be removed from the cabin of the plane.
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 Nebraska, 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, Nebraska’s civil rights 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 Nebraska, 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 applicant’s 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 animal.
- Animals other than dogs can be assistance animals.
- Housing providers may ask for documentation of the disability-related need for an assistance animal if the disability is not apparent.
- Decision 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, 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 Nebraska state law requires landlords to admit service animals, this same protection does not extend to animals that provide assistance to those with mental disabilities in the state. However, the ADA 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 Nebraska’s state requirements and regulations for emotional support animals right here.
Are There Different Laws for Service Dogs?
Because ESAs and service dogs are classified differently, there are more laws and guidelines in place for service dogs than ESAs in Nebraska. Read on to learn about some of these laws.
Psychiatric Service Dog in Nebraska
When someone needs extra assistance with mental health disorders a psychiatric dog is one of the best options. These dogs are well-trained to perform a specific task that helps alleviate the symptoms of mental health problems.
Some tasks that many psychiatric service dogs can help with include grabbing medications, reminding someone to take medication, protecting someone from stressful situations, and much more. Many therapy dogs are also great at reading emotions and jumping into action when they’re needed.
Psychiatric service dogs in Nebraska are protected under several state and federal laws. Federal laws like the Fair Housing Act (FHA) and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) provide unique protections that other dogs don’t have. For example, psychiatric service dogs can live in rental spaces that aren’t pet-friendly and access most public and private spaces.
PTSD Service Dog in Nebraska
A PTSD service dog in Nebraska is trained to help people with post- traumatic stress disorder. Service dogs help with this condition by making sure handlers take their medication. Furthermore, PTSD service dogs can get people away from stressful situations and recognize when their owner is going into a panic attack. For many people struggling with PTSD, even the comfort of having a service dog in public spaces is enough to help them remain calm.
In Nebraska, PTSD service dogs are protected by the same laws and guidelines as psychiatric service dogs. This includes the FHA and ADA, which grants them access to rental housing, public spaces, and most private enterprises.
How To Get an Emotional Support Animal in Nebraska
It is quite easy to get an emotional support animal in Nebraska. 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 because many landlords will require 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!