Boston is the biggest city in Massachusetts, situated on a harbor and chock-full of history. If navigating the city is made difficult by symptoms like social anxiety or depression, an emotional support animal (or ESA) might be the right fit for you. The process of getting a legitimate ESA letter can seem confusing, but all you need is a connection to a mental healthcare professional.
Whether you’re moving to the city of Boston or you’re trying to get connected with a therapist that can provide you with an ESA letter, getting a valid letter doesn’t have to be complicated. We’ll walk you through the process of getting an ESA letter as well as what legal protections you have, and other pertinent information when it comes to having an emotional support animal in Boston.
What Is an Emotional Support Animal?
An emotional support animal, or ESA, is a companion that can improve someone’s mental and emotional health just by existing. ESAs, unlike service dogs, don’t have to have any formal training in order to be legally valid.
All an ESA needs to be legitimate is a valid ESA letter from a mental health professional licensed in your state of residence.
While dogs and cats are the most popular options, an ESA can be any animal! From birds to fish to reptiles, any animal can be considered an ESA so long as they have a legitimate ESA letter.
Who Can Qualify for an ESA in Boston?
There isn’t a list of disabilities that do or do not qualify you for an ESA. Any condition that impacts your mental or emotional health that can help be alleviated with the presence of an ESA can qualify. Examples of conditions like this are anxiety, depression, ADHD, or bipolar disorder, but there are many other conditions that could be helped by an ESA.
What makes an ESA legitimate is having a letter from a mental health professional that’s licensed in your state of residence. If you aren’t in touch with such a professional, US Service Animals can help connect you with a healthcare worker licensed in the state of Massachusetts.
What Are the Benefits of Having an ESA Letter in Boston?
The biggest benefit that an ESA would bring you is the improvement such a companion would have on your mental well-being. There are other perks to having a legitimate ESA letter, but these are never reasons to misrepresent a pet as a legitimate ESA. Once you have your valid ESA letter, here are some of the other benefits.
ESAs are always exempt from no-pet policies in apartments, as well as pet fees. Since Boston is a bustling city, no-pet policies are unfortunately very common. You’ll never have to worry about this, though, if you have a valid ESA letter for your companion!
Though Boston doesn’t have any dog breed restrictions in place, some apartment buildings do. Luckily, even if your dog is a breed or a size/weight that’s restricted by your landlord, a legitimate ESA is exempt from such restrictions. Your ESA will always be allowed to live with you, regardless of size or breed! (Note, however, that this doesn’t apply to temporary lodgings like hotels!)
How to Get an Emotional Support (ESA) Letter in Boston
To get an emotional support animal letter in Boston, the first step is being connected with a mental healthcare professional that’s licensed in the state of Massachusetts. If you are already connected with a professional licensed in Massachusetts, you’re well on your way to getting your ESA letter.
Whether you’ve just moved to the state, or you don’t have a connection to a therapist, US Service Animals can help take the tedium out of “shopping” for a professional to work with. With healthcare professionals licensed in all fifty states, we eliminate the search step entirely.
Once you’re connected with a Massachusetts-licensed professional, the next step is obtaining a relevant diagnosis. If you’ve already been diagnosed in the past, bring that information along with you. Be prepared to talk about symptoms you experience and how they impact your day-to-day life.
During this conversation, it can be useful to talk about how an ESA would positively impact the symptoms you experience. Mental healthcare professionals are all different, and some may want to do additional sessions before providing you with a letter–this is understandable in light of scams. US Service Animals expedites the process while ensuring that only those with relevant diagnoses get ESA letters and only licensed mental healthcare professionals write them. For more on that, check out our steps below!
Finally, if an ESA has been approved by your professional as part of your treatment plan, you’ll receive your letter on their letterhead. Once you have it, you can copy and submit it to any authorities necessary.
How to Get an Emotional Support Letter (ESA) in Boston With US Service Animals
US Service Animals makes it easy to obtain a legitimate ESA letter.
The first step is reaching out for a consultation. During your consultation, you’ll be evaluated by a mental healthcare professional licensed in your state of residence, in this case Massachusetts.
You should expect to discuss your symptoms, your diagnosis if you’ve received one before, and how an ESA would be beneficial for your psychological well-being.
If you aren’t found to have a relevant diagnosis, this consultation is totally free. If you are found to qualify for an ESA letter, you’ll simply need to pay a flat fee and then it will be sent to you via email!
The next step in the process is printing out your letter and submitting it to your landlord or anyone else that you need to submit it to!
What Are the Laws About ESAs in Boston?
While the city of Boston (and the state of Massachusetts) don’t have additional legal protections for ESAs, there are some federal protections that keep you covered. Read on to better understand the specifics of where you are and where you aren’t protected when it comes to the law.
Can I Fly With an ESA in Boston?
Unfortunately, when you fly, your ESA isn’t protected when it comes to being able to ride with you. ESAs used to be able to fly with handlers in the cabin of the plane for free, but changes to the Air Carrier Access Act have made it so airlines can treat ESAs the same as regular pets.
Since the Air Carrier Access Act has been updated, ESAs can be subjected to pet fees, as well as size and weight restrictions. If your ESA is too big for the cabin, they may need to ride in cargo, even with a legally valid ESA letter.
If flying exacerbates symptoms of your mental or emotional disability, you may want to consider a psychiatric service dog. Psychiatric service dogs have all the same rights as service dogs, so they’ll always be able to travel with you in the airplane cabin for free, regardless of their size.
Can I Live With an ESA in Boston?
Under the Fair Housing Act, you’ll always be able to live with your ESA for free! The Fair Housing Act, or FHA, is a federal-level law that states ESAs are always legally allowed to live with their handler, regardless of breed, size, weight, or species.
Because of the FHA, emotional support animals are always exempt from pet rent, pet fees, and pet deposits. They’re also exempt from both apartment-wide and city-wide breed and weight restrictions, which is why they’ll always be able to live with you no matter what. The only requirement is that your ESA is an animal that’s legally allowed to be owned, and that you have a legally legitimate ESA letter.
It should be noted that the FHA does not cover temporary lodging like hotels, Airbnbs, and other non-residential lodging. Always check to make sure your lodging has a policy that states that pets are allowed before bringing your ESA.
There are a couple of exceptions to the FHA, so be sure to read through our list.
Can I Bring My ESA to Work With Me in Boston?
Since ESAs do not have public access rights, they are not legally protected when it comes to being taken to work. However, there are no laws on the books prohibiting ESA accompaniment, so depending on your employer, you may be able to make it happen.
To ask for your ESA to come with you to work, you’ll want to fill out an accommodation form from your employer. You should be prepared to show your valid ESA letter and describe obedience training that your ESA has had, so this will be limited to dog handlers. Some employers may allow the presence of your ESA so long as you can prove that your ESA will be beneficial to you, and it won’t be in the way of work or an issue of sanitation.
What Exceptions Are There to ESA Laws in Boston?
There are very few exceptions when it comes to ESA laws, but it is possible for a landlord to revoke or deny an ESA’s housing rights if they do not behave well. This is why it’s so important to ensure that your emotional support dog completes obedience training before getting your ESA letter.
In order for the FHA to continue to protect an emotional support animal, particularly a dog, the dog cannot be aggressive. This includes aggression towards other people on the property, as well as other animals (especially pets).
ESAs also cannot be destructive of property, both inside your residence and in common areas like lobbies, courtyards, and other places you may be traversing with your ESA. If your ESA is found to be destructive, they may be denied housing rights and your landlord would be legally allowed to do so.
Where Can You Take Your ESA in Boston?
ESAs are only legally guaranteed housing rights, but there are some places in the city that you can bring along your ESA. Most of the public parks in Boston allow dogs on-leash, so you’ll happily be able to see some of the greenery that this historic city has to offer.
If you’re in Boston and you’re looking for a bite to eat with your emotional support dog, check out the Five Horses Tavern in South End! Five Horses has a dog-friendly patio for you and your companion, and their menu covers American comfort food with vegan and gluten-free options.
Important Facts About ESAs in Boston
Here are some key facts about having an ESA in Boston:
- An ESA can be any animal, not just a dog or a cat.
- Unlike service animals, ESAs do not have public access rights and they do not have to be trained for a task. ESAs only have to provide comfort as a companion.
- While ESAs don’t require special training, they cannot be aggressive or destructive. Obedience training is suggested before obtaining a letter for an emotional support dog to ensure good behavior.
- In order for your ESA to be legitimate, you must have a relevant diagnosis and obtain a valid ESA letter from a mental healthcare professional that’s licensed in your state of residence.
- ESA registration and online certificates are not the same things as an ESA letter, and as such are not legally binding. While ESA registration can be helpful, it’s not necessary to make your ESA legitimate (nor does it legitimize a pet that does not have an ESA letter).
- ESAs are never subjected to pet fees or pet rent, as well as building-wide breed, size, or weight restrictions.
Get an Emotional Support Animal (ESA) Letter in Boston Today
If you find yourself having difficulty exploring the city of Boston because of your mental health symptoms, an ESA may be just the thing to alleviate anxiety and boost confidence. To start on your path to a legally legitimate emotional support animal, schedule your risk-free consultation with US Service Animals today.