Shreveport is the third-largest city in Louisiana, offering a balanced mix of urban and suburban living. This mid-size city is packed with many pet owners, which comes as no surprise as Louisiana is among the states with the highest percentage of pet owners.
A good portion of these pets are legal emotional support animals that hold a valid ESA letter written by a mental health professional licensed in Louisiana. Coupled with almost 22% of its residents experiencing a mental illness every year, many Shreveport residents are considering getting an emotional support animal as part of their treatment plan, or obtaining an ESA letter for their existing animals at home.
In this article, we will walk you through everything you need to know about emotional support animals and ESA letters. Read on to learn the entire process of getting an ESA letter in Shreveport, Louisiana.
Who Can Qualify for an ESA in Shreveport?
There’s a reason why only mental health professionals like therapists and psychiatrists (or doctors who know your mental health history) can write an ESA letter; it is because emotional support animals are only for those who are diagnosed with a psychiatric disability, like depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, or post-traumatic stress disorder.
Therefore, to qualify for an emotional support animal in Shreveport, you must be diagnosed with a psychiatric disability by a mental health professional licensed in Louisiana. If this sounds daunting, don’t worry! USSA can help you connect with licensed professionals. To see exactly what conditions are eligible for an emotional support animal, check out our guide on the disabilities that qualify for an ESA.
However, just because you have a diagnosis doesn’t mean that an emotional support animal is the right treatment option for you. Mental health professionals don’t just write an ESA letter for everyone with a diagnosis; they evaluate patients on a case-by-case basis to determine whether an emotional support animal would ease their symptoms.
That’s why an evaluation is a must, not just a diagnosis. In fact, Louisiana requires mental health professionals to have a client-provider relationship that’s at least 30 days long with their patients and engage in a minimum of two sessions before they can write an ESA letter.
What Are the Benefits of Having an ESA Letter in Shreveport?
Countless studies have proven that pets have immense therapeutic benefits. While the biggest advantage of having an emotional support animal is alleviating the symptoms of a psychiatric disability, a legal ESA letter will protect these benefits.
Emotional support animals are federally protected under the Fair Housing Act (FHA), and Louisiana has specific laws that touch on these animals – more on this below.
Since those who have a valid ESA letter need their emotional support animals to alleviate symptoms of a disability, and the Fair Housing Act prohibits landlords from discriminating against tenants with a disability, they have the right to have their animals in a rental property, even if there’s a no-pet policy.
Given that many apartments, condos, and rental homes in Shreveport have no-pet policies, the FHA ensures that individuals with a psychiatric disability and a valid ESA letter will have their animals by their side. The same also applies to buildings with pet restrictions, whether on breed, weight, or species; those with an ESA letter can have their animals with them.
However, there are exceptions to this; the request for emotional support animal accommodations must be reasonable in nature. Otherwise, a housing provider can deny an emotional support animal. We cover this in detail below.
Important Information About ESAs in Shreveport
Shreveport, much like the rest of Louisiana, is very pet-friendly. The residents of the city value pets and appreciate the work emotional support animals do for their owners.
In fact, Louisiana State University even has grants for emotional support dogs living on campus to cover expenses like food, supplies, vet visits, and even adoption fees to get an emotional support dog. This alone proves how much emotional support animals are a valued part of society in Shreveport.
However, as with any major city, many apartments in Shreveport have no-pet policies. If you have a valid ESA letter, however, you won’t be subject to such restrictions.
Facts About ESAs and Pets in Shreveport
Here’s more information about emotional support animals, pets, and mental health in Shreveport.
- About one in five Shreveport residents has reported experiencing a mental illness in 2025.
- Despite Louisiana having lower pet ownership statistics than neighboring states like Mississippi, Arkansas, and Texas, Shreveport is among the cities with the highest percentage of pet owners in the state.
- Both the Louisiana State University Shreveport and Centenary College of Louisiana have dorms that accept emotional support animals, as per the Fair Housing Act.
- Dogs are the most popular pets in Shreveport, with Labrador retrievers, goldendoodles, and Aussies sharing the top.
- Shreveport is overall a pet-friendly city, with countless businesses that allow pets or have dedicated areas for pets in the case of many cafes, restaurants, and bars.
How to Get an Emotional Support (ESA) Letter in Shreveport
Since you need a diagnosis, the process of getting an ESA letter in Shreveport starts with scheduling an appointment with a mental health professional licensed in Louisiana. Your mental health worker will then evaluate your symptoms and decide if an emotional support animal would be an ideal treatment option.
However, Shreveport residents know very well that it can be hard to find a therapist with open appointments in the city. While online services that provide therapy are a great alternative to visiting a mental health professional in person, there are lots of ESA letter scams out there on the world wide web.
To avoid getting scammed, get your ESA letter with US Service Animals. Here’s how that looks for those living in Shreveport:
- Visit our ESA letter page and complete the consultation form.
- We will set you up with a mental health professional licensed specifically in Louisiana, which is a requirement to get a valid ESA letter in the state.
- You will speak with your mental health worker to discuss your symptoms, life circumstances, and anything else related to your condition.
- After meeting the legal requirements, which we cover in detail below, you will receive your ESA letter via email, which you can then print and use for exercising your rights.
At US Service Animals, we simplify the process for you, but keep in mind that getting an ESA letter is a process that requires patients to establish a 30-day client-provider relationship. Since your mental health worker can only write an ESA letter after the 30 day period, be sure to start the process ASAP to get your ESA letter as quickly as possible.
Do I Have to Get an ESA Letter in Shreveport from a Mental Health Professional In Louisiana?
Yes, all Louisiana residents, not just those who live in Shreveport, are required to obtain their ESA letters from a mental health professional licensed in Louisiana. As mentioned, you also need to have a 30-day relationship with your professional, in addition to attending at least two consultation sessions.
If these aren’t established, your mental health worker cannot write you an ESA letter, and even if they do, it won’t be valid. If in doubt about your practitioner’s license, ask them about it or search their license number on the Louisiana Licensed Professional Counselors’ website.
Emotional Support Animal Shreveport Regulations: What Are the Laws About ESAs in Shreveport?
Shreveport, Louisiana, separates itself from many other places by having a 30-day client-provider relationship requirement and a two consultation session rule before licensed mental health providers can write an ESA letter.
In addition to these requirements for obtaining an ESA letter, it is essential to know the state laws that govern emotional support animals. Read our guide on ESA laws in Louisiana to learn about state-specific rules and regulations on emotional support animals.
However, certain things are already ruled out by federal law when it comes to traveling with an emotional support animal, housing, workplace, and the exceptions to the rights of these animals. Here’s everything you need to know about these.
Airline and Travel ESA Laws in Shreveport: Can I Fly With an ESA in Shreveport?
Emotional support animals can fly from and to Shreveport, as long as they meet the airline’s standard pet requirements for air travel. This means that they must be under a certain weight and fit comfortably inside an airline-approved carrier or fly in the cargo hold. Service animals, including psychiatric service dogs (PSDs), are exempt from such restrictions.
However, this wasn’t always the case; emotional support animals used to be able to fly in the passenger cabin for free without pet travel restrictions. The Air Carrier Access Act is the federal law that governs whether or not emotional support animals can fly in the passenger cabin, and it was announced in December 2020 by the Department of Transportation that ESAs are now excluded.
Can I Live Anywhere With an ESA in Shreveport?
Shreveport residents can live with their emotional support animals in all types of housing covered by the Fair Housing Act, regardless of the property type. This includes most dwelling situations, like apartments, condos, detached homes, townhouses, tiny homes, and mobile homes.
In addition to these, students at any of Shreveport’s universities with dorms (LSUS and Centenary College of Louisiana) can have their emotional support animals with them if they have a valid ESA letter.
Can I Bring My ESA to Work With Me in Shreveport?
Louisiana doesn’t grant additional protections to emotional support animals in the workplace, and since the Americans with Disabilities Act doesn’t include emotional support animals, employers don’t have a legal obligation to accommodate ESAs.
Nonetheless, you can still discuss the possibility of bringing your emotional support animal to work with your employer, as many Shreveport businesses allow ESAs and even pets.
What Exceptions Are There to ESA Laws in Shreveport?
Just because someone has a valid ESA letter doesn’t mean they automatically get a housing pass. The accommodation request must be reasonable, meaning that if it causes undue hardship for the landlord, they can legally deny the emotional support animal.
For example, if renting a small studio apartment, a landlord can deny a large dog like a mastiff, arguing that the presence of the animal causes safety risks or damages the furniture that comes with the apartment. Similarly, a landlord can deny an emotional support chicken under the same circumstances and argue that a chicken isn’t suitable for apartment living.
The emotional support animal must also be well-behaved without posing any health or safety risk to other tenants. If you have an emotional support dog, we recommend investing in training to ensure they remain on their best behavior.
In addition to these, certain properties and housing providers are exempt from the Fair Housing Act. This includes owner-occupied buildings with four or fewer units, clubs and religious organizations that give preference to members, and single-family homes rented without an agent. Nonetheless, they might still be willing to accommodate an ESA, though they don’t have a legal obligation to do so – never hurts to ask.
Do I Need to Renew My ESA Letter Every Year in Shreveport?
Mental health professionals don’t issue ESA letters indefinitely. They are generally valid for one year and must be renewed annually to remain valid. Otherwise, a landlord can reject it on the basis that it no longer reflects on the tenant’s current mental health.
When you receive your ESA letter through us, we will remind you before it is time to renew your letter so that you and your animal stay protected.
Do I Have to Register My ESA in Shreveport?
Registering your emotional support animal after receiving your ESA letter isn’t a legal requirement; any service that claims so is likely to be a scam. It is completely optional to register an emotional support animal, though doing so can have its own benefits, depending on the registry.
For example, we issue an Animal ID Card to emotional support animals registered with us, which assigns a unique registration number that anyone can use to verify their validity on our website. In addition to this, the owner will also receive an ESA certification and have access to legal support whenever they need to exercise their ESA rights.
With these, registering an ESA with US Service Animals is worth taking the extra step, though there’s no legal obligation. Learn more about this by visiting our ESA registration page.
Public Access Shreveport ESA Laws: Where Can You Take Your ESA in Shreveport?
Emotional support animals in Shreveport, much like everywhere else in the country, are only guaranteed housing rights. They don’t have the same public access rights as service animals. All emotional support animals in the city must follow pet policies when it comes to public places like restaurants, bars, and stores.
However, many establishments in the city accept well-behaved animals, given that Shreveport, as a city, is very pet-friendly. As someone who has an ESA, you won’t have trouble finding pet-friendly places when exploring the city.
If your emotional support animal is a dog, you can consider getting them trained for psychiatric service dog work to assist you in your day-to-day life. Since they are service animals, PSDs have broader public access rights, enabling them to accompany their handlers anywhere they go. Here’s more on psychiatric service dogs.
How to Get a Psychiatric Service Dog in Shreveport?
Shreveport residents have three main options when it comes to getting a psychiatric service dog. Below, we take a look at these options in detail.
- Buying a PSD: Shreveport dog trainers and organizations that operate in the city sell fully trained psychiatric service dogs, though the cost must be considered, as they can be up to $30,000. If you can’t find a suitable PSD in Shreveport, you likely will find one in larger cities like Baton Rouge and New Orleans; some even travel to Houston to buy a psychiatric service dog, given that PSDs are allowed to fly in the passenger cabin.
- Hiring a Professional: Shreveport has no shortage of professional dog trainers that can help you with PSD training, especially in the areas near the Barksdale Air Force Base. However, this can be just as costly, as the trainer will need to invest months to ensure a fully trained PSD, which can total up to $10,000 throughout your dog’s training journey.
- Training Your Own PSD: Although it might seem like an insurmountable task at first, training your own psychiatric service dog can be equally as effective as hiring a professional to do it for you. Besides, there’s no legal requirement that prohibits handlers from training their own PSDs, making it accessible for everyone.
If training your own psychiatric service dog interests you, complete our PSD consultation form to get started and gain access to our training materials to train your dog for a variety of PSD tasks. If you’re willing to train your dog consistently, our course can help you train a fully fledged psychiatric service dog in a matter of a few months.
How to Get an ESA Letter in Other Cities in Louisiana
Get an Emotional Support Animal (ESA) Letter in Shreveport Today
We’ve covered how to get an ESA letter in Shreveport, LA, and provided valuable insights into what it is like to have an emotional support animal in the city. With everything you now know, you should be ready to have an emotional support animal.
Schedule your risk-free consultation to connect with a mental health professional licensed in Louisiana and determine if you qualify for an ESA.