Emotional support animals (ESAs) can truly make a difference in the lives of those experiencing disability-related difficulties. While they aren’t trained to perform tasks like service animals, the comfort, reassurance, and security their presence provides can help ease symptoms and make everyday challenges easier to manage.
To qualify for an ESA in Pennsylvania, you need to obtain an ESA letter through a licensed mental health professional (LMHP). we’ll cover exactly how to go about this below. But first, we’ll delve into what an ESA is, how it can benefit your emotional well-being, and what legal protections these life-changing companions receive.
What Is an Emotional Support Animal (ESA)?
An emotional support animal is an animal that helps relieve symptoms of an emotional or mental disability through their presence in their owner’s day-to-day life. For example, their presence can offer a calming, soothing effect, which can help ease anxiety and stress, and their companionship can lessen feelings of social exclusion and loneliness.
Taking care of an ESA can also serve as a strong motivator in an individual’s life, as it encourages them to stick to a routine and exercise frequently. Any species can become recognized as an ESA, but the most common species used as ESAs are dogs, cats, rabbits, and birds.
Benefits of Having an ESA
ESAs can benefit their owners in a whole range of different ways. we’ll briefly touch on just a few ways they help below:
- Eases anxiety, stress, and loneliness: Various studies have shown that owning and interacting with pets can significantly reduce feelings of stress, anxiety, and loneliness.
- Provides a sense of security: An ESA’s presence can provide a sense of security, allowing the individual to feel safer in their home.
- Helps build relationships: Having an ESA encourages an individual to get out of the house more, frequent public spaces like parks, and socialize with other pet owners.
- Stronger sense of self-worth: Caring for an ESA can give an individual a strong sense of purpose in life, which can help improve self-confidence and keep them motivated to set (and meet those) goals.
- Improves physical health: Individuals need to take ESAs for daily walks and play with them frequently — this keeps their bodies active, reducing the risks associated with a sedentary lifestyle, like high blood pressure. Plus, studies have shown that exercising can help boost mood due to the release of endorphins.
Emotional Support Animals vs Service Animals
Emotional support animals and service animals both provide therapeutic relief for their owners, but they go about this in different ways.
Compared to ESAs, who provide support through their presence, service animals assist individuals with disabilities by performing specially trained tasks, such as deep pressure therapy, crowd control, and medical alerts. They are also classified as working dogs and receive more legal protections than ESAs (including public access rights).
Another key difference is that only two species can be recognized as service animals under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA): dogs and miniature horses.
What Is an Emotional Support Animal (ESA) Letter?
Those who wish to get their pet recognized as an ESA, and receive the legal protections that come with it, must obtain an emotional support animal letter. An ESA letter is a document provided by an LMHP that states an ESA is a necessary part of an individual’s treatment plan.
The exact requirements for an ESA letter vary depending on the state. Some states, for example, require individuals to build a 30-day client-provider relationship with an LMHP before they can obtain the letter. Pennsylvania doesn’t have this particular requirement, but there are a few other things you need to be mindful of.
Who Can Qualify for an ESA Letter in Pennsylvania?
To qualify for an ESA letter in Pennsylvania, you must have a mental or emotional disability diagnosed by a licensed mental health professional, and the condition must also be recognized in the DSM-5 manual.
Qualifying emotional and mental disorders include:
- Depression
- Anxiety
- Personality disorders
- Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
- Mood disorders (e.g. bipolar disorder)
On top of that, this disability must limit at least one or more major life activities. For example, you would qualify for an ESA letter if your ability to work has been significantly impacted. Other kinds of major life activities include walking, washing, learning, and dressing.
If you fulfill this criterion, you would then need to have an LMHP evaluate you and agree that having an ESA would help you better manage your disability-related symptoms.
How to Get an Emotional Support Animal Letter in Pennsylvania
The only way to obtain an ESA letter is to schedule an appointment with a mental health professional who is licensed to practice in Pennsylvania, such as a therapist, psychologist, or psychiatrist.
During the appointment, the LMHP will assess whether to prescribe an ESA for your disability. They will ask you several questions relating to your condition, including if it limits major life activities and what symptoms you experience. They will also ask you questions about your living environment and your capacity to care for an animal.
If you have a pet you wish to make an ESA, emphasize how their presence currently helps mitigate symptoms and why getting them legally recognized is important for your day-to-day life (e.g., it’s difficult to find rental properties that accommodate them).
It can be tough to speak about your disability and the challenges that come with it, but it’s important your answers are as detailed as possible. This will give the LMHP the best chance at accurately assessing whether an ESA is right for you.
If the LMHP determines that an ESA will be beneficial and should be a part of your treatment plan, they will provide you with an ESA letter.
What Does an Emotional Support Animal Letter Include?
An ESA letter must be printed on official letterhead and be signed by an LMHP to be legally recognized in Pennsylvania. It also needs to state that you have a diagnosed emotional or mental health disability and that an ESA has been prescribed as part of your treatment.
What’s more, the ESA letter should contain:
- The mental health professional’s license information (the number, issue date, type, and state they’re licensed to practice in)
- Your name and contact details
- The LMHP’s contact details
- The ESA letter issue date
- Information about the emotional support animal (species or breed)
What Legal Protections Do ESAs Receive in Pennsylvania?
ESAs aren’t protected under the Americans with Disabilities Act as they are not considered working animals. This means they aren’t granted public access rights and can only enter buildings and spaces that have been chosen to accommodate ESAs (or pets) of their own volition.
“Because they (ESAs) have not been trained to perform a specific job or task, they do not qualify as service animals under the ADA.” (ADA source)
However, while ESAs aren’t granted public access rights in Pennsylvania, they are protected under a federal law called the Fair Housing Act (FHA).
The FHA is a law created to protect citizens against discrimination in housing, with protected characteristics including race, religion, familial status, sex, and disability. The act applies to both the rental and purchase of properties.
The FHA recognizes that ESAs provide invaluable support to those with disabilities even if they do not perform trained tasks, and they grant ESAs the following legal protections:
- Landlords must accommodate ESAs in rental properties, even if they have explicitly prohibited pets on the premises
- Emotional support animals are exempt from pet-related fees (such as pet rent and security deposits)
- Landlords can not enforce breed, size, or weight limit restrictions on ESAs
Certain properties are exempt from the FHA, including owner-occupied buildings with four or fewer units and properties owned by private clubs. However, the majority of property types in Pennsylvania will have to abide by the FHA.
Landlords are only allowed to deny an ESA their rights if accommodating them causes an undue burden. For example, an ESA can be denied if they’ve poorly behaved, caused property damage, or are dangerously out of control and endanger others.
Can I Fly With an ESA in Pennsylvania?
ESAs used to be protected under the Air Carriers Access Act (ACAA), which exempted them from pet-related fees and policies, but this is no longer the case as of 2021. Most major airlines in the US now treat emotional support animals as pets, meaning they are subject to standard pet travel requirements, fees, and restrictions.
Service animals, including psychiatric service dogs (PSD), are still protected under the ACAA. It’s possible that your ESA can be trained to become a PSD if you would benefit from them performing at least one disability-related task; the experts at US Service Animals can assist with this and explain what the process involves, so don’t hesitate to contact them.
Can I Take My ESA to Work in Pennsylvania?
There are no laws in Pennslyvania that require an employer to accommodate an employee’s ESA in the workplace. This means if you wish to take your ESA to work, you’ll need to speak to your employer directly and make a reasonable accommodation request.
Employers are under no obligation to fulfill your request, but they may be willing to if your animal is well-trained and won’t disturb others at the workplace. You can also advocate for yourself and emphasize that having your ESA with you will enable you to perform your work tasks more effectively.
If your employer does accept your request, be aware that they’ll expect to see a valid ESA letter before permitting your animal on the premises.
Is an Emotional Support Animal Right for Me?
While an ESA can provide therapeutic benefits, it’s important to consider whether you’re in a position to properly care for them. You must have the capability to fulfill typical pet ownership responsibilities and obligations, including grooming, training, exercising them daily, and taking them to regular vet checkups. Your living environment must also be safe and secure.
The commitment and energy involved in pet care can be incredibly overwhelming, especially when you’re already managing the symptoms of a psychiatric disability. That’s why it’s important to speak to an LMHP about your current living situation and symptoms. They’ll be able to help you determine if owning an ESA will help you better manage your disability (or exacerbate its symptoms).
How U.S. Service Animals Can Help
An ESA letter can truly improve the life of an individual struggling with a mental or emotional disability. It allows them to live with their pet, no matter where they are or who they’re renting with, and can minimize the financial burden of pet ownership with exemption from pet rent and pet-related deposits. An ESA letter also means the animal won’t be subject to breed, weight, or size restrictions.
Obtaining an ESA letter can be a stressful, time-consuming process — that’s where US Service Animals can help. Their team of experts will connect you with an LMHP who can perform the ESA assessment over video call or mobile at your convenience. They can also provide a risk-free initial consultation where you can learn more about ESA letters and whether you’re eligible.