Both US Service Animals and Support Pets offer online services for obtaining emotional support animal (ESA) prescription letters. While either can be a convenient choice, US Service Animals offers a slight edge for several reasons. For people living with a mental or emotional disability, an ESA can provide invaluable support. Because ESAs are deemed medically necessary, they enjoy certain legal protections, including the ability to live with their owner in most no-pet housing. To access these rights, you need an official ESA prescription letter, which must be issued by a licensed mental health professional (LMHP) in your state and tied to your diagnosed disability.
Companies like US Service Animals and Support Pets aim to make this process easier so that those who need the support of an ESA can get the help they deserve. That said, the choice of provider matters—selecting one that fits your individual needs is critical. Above all, you’ll need to be sure that the ESA letter you obtain is legitimate, meets legal standards, and is backed by a seamless, straightforward process. Our guide will break down everything you need to know about these two providers so you can choose the right one for you with confidence.
A Quick Look:
- US Service Animals: A reliable option for legally valid ESA letters
- Support Pets: An easy option with possibly problematic ESA letters
| US Service Animals | Support Pets. | |
| Digital ESA Prescription Letter | ✓ | ✓ |
| Option to Register Your ESA | ✓ | X |
| Money-Back Guarantee | ✓ | ✓ |
| One-On-One Consultations | ✓ | X |
| Licensed Mental Health Professionals | ✓ | ✓ |
| Helpful customer support | ✓ | ✓ |
| Possible 24-Hour Turnaround | ✓ | ✓ |
| Legal Support | ✓ | X |
| Trustpilot Rating |  |
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US Service Animals vs. Support Pets
US Service Animals and Support Pets are both online ESA letter providers who offer quick and simple ESA letter services online. That said, US Service Animals comes out ahead in several areas, including their ESA letter legitimacy and their additional psychiatric service dog (PSD) services.
US Service Animals: An Overview
US Service Animals is a top-tier provider of emotional support animal (ESA) letters. Established by lawyers, they ensure that their process is fully compliant with legal standards, which means you can trust that they provide valid ESA letters. Also, US Service Animals’ customer service team is both knowledgeable and approachable, offering assistance at every step of the process, and there’s even a legal team to provide additional support if challenges arise.
Plus, if you need the support of an assistance animal outside of your home, US Service Animal offers psychiatric service dog (PSD) training which will grant your dog public access rights and the right to fly with you for free. US Service Animals’ all-around usefulness is part of the reason why they have a nearly perfect rating on Trustpilot and over ten times the number of reviews of Support Pets. While they do send out frequent promotional mailers, they are typically informative and helpful.
Pros:
- Founded by lawyers
- Fully compliant, legally valid ESA letters
- PSD training available
- Responsive customer support
- Legal support services
- Almost perfect Trustpilot rating
Cons:
- Sends frequent promotional mailers after sign-up
How to Get an ESA Letter With US Service Animals
US Service Animals makes the process of obtaining an ESA letter simple and user-friendly. And if you have any questions, their customer support team is always available to provide guidance.
Schedule a Consult
The process begins by scheduling an appointment with a licensed mental health professional (LMHP) in your state. You can do this via an online form or contact their support team by phone, email, or live chat to assist in booking your consultation.
Talk With a Licensed Mental Health Professional
Next, you’ll speak one-on-one with an LMHP, usually in a quick session lasting under 10 minutes in most states. In select states like California, an additional consultation may be required to comply with local laws. The LMHP will evaluate whether you have a diagnosable mental or emotional disability and if an ESA could benefit your condition.
Get Your ESA Letter (or Your Money Back)
If you qualify, you’ll receive your ESA letter via email in as little as 24 hours. If you don’t end up qualifying, US Service Animals will issue a full refund.
Enjoy Legal Support and Protection
Once you have your ESA letter, you’ll immediately gain legal rights, such as the ability to live with your ESA in no-pet housing and exemptions from breed, size, and pet-related fees. US Service Animals also provides ongoing legal support in case any issues arise.
Is US Service Animals Right for You?
If you’re looking for a dependable, trustworthy provider for ESA or PSD services, US Service Animals is a great choice. With their legal expertise, excellent customer support, and comprehensive services, they ensure a smooth and supportive experience from start to finish.
Support Pets: An Overview
The process for getting an ESA letter with Support Pets is incredibly quick and simple. You won’t have to wait to book a consultation, and you won’t have to deal with any phone calls with a mental health professional. However, since speaking live with a licensed mental health professional in your state is required for your ESA letter to be valid, it throws into question the validity of their service. They do offer an auto-renewal option for your ESA letter, which is a nice touch, though there’s no way to register your ESA with them if you’d like additional visual proof of your support animal’s status.
Pros:
- Quick and simple process
- Short online assessment
- Has an auto-renewal option
Cons:
- You don’t speak with an LMHP
- ESA letters may not be valid
- No option to register your ESA
How to Get an ESA Letter With Support Pets
Support Pets offers a fast, easy way to apply for an ESA letter online. However, since you don’t speak directly with an LMHP, the process isn’t as legally reliable as US Service Animals’.
Take Their Assessment Online
First, Support Pets has you fill out an assessment online. This quiz is fairly short and is a stress-free, low-effort way to find out if you qualify for an emotional support animal. While this may seem like the pre-screening quiz offered by some other providers, at Support Pets, this quiz will be what is used to figure out if an ESA is right for you.
Have Your Assessment Reviewed by a Doctor
Once you’ve submitted your quiz, a certified doctor will review your results without speaking directly to you, and will then determine both if you have a mental or emotional disability as well as if an ESA is a solid treatment option for you.
Get Your ESA Prescription Letter
If the doctor decides you qualify for an ESA, you’ll then have the option to place an order for your ESA letter.
Is Support Pets Right for You?
While we are hesitant to recommend Support Pets due to questions about their ESA letters’ legal validity, they can be a low-stress option for those who find phone calls difficult or who are simply looking for a very quick way to get approved for an ESA letter.
US Service Animals vs. Support Pets: Final Thoughts
While everyone’s individual needs when obtaining an ESA are different, we recommend US Service Animals. The company was founded by lawyers, and their entire process is legally valid, no matter which state you live in. However, Support Pets may be a helpful option to those who are uncomfortable with phone calls and who are not concerned about their ESA letter being questioned (for instance, if they live in housing that allows pets and so are not worried about having to rehome their ESA).
If you’re living with an emotional or mental disability and feel an ESA may be a helpful treatment option for you, we hope this guide has helped you settle on the right provider for your needs. Remember, everyone deserves emotional support and comfort, and one of the kindest things you can do for yourself is to make sure you seek out the best kind of therapeutic support available to you.