What is an Emotional Support Animal (ESA)?<\/h2>\n
An emotional support animal gives emotional and therapeutic support to its owners, helping them to live with emotional distress, anxiety, and a range of mental health conditions. These animals don\u2019t need to perform any specific function or tasks other than providing comfort and a therapeutic benefit.<\/p>\n
After reading the two descriptions above, you might be thinking that ESA animals and psychiatric service animals sound pretty similar. It\u2019s true that they\u2019re both used to help with mental health conditions \u2014 but there are some key differences.<\/p>\n
What\u2019s the Difference?<\/h2>\n
Hopefully, you can already see the principal differences between the two types of animals. While psychiatric service animals help their owners with specific tasks, an emotional support animal’s role is less clear-cut.<\/p>\n
This gives a brief insight into how the categories differ, but there are also some far more precise distinctions.<\/p>\n
The American Psychological Association<\/a> (APA) identifies five main differences between ESAs and PSAs:<\/p>\n We\u2019ll examine each aspect in detail before going on to answer some further questions.<\/p>\n So far, we\u2019ve touched on the slightly different responsibilities and functions of psychiatric service animals and emotional support animals. Now, it\u2019s time to look at the specific tasks and activities that both types of animals are typically expected to perform.<\/p>\n Psychiatric service animals are used to help people with a broad range of conditions, so the exact tasks they\u2019re trained to perform are highly personal and vary widely. However, here\u2019s an overview of some of the most common roles.<\/p>\n Often, PSAs learn to search a room on behalf of a person who suffers from hyper-vigilance or to react to specific sounds (like alarms) or unusual noises. Similarly, they can perform safety checks for those with PTSD. This all helps to put the owner at ease, reducing their mental burden.<\/p>\n Another common function involves letting people adapt more easily to being out in public than they would without their animals. PSAs can help their owners orient themselves in a large crowd, possibly even locating certain people or places. They can also give balance assistance or added security and navigate through crowded or stressful environments.<\/p>\n They\u2019re invaluable in times of crisis. In some cases, they can even retrieve medications, ring bells to remind their owners to take medication, and react to harmful or compulsive behaviors by interrupting their owners. For those who suffer from anxiety disorders, animals can perform the pivotal role of responding to the attack, helping their owner to return to their normal state and readjust.<\/p>\n Yet these animals can also help owners out with more everyday tasks around the home. For instance, they can prompt their owners to follow healthy habits and routines (like waking up in the morning).<\/p>\n They may also provide comfort and therapeutic benefits to their owners, similarly to emotional support animals \u2014 but this isn\u2019t the primary purpose of a psychiatric service animal.<\/p>\n Rather than helping their owners with tasks or following treatment plans, emotional support animals simply provide comfort and therapeutic services to their owners. Since all owners view emotional support differently, there\u2019s no specific plan or role these animals must follow.<\/p>\n Naturally, with such a difference in the tasks both types of animals perform, ESAs and PSAs have very different rights.<\/p>\n \u201cEmotional support animal\u201d and \u201cpsychiatric service animal\u201d aren\u2019t terms that we can just throw around \u2014 they\u2019re legal classifications that carry very different implications.<\/p>\n We\u2019ll get to exactly how to qualify for each type later, but now, let\u2019s have a quick overview of the key laws affecting the animals.<\/p>\n The Americans with Disabilities Act covers psychiatric service dogs<\/a>, which makes them exempt from many restrictions imposed on other types of animals and pets. This protects their owners, who could end up in danger if they couldn\u2019t take their PSAs everywhere with them.<\/p>\n Legally, wherever the public is allowed to go, owners must also be able to take their psychiatric service dogs. The law obligates all local and state governments, businesses, and other organizations to make these allowances.<\/p>\n ESAs don\u2019t come under the ADA, so they have significantly fewer rights and could be denied access to various public places.<\/p>\n Another key piece of legislation is the Fair Housing Act, under which both types of dogs can live with their owners \u2014 even if the housing has a \u201cno pets\u201d policy in place. It\u2019s one of the few privileges that emotional support animals enjoy over regular pets.<\/p>\n This goes beyond simply allowing owners to have their animals with them. Owners are also protected from paying any additional fees or deposits due to their animals \u2014 living with a PSA or ESA is a right, not a privilege.<\/p>\n The law applies not just to long-term rentals but also some temporary accommodations, like college dorms.<\/p>\n The protection that comes from the two acts outlined above is only the bare minimum. Some states go beyond this by providing further protection. For instance, in Rhode Island, the ADA law applies to service animals\u2019 trainers and not just the owners.<\/p>\n It\u2019s also worth noting that, although some states don\u2019t protect psychiatric service animals, the federal laws override these laws\u2019 validity. Therefore, owners and their animals are still protected.<\/p>\n As we\u2019ve seen, psychiatric service animals and emotional support animals are covered by different laws, their owners are allowed to take them to different places. Let\u2019s take a more detailed look at where exactly ESAs and PSAs are allowed to go.<\/p>\n Unlike regular pets, psychiatric service animals are allowed to stay in the cabin with their owners during a flight. The Air Carrier Access Act (ACAA) states that all commercial airlines must allow service animals on board.<\/p>\n Until recently, emotional support animals were also allowed to ride on airplanes with their owners. However, this has now changed. As of 11 January 2021, the Department of Transportation has ruled that only psychiatric service animals<\/a> can fly on planes.<\/p>\n However, the finer details of the rules get somewhat confusing. Owners don\u2019t actually need to prove that their animal is a service animal at all \u2014 they just need to sign a document agreeing to certain conditions, such as their PSA being vaccinated. This has led to some concerns the system could be abused.<\/p>\n Individual airlines can impose more restrictions on anyone trying to take these animals on board, though. Some airlines may require anyone flying with a psychiatric service animal to submit a signed certification beforehand, which involves proving the animal is trained and well-behaved.<\/p>\n However, be aware that all countries have different legislations, which is something to be aware of when traveling between foreign countries on a non-American airline.<\/p>\n Thanks to the ADA, psychiatric service animals have the right to accompany their owners on taxis, trains, buses, and any other types of transportation imaginable.<\/p>\n With emotional service dogs, it\u2019s not so straightforward. The law doesn\u2019t state that these animals must be allowed \u2014 but in most cases, they are. It\u2019s common even for non-ESA pets to travel with their owners on some of these transport modes.<\/p>\n The same rules apply to open spaces. Regardless of any \u201cno pet\u201d rules in place, owners of psychiatric service animals can take their pets to all kinds of public spaces. These include beaches, university campuses, parks, libraries, and anything else that\u2019s publicly owned.<\/p>\n Emotional support animals don\u2019t enjoy the same privilege.<\/p>\n Although animals usually aren\u2019t allowed into stores, cafes, restaurants, and similar establishments, this doesn\u2019t apply to PSAs. Again, the ADA covers them.<\/p>\n Yet there\u2019s no law stating that restaurants, bars, and stores must allow emotional support animals into their promises, so this comes down to the business owner\u2019s discretion. We recommend calling in advance to explain the situation.<\/p>\n But unfortunately, just because PSAs have a legal right to be in these places, it doesn\u2019t preclude the possibility of the animals being refused entry (or asked to leave if they misbehave). This can happen in the case of aggressive animals or uninformed staff.<\/p>\n The ADA doesn\u2019t explicitly require workplaces to allow psychiatric service animals, but it does ask employers to make \u201creasonable accommodations\u201d for staff with disabilities. In most cases, an employee having an animal to help them manage their disability falls into this category.<\/p>\n Under the same clause, some emotional support animals could also be brought into work, depending on the exact circumstances and condition. However, it\u2019s essential to apply for a reasonable accommodation beforehand \u2014 don\u2019t just turn up on the first day of work with an animal in tow.<\/p>\n Of course, some careers would be unsuitable for these types of animals. Employers have the right to deny a service animal if it creates \u201cundue hardship\u201d to accommodate them, but they can\u2019t deny a request without having a reasonable explanation. This could apply in the case of a firefighter or surgeon, for instance \u2014 the animal could put everyone in danger.<\/p>\n Unlike the workplace, there are laws in place that state students must be able to bring psychiatric service dogs into their educational institutions. This comes under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA).<\/p>\n However, the rules are relatively complex, so it\u2019s best to discuss it with the establishment beforehand.<\/p>\n Although ESAs aren\u2019t explicitly covered, many educational institutions are likely to make provisions.<\/p>\n As mentioned already, psychiatric service animals must be trained to help their owners perform their daily tasks or to respond in moments of need.<\/p>\n They must be able to recognize when their owner needs them (e.g., when they\u2019re about to do something harmful or have a panic attack), and they must also be able to react.<\/p>\n Because owners are so reliant on their service animals to carry out many tasks, it\u2019s imperative that PSAs are highly obedient and never wander off or play up.<\/p>\n In contrast, emotional support animals don\u2019t face any particular criteria. They don\u2019t need to be trained at all to receive a legal classification as an ESA.<\/p>\n But since an ESA\u2019s main purpose is to provide support and comfort, they need to be calm enough to make their owners feel safe. An aggressive animal that misbehaves is unlikely to achieve this. Plus, bad behavior could result in the animal being denied access to housing or other public places.<\/p>\n Another difference is that psychiatric service dogs undergo a training program tailored to one person since they perform such a specific role in their owner\u2019s life.<\/p>\n It may be possible to send the animal away to a training program elsewhere, but this isn\u2019t recommended. Because the relationship between a PSA and its owner is so crucial, it\u2019s helpful for the owner to be part of the program along with a professional trainer<\/a> so the pair develop a bond.<\/p>\n The whole training program for a PSA is likely to take one to two years.<\/p>\n Although the official term is a psychiatric service animal<\/em>, the Americans with Disabilities Act limits its definition of the PSA role to dogs \u2014 or, occasionally, miniature horses.<\/p>\n Because ESAs aren\u2019t as closely regulated, there\u2019s more leniency regarding the range of animals that can be classed as emotional support. As you\u2019d expect, cats and dogs are the most common, but other types of animals can also be registered \u2014 including smaller animals like rabbits, rodents, turtles, and ferrets.<\/p>\n There are some limits, but there\u2019s more of a common-sense approach to which animals are allowed, with the verdict depending on the discretion of the mental health professional that makes the judgment.<\/p>\n Generally, animals that are larger than a big dog are unlikely to be approved. However, in some rural settings, pigs or goats may be allowed.<\/p>\n Now you know the key differences between support and service animals, you might be wondering exactly who is eligible for each type.<\/p>\n Since psychiatric service animals are for people who need an animal to entrust certain life tasks or activities to, only a select few can qualify. According to the Americans with Disabilities Act<\/a>,\u00a0 a mental disability is either a \u201cmental or psychological disorder,\u201d an \u201cemotional or mental illness\u201d, or one of a few specific learning disabilities.\u201d<\/p>\n There\u2019s no list of qualifying conditions, but some of the disabilities that commonly qualify include:<\/p>\n Also, simply having one of the conditions above isn\u2019t enough \u2014 the owner must be able to prove that their animal can help them with specific tasks that they couldn\u2019t perform alone.<\/p>\n Regardless of the condition, if the animal\u2019s main function is companionship, it becomes an emotional support animal by default.<\/p>\n Although it\u2019s more straightforward to get an ESA than a psychiatric service animal, it\u2019s not the case that anyone can wake up one day and claim their pet is for emotional support.<\/p>\n Rather, you need to get an official letter from a licensed mental health counselor stating that you have a disability a support animal can help alleviate.<\/p>\n The following conditions can qualify:<\/p>\n You might have noticed there\u2019s some overlap here \u2014 for instance, people with anxiety disorders could possibly be eligible for both types of animals. Again, this is because it depends on what the owner is actually using the animal for.<\/p>\n\n
Purpose<\/h2>\n
Psychiatric Service Animals<\/h3>\n
Emotional Support Animals<\/h3>\n
Legal Protection<\/h2>\n
Americans With Disabilities Act<\/h3>\n
Fair Housing Act<\/h3>\n
Differences Between States<\/h3>\n
Public Access<\/h2>\n
Airplanes<\/h3>\n
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<\/p>\nOther Types of Transportation<\/h3>\n
Open Spaces<\/h3>\n
Bars, Restaurants, and Stores<\/h3>\n
The Workplace<\/h3>\n
Education<\/h3>\n
Training<\/h2>\n
Species<\/h2>\n
Who can Qualify?<\/h2>\n
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<\/p>\nPsychiatric Animals<\/h3>\n
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Emotional Support Animals<\/h3>\n
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