ESA or emotional support animal is a companion animal that people with mental and emotional disabilities can keep for therapeutic benefits. By this, some symptoms of these disorders can be alleviated. ESAs are usual cats and dogs, but other kinds of pets are included as well. in order to keep the animals individual must have a confirmed disability. Doctors also prescribe such animals to the patients with confirmed disability. According to the laws in united states ESA is a pet that provides owners with therapeutic help of some level through companionship and affection. These pets do not go through any type of trainings, but they must be trained to behave properly in public. They can go through any standard training like any other pet. The ESA pets must not create any nuisance to anyone else.
ESA and its requirements
ESAs are not considered as family pets. These are the animals, which plays a role of a companion and provides emotional support to the person with mental dysfunction and psychiatric disorders. Under the FHA, the animals can be kept in the communities where no pets are allowed. An ESA gives full support to the people who are struggling with the physical disability and can live on their own.
Certification to obtain ESA
It is important that you qualify to keep an ESA and the person must have an official letter or certification from mental healthcare professional or doctor. the certification must state that the individual is suffering from mental disability and the ESA provides therapeutic benefits. the individuals must also show the diagnosed prescription in order to obtain the certification. The ESA can decrease or alleviate the symptoms of mental or emotional disabilities. The animal is not required to go through any training classes. There are many in the united states who is having ESA and they are also successful in treating the symptoms of the sufferers thus, it is not a challenge to obtain emotional support dog certification.
What are the documents required?
If an individual needs to keep an ESA to help them with their ongoing disability, then they first must seek the permission of their property owners. It is best if their request is in writing and can clearly explain, how ESA is supporting and helping that person in alleviating the symptoms of their disabilities emotionally and mentally. While the tenant or owner does not have, any need to reveal their disabilities. There is no need to show any proof from the healthcare providers or doctors.
Difference between standard dog and emotional support dog
There is a huge difference between a service dog and an ESA. A service dog has to go under training because they have to perform certain tasks for their owners. This training lasts from eighteen to twenty-four months in the majority of the cases. Service dogs goes through advanced trainings and they are actually viewed as advanced equipments and they are allowed to go with their owners virtually anywhere even in the places where standards pets are not allowed.
ESAs belong to people suffering from mentally and emotionally impaired person. Their healthcare experts believe that it is necessary for the mental and emotional state and they prescribe them ESAs claiming that the pet can reside with the person. the owner of the emotional support pets is having the similar rights as any typical pet owner is having. However, ESA can be taken to the places where standard house pets are not allowed. These are the few differences between service dogs, ESAs, and standard pets. To keep ESA you also need emotional support dog certification.
Can you have multiple ESAs?
There are not actual cases that address this issue, but if there are then the criteria is the same. The patient suffering from emotional and mental stress must have the certification from their healthcare experts. They can request multiple pets and have a reasonable accommodation whether they can keep more than one emotional support animals. There is an online medical examination, which the person has to complete. there are 74 questions and it takes 15-20 minutes to complete the test. You can take this test online and instantly have the certification for having an emotional support pet.