An Emotional Support Animal Certification Grants You Certain Rights

Posted by Daria King on December 31st, 2019

For someone seeking comfort, anxiety relief, or to minimize symptoms of emotional or psychological disability, an emotional support animal can be an excellent option. Read on to learn about how to qualify for an emotional support animal certification, how to apply, and what your support animal’s rights are after certification.

What Is an Emotional Support Animal?

An emotional support animal (ESA) is a pet that has been prescribed by a mental health professional and certified through the National Service Animal Registry. Common ESAs include dogs, cats, mice, rabbits, etc. and can also include hedgehogs, mini pigs, birds, snakes, ferrets, and any other domesticated animals of any age. No training is required since their objective is to provide support to you with their presence. As long as they can behave properly in public and don’t create a nuisance, your pet can likely qualify.

Who Can Qualify to Register an ESA?

For someone to qualify and register their pet as an ESA, they must be considered emotionally disabled by a licensed mental health professional. If your psychologist, psychiatrist, or licensed therapist recommends one and is willing to write a properly formatted prescription letter that your pet is part of your treatment for your emotional disability, you can get your pet registered as an emotional support animal. Registration is not a legal requirement, however it legitimizes your ESA and makes it easier to take your pet with you in public.  

How Do You Get Your ESA Certified?

If you and your pet both meet the requirements for an ESA, your first step is to obtain your properly formatted prescription letter from your mental health professional. Then you can register online to make things official. You simply submit some basic info like your pet’s species and name as well as your name and a picture of your ESA and order the registration kit of your choice. These may include items like your official certificate, inclusion in the national service animal database, ID cards, ID leashes, ESA vests or patches, and other identifying accessories that will make it easier to have your ESA seen as legitimate.

What Are Your Rights with Your ESA?

Once you have an emotional support animal certification, you have certain rights allowed to you as an emotionally disables person with an official ESA. These rights include being able to take your ESA on flights without being charged a pet fee and qualify for housing that restricts or bans pets.