Dogs have been known as man’s best friend for centuries. Dogs have also been known to aid humans, as well.
People who have a physical/mental disability or who have an emotional or mental health condition may desire, or receive a recommendation by a professional, to receive aid from an Emotional Support Animal (ESA) or a Service Animal.
Although animals can assist humans in various, helpful ways, there is a common misconception regarding animal assistance is defining and understanding the difference between Emotional Support Animals and Service Animals. To gain a bit of clarification, keep reading below:
Define Emotional Support Animal (ESA)
An Emotional Support Animal is a companion animal, which has been determined to aid an individual who has an emotional or mental health condition by a professional. An ESA simply provides comfort/support to the individual — ESAs have received no training to provide this support.
ESA’s are protected by the Fair Housing Amendments Act and the Air Carrier Access Act.
If you have been diagnosed with an emotional or mental health condition by a professional, consult your doctor/therapist. If your care provider agrees that an ESA could be helpful to you, they can write a document that offers your pet the ability to be deemed as an ESA. For example, Jackson is my ESA to help with the anxiety that I encounter on a daily basis. Click here to read more about how Jackson became my ESA.
It is not required, but if you wish to register your ESA, visit the U.S. Dog Registry webpage.
Define Service Animal
An animal that has been trained to assist an individual with a disability. Service animals have been trained to perform tasks to assist the individual. For example, an individual with diabetes may have a Service Animal who can detect when his/her glucose levels are getting too low.
Service Animals are protected by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). To learn more about the specifics of Service Animals and what the ADA has dictated regarding them, click here.
If you currently own a dog and are interested in getting them certified as a Service Animal, it may be helpful to know that PetSmart actually offer trainings for Therapy Dog certifications. PetSmart offers a 6-week course that prepares both you and your dog to take a Therapy Dog Evaluation, and only costs $119.
Do you already have an ESA or Service Animal?
If you already have an ESA or Service Animal, you know how wonderful these animals truly are and have witnessed how helpful they are. If you’d like to share your story about ESAs or Service Animals, please contact me! I’d love to share your story on this blog. Message me on social media (Facebook or Instagram) or email me at whatawonderfulllife606@gmail.com.
The Mutt & The Dood 