ESA: Emotional Support Animal, a type of service animal requiring no additional training and will legally be able to go with you wherever you go. Sounds perfect, right? Little Spot can go with me everywhere I go. This is what the general consensus believes disregarding what that actually means. Not only do you become dependent on the animal, but the animal becomes dependent on you.

Nine months ago, I began the task of getting my own ESA, not because it was trendy, not because everyone has mental illness so I may as well get one too. No, I got an ESA because I physically would not have survived that first semester of college without her. Nine months ago, I made at least a ten year commitment to my own health and adopted a five month old kitten. Nine months ago I made the best and worst decision of my life.

I named her Daisy as I was currently reading The Great Gatsby and wanted to use a literary character for inspiration. Quickly on my campus word spread that I had a cat and others began asking me about the process. The process for me was quick and simple, I had adopted Daisy and had her on campus in less than a week. Others have to wait much longer due to a lack of proof that and ESA is required and they are not just trying to have an animal on campus.

Having an ESA is not trendy, and it really irks me when people want to go around the system just to get an animal, no, having an ESA is a tool that some people truly need in order to survive. Without Daisy, my anxiety probably would have destroyed me, I needed her. I did not want her. I’ll say that again. I did not want to get a cat, I needed a cat for my own health

Getting an ESA is a major decision, like I said earlier, they become dependent on you. For example, I am in Washington DC for four weeks so I needed to bring Daisy. Meaning, I had to jump through Hell and back to get her cleared for the airline, for on campus housing. She is federally licensed, yes, but other people can still make your life miserable in order for Daisy to be accepted.

In other words, an ESA is a wonderful tool that should be taken advantage of if needed, but don’t take advantage. My ESA was medically necessary, but she is a huge commitment. Everything I plan to do, I have to think about my cat. If I want to go to a friends house I have to think about Daisy's meal times and would that be too long to leave her alone. If it is too long, now I need to find someone to go play with her or feed her. I'm not just taking care of myself anymore, I am caring for another living thing that depends on me just as much as I depend on her.