Since attending Wilson College, I quickly came to learn what having pets in a dorm/apartment like setting was like and how being responsible for certain pets must meet certain demands and conditions. Like any animal, there are requirements and standards that must be met and maintained in order to keep that pet well and happy, let alone cared for at all (otherwise, one doesn’t quite deserve owning a pet if they cannot so much as maintain it a basic and sufficient living environment standards, etc.).

However, when it comes to owning an ESA (emotional support animal) or any other type of Service Animal (Dog’s and very few Miniature Horses are the only exception as of late: they are the only one’s officially recognized and approved by the ADA [American Disabilities Act] for being classified under as “Service Animals”) there are other rules to remember and to live by and follow. ESA’s, however, are only protected by the Fair Housing Amendments Act and the Air Carrier Access Act, two laws both taken very seriously, as well.

Now, let’s go over the speed bumps shall we? Here’s your quick handy dandy guide to understanding the in’s and out’s and BIG KEY DIFFERENCES between the three: ESA’s (emotional support animals) VS. Service Animals (most of which are dogs) VS. Therapy Dogs/Animals – and the misconceptions end right here, right now. Let’s begin..

First of all, let’s start with ESA’s. As much as they make an ideal pet and companion, I can definitely tell you they are WAY MORE than just your ordinary animal companion. Emotional support dogs and cats and all other animals help individuals with emotional problems by providing comfort and support (with documented proof of this need from a licensed doctor). From personal experience, I can say this: my miniature American Eskimo/American Spitz female spayed dog named Nala is great for emotional support, as she provides just that! Comfort and support for my mental disability and emotional needs, helping me treat my mood disorder and forthcoming anxiety/triggered episodes/psychosis. She may be 12 years older, or heck, even less or more but since she was adopted and rescued I can’t quite say what age she is but I’m certain she’s older. Nonetheless, she does her purpose as an ESA. All ESA’s of all kinds are acceptable. Any age, any pet, so long as they are a pet allowed in your state.

ESA’s CAN have regulations such as how big a dog can be when accompanying an owner to a new home or traveling. Smaller pets tend to have an easier time, but with the proper paperwork and dorm/building/apartment size, any pet could be acceptable. Just make sure you speak with your landlord and speak with flight companies ahead of time so they are prepared for you and your ESA. You may have guessed it, but ESA’s are only permitted to travel to places where other animals and pets are allowed; (parks, pet stores, etc.) Many laws try to enforce this because of the confusion ESA’s cause ACTUAL service dogs, so remember it is actually ILLEGAL to claim your ESA a service animal. Please keep this in mind. Actual Service Dogs (9 times out of 10) have a legitimate purpose to serve their owner other than emotional comfort and safety. Don’t get me wrong, I would love to bring my ESA Nala all over creation but I know this doesn’t abide by the law as I hope to one day register for a psychiatric service dog, which is possible for panic disorders such as PTSD.

Make sure to be careful when looking into getting a pet as an ESA. It can be any pet providing love and comfort but sometimes only certain sizes are deemed appropriate (depending on a picky landlord, etc.) Remember by law, having a registered ESA only allows the owner to travel with them in the cabin without paying extra (calling ahead for a bigger pet such as a dog would help if they need room for a seat – so long as the flight isn’t over booked, so call way ahead!). Other than that, they can accompany flights with you and also live with you in “no pet facilities” free of charge and worry, for the most part.

However, if a misbehaved ESA causes disruptions or damage of any sort, you better pray you can make up the damage and pay for it. No ESA’s require professional training because no official registry exists for them in the U.S.A. – you may get ID’s and certificates for them to help you in the process but keep in mind they are NOT official nor required by law! So SAVE YOUR MONEY and BUY YOUR OWN EQUIPMENT. I recommend using amazon and eBay under the brand XpressID as they are very affordable and as official as official gets. Again, these are not necessary or required but are helpful when traveling in airports and struggle to keep your paperwork easily available and handy at all times. Lastly, a vest may help but again, as long as you have a licensed doctor’s note explaining any type of medical or psychiatric or treatment need for emotional support then an ESA may be “prescribed” to you (as registry’s try discusses this).

The following help with obtaining the proper treatment and getting the proper help and approval you need (keeping in mind ANY pet can be an ESA) such as: Anxiety, Panic Disorders, High-functioning anxiety/stress, Depression, Bipolar/Mood Disorders, and other disorders that are not limited to this such as any emotional/psychological condition. Once you have your approval letter from a doctor such as a licensed psychiatrist or referral to a doctor from a therapist, you are all set to go. Make sure to keep that paperwork tidy and like I said before, if you want extra “proof” (100% not necessary) you can do that at the comfort of your own will. I know my friends and I personally feel more comfortable having these things in place for when we travel in states with our ESA’s, so to me, it makes sense to do what you find most helpful and useful. Just please, do NOT get scammed like I almost did! Review all your options and do extra research. I promise it’s useful to you, in the end. Make the right decisions for YOU and YOUR ESA so you don’t end up wasting cash that could be spent elsewhere, perhaps to pamper your emotional support companion.

Now, real quick, listen up... so you’re probably wondering then, well, what are Service Dogs used for? I’m so glad you asked, because even I had to look much more into this. Service dogs, by law, help with performing a function for a person that is limited by a disability. This disability could be endless kinds but so long as this dog (or horse) functions solely to provide help and certain tasks that go towards assisting a certain disabled need, then that service dog is a service dog/animal, permitted by law, of course. These dogs ([dogs] for the most part) need to be trained professionally unless psychiatric service dogs, or dog’s that learn to assist in ways registries can’t assist. Your service dog in training then needs to be fully accepted and registered by an organization by passing the obedience and aid tests. In other words, they are animals providing a certain need that one needs to function day by day. Not just a ESA which is considered more of a “pet” simply because their requirements aren’t nearly as apparent or “deemed necessary”. Don’t get me wrong. I find ESA’s just as important because without mine, I find myself lost and in emotional pain. I have trouble functioning without my dog because to me, she is my other half. Emotionally, I’m not as stable, and without her by my side, I seem to fade into the background. Both are important support/service animals it’s just important to know the difference so you stick to the rules of thumb our society has put in place for a good reason. Otherwise, the world would be overrun by service dogs/animals, some deemed more “necessary” than others, which would cause problems such as what the law is trying to reinforce even now. Since this law and or privilege isn’t made clear enough to some people, I’m here to clear that up. Some disabilities covered (but not all) are as follows: Mobility issues, visual impairment (blindness), hearing impairment (deafness), seizures, diabetes, PTSD, autism, epilepsy, multiple sclerosis (MS), and other physical/mental disabilities. Keep in mind that means there are endless possibilities. So have no fear, if you really feel having a service dog or miniature horse is the right or better option for you, then make sure you talk to official registries to get started as this process could take years and years and years to get underway and if you want to pick the dog yourself, you must talk with those registries and organizations listed under the approved ADA act (Americans with Disabilities Act). Like ESA’s, no proof is required other than documentation, but having patches, vests, ID’s, and certifications may really help and come in handy! And as far as the law goes (which is causing some minor issues..) it is against federal law to ask for proof of one’s service dog/animal because documentation is sometimes hard to come by, and having them is a right.

However, this causes mass confusion and it is always better to go the legal route and follow the rules, that way service animals aren’t frowned upon when someone actually needs one to function physically versus emotionally and for comfort, etc. Last but not least, I read somewhere that Landlord’s and Airports can ask for some form of ID or proof to verify a Service Dog, only because if an agency dealing with you a long time needs evidence, that’s one thing but for a customer to be asked from a clerk is considered rude and unprofessional simply because it’s considered acceptable to claim them yours so long as they behave. This is considered a BASIC RIGHT, HOWEVER.. it goes to show that some ESA handlers get away with feigning service dog needs simply because some handler’s find this okay if they are able to do so without penalty, but that does not make this OKAY LAWFULLY, unless given permission prior to visiting or knowing pets are allowed ahead of time, and such. Always make sure to follow the rules because sooner or later laws will be reinforced even more, making it harder for ACTUAL SERVICE DOGS to be by their handlers to give them their full attention, support, and service. Please do not take this privilege away from them. It doesn’t do you or them any justice. Like I said before, if you find yourself needing more than just an ESA to cope, and you struggle day by day with a physical or mental disability, then a service dog/miniature horse may be the best option for you, keeping in mind you contact the proper ADA approved associations and agencies/organizations who approve service dogs, etc. So, in other words, do your research; I promise it will help you in the long run.

Last but not least, you may be wondering… So what’s a therapy dog? Therapy dogs are actually quite simple, simpler than many of us think! Like any therapy animal they: provide affection and comfort to individuals in hospitals, nursing homes, and other facilities. That isn’t to say, however, that the treatment and love they give to many is a “simple task”. They have to be very obedient and willing to care for others. Over time, I was able to get my ESA (emotional support animal) Nala a therapy dog approval. This doesn’t require a license or badge or anything of the sort, unless one wants, because all these guys really do is provide comfort and support for others, other than their main handler. It’s important to know that therapy dog’s can be any dog (sometimes even cats) that come into facilities to brighten someone’s day, whether that be a retirement home, nursing home, or mental hospital/children’s hospital, etc. They need to be approved, like ESA’s, by the facility, with proper documentation of up-to-date Veterinary records as well as a stamp of approval/waver that deems them acceptable by the facility they are visiting. Since I love helping at retirement homes, I am happy to say my dog likes to go with me to help women and men alike in the critical patient units or the nursing home over at Penn Hall/Menno Haven. I can say from personal experience, that my ESA not only makes me happy and smile, she makes a LOT of other people happy and smile, and that’s a gift I feel many animals tend to bless us with, especially our sentient little pets. Knowing my dog can help others just as much as me, even if it’s in the span of 5-10 minute visits back to back, it’s important to realize they make a big difference in these people’s lives and that their presence, touch, love, and affection gives them so much more than a warm memory to hold onto. It gives them a reason to keep on living and a smile to hopefully last them a good while longer.

In the end, all animals, big and small, fluffy or not, make a difference in our day to day world. Whether that animal or pet be a ESA, or a service dog/”animal” or even a therapy dog; ALL are important and made equal. Equally important but by law, different support systems and different services taking place. Please keep in mind that while all of these companions help us or others, it’s important to remember to follow the law, as I cannot stress this enough, throughout. I know because I hear this all the time that it is “okay to pass ESA’s as service dogs..etc.,” because I hear it all going to a school where we now have over 18 registered ESA’s on campus. Wow, what a change for such a small liberal arts college, too. But passing isn’t always perfect nor is it fair to people who actually go through all the requirements made possible for their service dog. Keep in mind that while you may want your ESA with you like a service dog, or claim them to be a “therapy animal” without documentation as such, it is not necessarily right nor fair. Perhaps you need more than an ESA? Or therapy animal? Then that’s alright. Just make sure you do America and the ADA a favor and register for a specific type of service dog, etc. Once you know what you need, you’re already half way there!

Thanks for stopping by! I hope you enjoyed this read. If so, come by next week for many more~! I’m always bound to post plenty more ^_^

Incase you’re interested…

Here are some sites/sources I found helpful when discussing certain topics above:

http://usdogregistry.org/?gclid=Cj0KEQjwg8i_BRCT9dHt5ZSGi90BEiQAItdjpJ6xuhgxy61VpRy89o9flPmk_J_KyTJpXumbgceELRUaAhcL8P8HAQ

http://servicedogcentral.org/content/fake-service-dog-credentials

https://www.esaregistration.org/faq/

https://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20140325171220AAfm9rz

http://portal.hud.gov/hudportal/documents/huddoc?id=servanimals_ntcfheo2013-01.pdf

https://www.esaregistration.org/offers/survival-guide.pdf

https://www.access-board.gov/guidelines-and-standards/buildings-and-sites/about-the-ada-standards

https://www.ada.gov/

https://www.adaregistry.com/identification-cards/?gclid=CjwKEAjw-Oy_BRDg4Iqok57a4kcSJADsuDK1ixe-9UzrAQvOwLQx3OeyKKiDtYtIEn3HRX96jECieRoCLFTw_wcB

https://www.certapet.com/faq/

https://www.certapet.com/

http://www.nbcchicago.com/news/local/Emotional-Sup...

Again, most of these sources were used for ideas, facts, information, etc., only. Use as tools of information at your disposal, but at your own risk.

As quoted by the Res Life director of Wilson College, herself:

“ESAs by definition have no special certifications so there is nothing to register. Also look at the FHA and FAA websites - those are where ESA policies exist right now.

Please look at the ADA and DOJ websites for information and advice, too. The ESA registration websites are fraudulent and nothing but scams (for the most part).”