Emotional Support Animal, also known as ESA, is a companion animal for

people who need therapeutic healing. In general, cats and dogs often double up

as ESAs and offer required companionship and love to the patient.

However, it should be noted that an individual must have confirmed and

have a unique disability to get an ESA. Unlike service animals, emotional

support animals don’t need any training to become an ESA, barring the basic

training for peaceful co-existence with humans. Here are some

of the facts worth knowing.

First things first, an emotional support animal isn’t a family pet, but it works as a companion for people dealing with varied kinds

of emotional, mental and psychiatric issues. ESAs can be

often included in most communities, where pets aren’t

allowed or there are other issues. In fact, not many know that

denying accommodation to a patient with ESA may result in an FHA violation. For obtaining an emotional support animal, one

must have a prescription from a doctor or healthcare professional,

which will state that the patient has been diagnosed with some

kind of mental health problem and requires an ESA for therapeutic

care and companionship.

When a person needs an ESA for any kind of disability or psychiatric issues, they must first seek

permission from their landlord. It is best to be as polite as possible in a written letter, where the

patient (or his family) can stress on the need for the animal. Keep in mind that you don’t need to clearly

mention the kind of disability you have, but typically, a prescription from a healthcare

practitioner is considered to be enough. It is also worthy to understand that service dogs are not

same as an ESA and possess special skills.

On the other hand, ESAs are prescribed by a doctor, who knows that the

presence of the animal is essential for the wellbeing of the patient.

Online ESA prescription letters are now a popular choice for patients who want

a companion animal. Advanced services will ask you to fill a questionnaire, and

based on the facts, they will assign a healthcare professional, who will

prescribe the ESA, if at all needed. For the entire work, these services may charge a little extra, which is worth

paying for, given that you will be benefited in many ways. Professional

companies may even offer a refund on the cost when you do not

qualify for the certificate. However, do read the procedure and terms

and conditions in detail to understand whether an animal

is your ultimate choice for healing.