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7 Reasons We Need to End the Exotic Pet Trade

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7 Reasons We Need to End the Exotic Pet Trade

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Author: Julie Cappiello

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7 Reasons We Need to End the Exotic Pet Trade

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Wild animals are not domesticated, yet millions end up in people's homes around the world each year.

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Author: RSPCA

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Exotic pets, such as reptiles and other wild animals in captivity, have the same needs as they would in the wild. This means that caring for them properly can be difficult. Before deciding to get an exotic pet, do plenty of research. Exotic animals can have more complex needs than your average domestic pet.

Here's what to consider if you're thinking about getting an exotic animal.
Exotic animal needs Caring for exotics during the cost of living crisis If you can no longer care for your exotic pet
Some exotic animals shouldn't be kept as pets

We're committed to improving exotic animal welfare and oppose the cruel wild-caught animal trade. So make sure your exotic pet hasn't been taken illegally from the wild.

We're also against some exotic species, such as primates, being kept as pets, as they have extremely complex needs that can't be met in a home environment.

Our exotic pet concerns.

What to consider before buying an exotic pet

If you've considered the costs and risks and are confident you can care for the complex needs of an exotic animal, please consider the following before buying a new pet.

Environment

Many exotic pets need a carefully controlled environment. For example, access to specialised heating and lighting to stop them from becoming ill.

Lifespan

Reptiles can live longer than you might expect, so make sure you'll be able to commit to this.

Size

Some reptiles can grow to a large size - carefully consider the size of your enclosure.

Diet

Exotic pets will most likely need specialist food, which can be expensive once you work out how much they eat.

Natural behaviour

Exotic animals will need space for burrowing, climbing or basking.

Company

Find out whether the animal needs to be kept alone or with others. Social animals can't be kept alone, as this will damage their health and well-being.

Lifestyle

Will the animal's behaviour fit in with your lifestyle? They might be active at night or during the day.

Specialist care

Is there a specialist vet for the species nearby who can treat this kind of animal if they become sick?

Paperwork

Some exotic pets will also need a licence or other legal paperwork to keep them, so check this before getting one.

Looking after exotic animals in the cost of living crisis

Despite the increase in the cost of living and energy bills, it's important that you don't turn down temperatures or light sources for your exotic pets. This can lead to serious health problems for exotic animals - and potentially high vet bills in the future.

Exotics can be expensive pets at the best of times as they require specialist care to ensure their needs are met. The majority of exotics, including reptiles, need a carefully controlled environment requiring access to specialised equipment for lighting and 24-hour heating.

Additionally, many exotic animals can live for decades, making ownership a very long-term responsibility for an exotic pet keeper.

There are some things you can do however to save money while maintaining a happy and healthy exotic pet.

Make DIY toys

Pet birds need lots of enrichment, but this doesn't have to mean buying expensive toys - you can make your own. Something as simple as a cardboard tube stuffed with newspaper, with pieces of food hidden inside, can encourage them to forage for their food. You can also try to scatter feeding, giving them whole nuts to crack, or freezing food in ice blocks to keep feeding time interesting.

Make DIY perches or stands

Instead of buying new perches or stands for your cage or aviary, create some using natural branches using different types of wood and thickness. Use twigs from safe fruit or nut trees, with the bark left on, and don't treat or spray them with anything before you give them to the birds.

Share heat sources

If you're struggling with the costs of heating and lighting for reptiles, move multiple animals into the same room so heat sources do not have to work as hard. Take care that animals do
not overheat.

Search for cheaper tariffs or payment plans

Speak to your energy supplier if you're struggling with the energy costs for your pets, as they may be able to offer a cheaper tariff or payment plans.

Shop second-hand

You might be able to find second-hand equipment for sale such as heat lamps or UV light tubes. Use a thermometer or solarmeter to check that they're still giving out the right levels of heat or light, as they can wear out over time.

If you're unable to care for your exotic animal

If you do, sadly, find yourself unable to care for your exotic pets, be aware that not all rescue centres will be able to take them. Start looking for help as soon as possible and try searching for rescue organisations for your species, specialist keeper forums or groups, and exotics specialist vets.

Species specific exotic pet care and advice

We have guides on the following pet reptiles:

Want to learn more? Read our report on understanding the motivations of beginner reptile owners.

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Caring for reptiles and other exotic pets | RSPCA

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Exotic pets, such as reptiles and other wild animals in captivity, have the same needs as they would in the wild. This means that caring for them properly can be difficult. Before deciding to get an exotic pet, do plenty of research. Exotic animals can have more complex needs than your average domestic pet.

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One Step Closer Animal Rescue (O.S.C.A.R.)

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One Step Closer Animal Rescue (O.S.C.A.R.)

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Author: O.S.C.A.R.

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One Step Closer Animal Rescue (O.S.C.A.R.), a non-profit rescue in Sparta, NJ

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Adopt rescue dogs from One Step Closer Animal Rescue (O.S.C.A.R.), a non-profit rescue in Sparta, NJ

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Author: National Geographic

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Extinctions happen when a species dies out from cataclysmic events, evolutionary problems, or human interference.

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ANIMAL RIGHTS: DEFINITION, ISSUES, AND EXAMPLES

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ANIMAL RIGHTS: DEFINITION, ISSUES, AND EXAMPLES

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Author: The Humane League (THL)

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Animal Rights: Definition, Issues, and Examples

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Animal rights advocates believe that non-human animals should be free to live as they wish, without being used, exploited, or otherwise interfered with by humans.

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Author: Animal Legal Defense Fund

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In the United States, animal protection laws can be enacted and enforced at every level of government.

Most animal protection legislation happens at the state level. There are also a handful of federal animal protection laws. Additionally, some cities and counties pass ordinances to protect animals.

This is why it's critically important to advocate for better animal protection laws with lawmakers in all government bodies. Each has the power to help.

Federal Animal Protection Laws

There are only a handful of federal animal protection laws:

The Animal Welfare Act: Signed into law in 1966, the Animal Welfare Act (AWA) is the primary federal animal protection law. The AWA mainly involves animals kept at zoos and used in laboratories, as well as animals who are commercially bred and sold like those in puppy mills.

The AWA directs the Secretary of the United States Department of Agriculture to set minimum standards regarding these animals' "handling, care, treatment, and transportation." Dog fighting and cockfighting are also prohibited under the Animal Welfare Act, so long as the activity in some way crosses state lines.

The AWA itself, as well as its enforcement by the Department of Agriculture, are frequently criticized for allowing inhumane practices to go unchecked.

The "28 Hour Law": This law, enacted in 1873, requires vehicles transporting certain animals for slaughter to stop every 28 hours to allow the animals exercise, food and water. The law does not apply if the vehicle in which animals are being transported contains access to food or water, and there are many other exceptions as well. Birds like chickens and turkeys, which are the most-farmed animals in the United States, are considered exempt by the federal government.

The Humane Slaughter Act, or the Humane Methods of Livestock Slaughter Act : This law was first passed in 1958, then amended in 1978. The Humane Methods of Slaughter Act requires that animals be stunned into unconsciousness before slaughter, to minimize pain.

Though chickens, turkeys and other birds feel pain just like other animals, they are not protected by this law. Enforcement of this law has been found by government inspectors to be "inconsistent."

The Endangered Species Act : Enacted in 1973, the Endangered Species Act protects fish, mammals and birds - as well as plants - listed as threatened or endangered in the United States and beyond. The ESA outlines procedures for federal agencies to follow regarding listed species, as well as criminal and civil penalties for violations. This law is chiefly administered by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Fisheries Service.

Companion animals:

Companion animals - a category often limited to dogs and cats, but that sometimes includes birds, horses, and other animals as well - usually receive the strongest level of protection under state laws. However, there have been cases where someone has been prosecuted for having committed egregiously cruel acts against wildlife or farmed animals.

This can even extend to marine animals. In 2017, three Florida teenagers were charged with animal cruelty for their torture of a shark.

Each state also has laws governing some aspects of the "hands-on" care of animals. For example, there are laws regulating how long animal shelters must "hold" stray animals before they can be adopted or euthanized. There are also laws about how frequently pets must be vaccinated against rabies. States often also have some regulations concerning commercial breeding of companion animals.

"Hot car laws" criminalize leaving an animal in a vehicle in extreme weather, and some hot car laws allow these animals to be rescued from vehicles in certain circumstances and make the rescuer immune from civil or criminal liability. Anti-tethering laws limiting how long pets can be tied up or chained outside, especially in extreme weather, are also growing in popularity, as are laws allowing pets to be included in domestic violence protective orders.

California is at the forefront of some other statewide animal protection measures. In 2017, California became the first state to pass a statewide "retail pet sale ban." Under this law, retail establishments like pet stores may only sell cats, dogs and rabbits coming from shelters and rescue groups-and not from commercial breeders. Maryland passed its own statewide retail pet sale ban in 2018, becoming the second state with this type of law.

Wildlife:

Each state also has wildlife protection laws, as well as laws regarding the time and manner under which it is sanctioned to kill wildlife through hunting and fishing.

Wild animal performance bans: Some states regulate the use of wild animals in performances. In 2017, Illinois and New York passed the country's first statewide bans on the use of elephants in entertainment. This is generally seen as the beginning of a more widespread trend.

Farmed animals:

While farmed animals are often left out of state animal protection laws, a number of states have adopted measures to limit the use of "intensive confinement" farming practices. Such practices entail confining animals in restraints that are so small the animals often can't fully stand up or move around. Chickens and hens kept in battery cages don't have room to stretch their wings.

Local animal protection laws: Many other companion animal protection measures are enacted and enforced at the local level. For example, hundreds of cities and counties have retail pet sale bans like California's and Maryland's.

Similarly, in states without anti-tethering laws, many cities and counties pass their own such laws. A growing number of cities are passing and enforcing their own wild animal performance bans.

While state and federal laws would offer more protection to more animals, these local laws are very important. They not only protect the animals in that area - but they can also act as a bellwether for more expansive protections to come. It is not infrequent for new animal protection measures to begin at the city or county level, and then as the public increasingly demands it, to be taken up by the state legislators.

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In the United States, animal protection laws can be enacted and enforced at every level of government. Most animal protection legislation happens at the state level.

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Author: National Geographic Kids

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Copyright © 1996-2015 National Geographic SocietyCopyright © 2015-2026 National Geographic Partners, LLC. All rights reserved

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10 Easy Things You Can Do To Save Endangered Species

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10 Easy Things You Can Do To Save Endangered Species

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Author: Endangered Species Coalition

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10 Easy Things You Can Do to Save Endangered Species - Endangered Species Coalition

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1. Learn about endangered species in your area. Teach your friends and family about the wonderful wildlife, birds, fish and plants that live near you. The first step to protecting endangered species is learning about how interesting and important they...

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Why animal shelters are facing a new crisis

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Why animal shelters are facing a new crisis

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Author: National Geographic

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When Baloo, a big white rabbit, and his brother Elliott were surrendered to an animal shelter outside Montreal, Canada, the countdown started.

Strapped for money and overcrowded, the shelter put the word out to rescue organizations that the rabbits would be euthanized in three days unless someone stepped up to take them. The shelter had so many rabbits, according to Haviva Porter, who runs Rabbit Rescue Inc., a Toronto-based nonprofit, that it wasn't even listing them for public adoption.

"This has been the worst year ever in 20 years of rescue," Porter says.

Animal rescuers across the United States and Canada echo her experience. "It's been a sea change the last few months," says Joe Labiola, director of

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Why animal shelters are facing a new crisis

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When Baloo, a big white rabbit, and his brother Elliott were surrendered to an animal shelter outside Montreal, Canada, the countdown started. Strapped for money and overcrowded, the shelter put the word out to rescue organizations that the rabbits would be euthanized in three days unless someone stepped up to take them.

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Author: The Humane Society of The United States

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The shocking number of animal cruelty cases reported every day is just the tip of the iceberg-most cases are never reported. Unlike violent crimes against people, cases of animal abuse are not compiled by state or federal agencies, making it difficult to calculate just how common they are. However, we can use the information that is available to try to understand and prevent cases of abuse.

Who abuses animals?

Cruelty and neglect cross all social and economic boundaries and media reports suggest that animal abuse is common in both rural and urban areas.

Intentional cruelty to animals is strongly correlated with other crimes, including violence against people.

Hoarding behavior often victimizes animals. Sufferers of a hoarding disorder may impose severe neglect on animals by housing far more than they are able to adequately take care of. Serious animal neglect (such as hoarding) is often an indicator of people in need of social or mental health services.

Surveys suggest that those who intentionally abuse animals are predominantly men under 30, while those involved in animal hoarding are more likely to be women over 60.

Most common victims

The animals whose abuse is most often reported are dogs, cats, horses and livestock. Undercover investigations have revealed that animal abuse abounds in the factory farm industry. But because of the weak protections afforded to livestock under state cruelty laws, only the most shocking cases are reported, and few are ever prosecuted.

Organized cruelty

Dogfighting, cockfighting and other forms of organized animal cruelty go hand in hand with other crimes, and continues in many areas of the United States due to public corruption.

The HSUS documented uniformed police officers at a cockfighting pit in Kentucky.

The U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency has prosecuted multiple cases where drug cartels were running narcotics through cockfighting and dogfighting operations.

Dozens of homicides have occurred at cockfights and dogfights.

A California man was killed in a disagreement about a $10 cockfight bet.

The HSUS's investigative team combats complacent public officials and has worked with the FBI on public corruption cases in Tennessee and Virginia. In both instances, law enforcement officers were indicted and convicted.

Correlation with domestic violence

Data on domestic violence and child abuse cases reveal that a staggering number of animals are targeted by those who abuse their children or spouses.

There are approximately 70 million pet dogs and 74.1 million pet cats in the U.S. where 20 men and women are assaulted per minute (an average of around 10 million a year).

In one survey, 71 percent of domestic violence victims reported that their abuser also targeted pets.

In one study of families under investigation for suspected child abuse, researchers found that pet abuse had occurred in 88 percent of the families under supervision for physical abuse of their children.

To put a stop to this pattern of violence, the Humane Society Legislative Fund supported the Pets and Women's Safety (PAWS) Act, introduced to Congress in 2015 as H.R. 1258 and S.B. 1559 and enacted as part of the farm bill passed by Congress and signed by President Trump in 2018. Once fully enacted, the PAWS Act helps victims of domestic abuse find the means to escape their abusers while keeping their companion animals safe-many victims remain in abusive households for fear of their pets' safety.

State legislative trends

The HSUS has long led the push for stronger animal cruelty laws and provides training for law officials to detect and prosecute these crimes. With South Dakota joining the fight in March of 2014, animal cruelty laws now include felony provisions in all 50 states.

First vs. subsequent offense

Given that a fraction of animal cruelty acts are reported or successfully prosecuted, we are committed to supporting felony convictions in cases of severe cruelty.

49 states have laws to provide felony penalties for animal torture on the first offense.

Only Iowa doesn't have such a law.

Animal cruelty laws typically cover intentional and egregious animal neglect and abuse.

Changes in federal tracking

On January 1, 2016, the FBI added cruelty to animals as a category in the Uniform Crime Report, a nationwide crime reporting system commonly used in homicide investigations. While only about a third of U.S. communities currently participate in the system, the data generated will help create a clearer picture of animal abuse and guide strategies for intervention and enforcement. Data collection covers four categories: simple/gross neglect, intentional abuse and torture, organized abuse (such as dogfighting and cockfighting) and animal sexual abuse.

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The shocking number of animal cruelty cases reported every day is just the tip of the iceberg-most cases are never reported. Unlike violent crimes against people, cases of animal abuse are not compiled by state or federal agencies, making it difficult to calculate just how common they are.

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Author: Lisa Esposito

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Assistance animals assist people with various disabilities

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Assistance animals assist people with various disabilities

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Author: Invisible Disabilities Association

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Assistance animals assist people with various disabilities.

What are Assistance Animals? Most people are familiar with service animals such as guide dogs often seen with people who are sight impaired and hearing dogs for those who are hearing impaired. We may even know about service animals that help pull wheelchairs or retrieve various items. Yet, we often do not realize that there are many different types of service animals for many types of disabilities.

So, what is a service animal? A service animal is not just a pet or companion. "Service animals perform some of the functions and tasks that the individual with a disability cannot perform for him or herself" ( USDOJ). As a result, the person must have a disability according to a medical professional and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), which can be either a "physical or mental impairment" (USEEOC).

In addition, the animal must be trained to mitigate a person's disability by performing such tasks as retrieving, leading, pulling, providing balance and/or alerting. They should also be able to follow basic obedience commands such as sit, stay, here, down and/or follow, as well as exhibit good behavior in public places.

What are the rights and rules governing service animals?

What rights do service animals have? "Under the ADA, State and local governments, businesses, and nonprofit organizations that serve the public generally must allow service animals to accompany people with disabilities in all areas of the facility where the public is normally allowed to go" ( ADA 2010).

What kind of animals are they? For many years, the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (section 36.104 of the title III regulation) did not limit service animals to dogs. Therefore, although a service animal has most often been a dog, it could also have been another species of animal such as a monkey, miniature horse or pig.

However, in September 2010, a final rule was published in the Federal Register to amend the service animal definition to be limited to dogs (with some exceptions for miniature horses). This new regulation went into effect in March 2011 (ADA Fact Sheet). Of course, a person may still keep a service animal such as a cat, pig or monkey for their personal use, but they are not covered under the same regulations nor granted public access.

There can be some confusion regarding service animals that assist those living with invisible disabilities caused by chronic illness, injury, pain, mental disorders or learning differences such as Autism. Nonetheless, for those debilitated by such symptoms as extreme pain, fatigue, dizziness, blurred vision, balance issues and cognitive impairments, a service animal can make a vast difference in their quality of life. These service animals can perform helpful physical tasks such as picking things up off the floor, reminding a person to take their medicine, helping with balance and more.

The impact of assistance animals on the lives of those with physiological and psychological disorders.

Service animals are also changing lives by alerting their owner of a physiological response such as a seizure or potentially dangerous changes in blood sugar levels. You may have even read about Belle the beagle. She dialed 9-1-1 after her diabetic owner Kevin Weaver, had a seizure and collapsed. Kevin believes he would not be alive today if it were not for Belle (AP).

For those living with various types of mental disorders, "The final rule also clarifies that individuals with mental disabilities who use service animals that are trained to perform a specific task are protected by the ADA" ( ADA Fact Sheet).

In these cases, a service animal can alert the handler to an incipient manic episode, anxiety or panic attack, as well as alert the owner to aggressive driving. He can also assist the owner with confidence in leaving the home or exiting a situation that is causing a rise in anxiety, panic, distress and/or fear. What's more, he may help the handler with physical tasks such as reminding the person to take their medication, assisting them with finding their keys or the telephone, turning on lights to safety check a room and nudging them to wake them up (PSDS, tasks).

For those battling Post Traumatic Stress Disorder or PTSD, service animals can also interrupt flashbacks and nightmares, reduce anxiety and stress and help regain self-assurance (such as Canines4Hope, Service Dogs for America, ).

The Psychiatric Service Dog Society advises anyone obtaining a service dog for their psychiatric disorder should get a letter from their doctor (PSDS FAQ). Their advice probably holds true for all service animal owners, especially those living with other types invisible disabilities.

Where are service animals allowed to go?

In all, a trained and qualified service dog (or miniature horse) used for reasons under the ADA guidelines is allowed access to public places. "Under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), privately owned businesses that serve the public, such as restaurants, hotels, retail stores, taxicabs, theaters, concert halls, and sports facilities, are prohibited from discriminating against individuals with disabilities. The ADA requires these businesses to allow people with disabilities to bring their service animals onto business premises in whatever areas customers are generally allowed." In addition, "An individual with a service animal may not be segregated from other customers" (USDOJ).

How are service animals identified?

How does a proprietor know the handler's animal is a service animal? Although some service animals wear special harnesses or vests and some owners carry certifications, these things are not required. Therefore, "When it is not obvious what service an animal provides, only limited inquiries are allowed. Staff may ask two questions: (1) is the dog a service animal required because of a disability, and (2) what work or task has the dog been trained to perform. Staff cannot ask about the person's disability, require medical documentation, require a special identification card or training documentation for the dog, or ask that the dog demonstrate its ability to perform the work or task" (ADA 2010).

Many business owners have a "no pets" policy on their premises. Nonetheless, "A service animal is not a pet. The ADA requires you to modify your 'no pets' policy to allow the use of a service animal by a person with a disability. This does not mean you must abandon your 'no pets' policy altogether but simply that you must make an exception to your general rule for service animals" (USDOJ).

The ADA protects service animals and Often a business will state that their local county health department has told them that only a seeing eye or guide dog has to be admitted. However, "... [you are in violation of the ADA] if you refuse to admit any other type of service animal on the basis of local health department regulations or other state or local laws. The ADA provides greater protection for individuals with disabilities and so it takes priority over the local or state laws or regulations" (USDOJ).

What are the rules about service animals on public and private transportation?

Many transportation companies often fear that admitting an animal into their taxis, buses and trains would be detrimental to their other customers. In spite of this, "...under the ADA regulation issued by the Department of Transportation (49 C.F.R. Part 37) for the provision of transportation services to individuals with disabilities by public and private entities, section 37.167(d) requires those entities to permit service animals to accompany individuals with disabilities in vehicles and facilities. The regulation defines the term 'service animal' in the same manner as the Department's ADA regulation"

Of course, not all animals helping people are deemed service animals. For example: Therapy, social and facility animals are often utilized for visitations or are placed in homes or facilities "... to provide therapeutic benefits" (ADI). Yet, "Federal laws have no provisions for people to be accompanied by therapy animals in places of public accommodation that have 'no pets' policies. Therapy animals usually are not service animals" (PetPartner).

This includes emotional support animals that are not trained as service animals: "Dogs that are not trained to perform tasks that mitigate the effects of a disability, including dogs that are used purely for emotional support, are not service animals" (ADA Fact Sheet).

How does the Fair Housing Act impact assistance animals and their owners?

Regarding matters of housing, " The Fair Housing Act (42 U.S.C. 3604(f)(3)(B)) prohibits discrimination against a renter or buyer on the basis of disability. Discrimination includes a refusal to make reasonable accommodations in rules, policies,

practices, or services, when those accommodations may be necessary to afford a person with a disability equal opportunity to use and enjoy a place of residence." (Dunne).

Thus, in the light of housing issues with people with verifiable disabilities, "... [The Fair Housing Amendment Act and the ADA] protect the right of people with disabilities to keep emotional support animals, even when a landlord's policy explicitly prohibits pets.... In most housing complexes, so long as the tenant has a letter or prescription from an appropriate professional, such as a therapist or physician, and meets the definition of a person with a disability, he or she is entitled to a reasonable accommodation that would allow an emotional support animal in the apartment" (BCMHL).

All in all, when it comes to Assistance Animals, the bottom line is that "The rule defines 'service animal' as a dog that has been individually trained to do work or perform tasks for the benefit of an individual with a disability" (ADA Fact Sheet) and the service animal owner must have a legitimate disability. All the same, we are not attempting to interpret the law nor make assessments regarding who specifically qualifies and who does not. That must be done based on each individual case, circumstances and determined by medical professionals and/or legal authorities.

ARTICLE RESOURCES:

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES:
Assessing a Request to Have an Animal Under Fair Housing Act 2020
Assistance Animals from Hud.gov
Fact Sheet on Hud's Assistance Animals Notice 2020 Overview of Assistance Animals in Housing 2019
SERVICE ANIMAL REVISION: "Service animal" definition changed to dogs only (with exception of mini-horses under specific conditions). Final rule published in the Federal Register 9/15/2010, which went into effect 3/15/2011. More information: * NEW ADA Revisions Limit "Service Animals" to Dogs * How was the definition of "service animal" changed July 23, 2010? * Title II Fact Sheet * Text of Revised Title II Regulation * Final Rule for Title III * Title III Fact Sheet * Text of Revised Title III Regulation *2011 Revised Service Animal Definitions and Rules
ADA Business Brief: Service Animals ADA Definition of the Term Disability ADA Act of 1990, Titles I and V 2011 ADA Service Animal Definitions and Rules Disclaimer: This pamphlet is not a legal document. Rules are subject to change. Seek advice from a medical and/or legal professional.

Copyright 1997-2021 Invisible Disabilities Association www.InvisibleDisabilities.org. All rights reserved. This article is one of our many informative pamphlets available for ordering. Visitors may read this pamphlet online for free and they may print up to 3 copies from the website for their personal use. However, permission is required to distribute this article in any way and our pamphlets cannot be re-published electronically in any form on the internet, emails, etc. If you would like to quote up to 100 words from this article, with full credits and a link to this article, please send the request to IDA through our Contact Page. Order This Pamphlet Here Thank you!

UPDATE: 9/15/2010 - "Service animal" definition changed to dogs only (with exception of mini-horses under specific condition) on 7/23/2010. Final rule published in the Federal Register 9/15/2010, which goes into effect 3/15/2011.Due to changes in the laws, some information found in this article and links may no longer apply. Title II Fact Sheet
NEW ADA Revisions Limit "Service Animals" to Dogs IDA's Service Animal Links Page How was the definition of "service animal" changed July 23, 2010? Final Rule for Title II Text of Revised Title II Regulation
Final Rule for Title III / Title III Fact Sheet
Text of Revised Title III Regulation RETURN TO TOP OF PAGE

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Assistance Animals for People with Invisible Disabilities

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Service animals perform tasks that an individual with an invisible disability can't perform and can also alert of a physiological or psychological response.

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Service Animal or Emotional Support Animal: What's the Difference?

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Service Animal or Emotional Support Animal: What's the Difference?

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Author: ADA National Network

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What is a service animal?

Under Title II and Title III of the ADA, a service animal means any dog that is individually trained to do work or perform tasks for the benefit of an individual with a disability, including a physical, sensory, psychiatric, intellectual, or other mental disability. Read our Service Animal Basics page to learn more.

What is an emotional support animal?

Not all animals that individuals with a disability rely on meet the definition of a service animal for purposes of ADA. According to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), an emotional support animal is any animal that provides emotional support alleviating one or more symptoms or effects of a person's disability. Emotional support animals provide companionship, relieve loneliness, and sometimes help with depression, anxiety, and certain phobias, but do not have special training to perform tasks that assist people with disabilities. Emotional support animals are not limited to dogs.

What about a comfort animal or therapy animal?

Both types of animals, typically dogs, work in situations where stress levels are high. Comfort animals work during active crises. They offer a calming distraction to those impacted in an active disaster or emergency. Therapy animals provide people with healing contact, typically in an institutional or clinical setting, to improve their physical, social, emotional, or cognitive functioning. While these types of animals receive extensive training and may interact with all sorts of people, including an individual with a disability, they are not trained to perform a specific task for an individual with a disability.

What is the key difference?

Individuals with a disability may use and interact with working animals for a variety of reasons. But only dogs who have received specialized training to perform a specific task or tasks for an individual with a disability are considered service animals. This is the key difference between a service animal and all other types of working animals, including therapy, comfort animals, and emotional support animals.

What if I have a doctor's note that says I need my emotional support animal at all times? Does that make it a service animal?

It does not matter if a person has a note from a doctor that states that the person has a disability and needs to have the animal for emotional support. A doctor's letter does not turn an animal into a service animal.

What does the Job Accommodation Network say about emotional support animals?

Read Emotional Support Animals in the Workplace: A Practical Approach to find out.

Can I take my emotional support animal to work?

Employers are required to provide reasonable accommodation when requested by an individual with a disability. Title I of the ADA covers employment. Title I does not limit the type of animal that an individual with a disability can take to the workplace. With this in mind, allowing a service animal or an emotional support animal to accompany an individual with a disability to work may be considered an accommodation. Learn more about reasonable accommodations in the workplace.

You can also learn more about taking your service animal or emotional support animal to work by checking out our Taking a Service Animal to Work page.

Where can I learn more information?

Watch a webinar! The Northeast ADA Center, part of the ADA National Network, has developed a webinar called " Is That a Service Animal? What Rights Apply Where ". The one-hour session discusses the definition of service animals under the ADA, ACAA, and FHA and the difference between service animals and emotional support animals.

Take a look at an infographic! The Northeast ADA Center developed two helpful infographics. " Service Animals & Emotional Support Animals are Not the Same" provides quick information about the key difference. " Service and Emotional Support Animals on Airplanes " provides information specifically about flying with Air Carrier Access Act. Both infographics are available on their Facebook page.

Check out this video! The Rocky Mountain ADA Center, part of the ADA National Network, created a short video that defines comfort, emotional support animal, and service animals.
Service Animal Resource Hub Main Page

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Service Animal or Emotional Support Animal: What's the Difference?

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What is a service animal? Under Title II and Title III of the ADA, a service animal means any dog that is individually trained to do work or perform tasks for the benefit of an individual with a disability, including a physical, sensory, psychiatric, intellectual, or other mental disability.

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Confirming the benefits of emotional support animals

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Confirming the benefits of emotional support animals

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Author: Cynthia K. Chandler

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Have you received a telephone call of the following nature? "Can you certify my pet to be an emotional support animal?"

If you are a professional counselor, then the likelihood of you receiving such a request is on the rise. This is because word is spreading that the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) recognizes the benefits of emotional support animals and provides regulations allowing them to live with an owner in designated nonpet housing (with a few exceptions) without requiring a pet deposit fee.

Exercising this right does not require that an animal be certified. What it does require is documentation that an individual has a legitimate need for an emotional support animal. The responsibility of providing this documentation lies with professional counselors and other mental health or health providers. In 2008, HUD stipulated that "persons who are seeking a reasonable accommodation for an emotional support animal may be required to provide documentation from a physician, psychiatrist, social worker or other mental health professional that the animal provides support that alleviates at least one of the identified symptoms or effects of the existing disability."
Documentation and other considerations
A counselor who chooses to provide such documentation must do so in letter format on the counselor's letterhead. The documentation should state that:

1) The named individual is under the counselor's care

2) The individual has an emotional or psychiatric disability

3) The counselor recommends the individual have an emotional support animal to assist with the disability

The letter is provided directly to the individual who wants to have an emotional support animal live in the home. The individual can then choose with whom to share the letter.

In the documentation, the counselor does not label, define or describe the particular disability of the client. Rather, the counselor must state in general terms that the client has an emotional or psychiatric disability and that an emotional support animal can alleviate one or more of the symptoms or effects of the disability. Individuals need only provide proper documentation to a landlord to have a pet live with them as an emotional support animal in housing typically designated as excluding pets. The judicial system has interpreted this right to fair housing to additionally extend to individuals who wish to have emotional support animals live with them in college or university housing facilities, such as residence halls, dormitories or university-owned apartments.

The responsibility of providing documentation that would allow individuals to have an emotional support animal live with them should not be taken lightly. Based on the accompanying symptoms of a client's emotional or psychiatric disability, a professional must determine whether living and engaging with an emotional support animal in the home might provide the client with some relief from the disability. To make this determination, it may be useful to have some understanding of how an animal may alleviate symptoms or effects of an emotional disability. Fortunately, there is research that provides guidance in this area.

In my 2012 book, Animal Assisted Therapy in Counseling, I reviewed several research studies on the psychophysiological and psychosocial benefits of positive social interaction with a pet, such as holding or stroking an animal. These benefits include calming and relaxing, lowering anxiety, alleviating loneliness, enhancing social engagement and interaction, normalizing heart rate and blood pressure, reducing pain, reducing stress, reducing depression and increasing pleasure. Based on the results of these studies, it is plausible that living with an emotional support animal may alleviate symptoms associated with a number of emotional and psychiatric disabilities. HUD states, "Emotional support animals by their very nature, and without training, may relieve depression and anxiety, and/or help reduce stress-induced pain in persons with certain medical conditions affected by stress."

Another factor to consider in recommending that a client have an emotional support animal is whether the client has the ability and desire to properly care for an animal. Although human-animal interaction is known to assist people with developmental, emotional, social and behavioral disorders, it is important to assess whether any impairment is so severe that an animal would be neglected or harmed.

Dogs are the most common species to serve in the role of emotional support animals, but Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act and HUD's Fair Housing Act (FHAct) do not designate species restrictions for this role: "While dogs are the most common type of assistance animal, other animals can also be assistance animals."
Emotional support animals vs. service animals
HUD legislation uses the broad term "assistance animals," which is inclusive of both service animals and emotional support animals, when addressing the right to fair housing for individuals with these animals. In contrast, the fair housing rights and rights of access to other facilities included in the Americans with Disabilities Act addresses service animals only. To be clear, an emotional support animal is not the same as a service animal or a psychiatric service animal. Thus, emotional support animals do not have the same federal rights of access to facilities as do service animals. HUD provides the only current federal legislation that covers rights regarding emotional support animals, and this legislation is specific to allowing individuals to have animals live with them as emotional support in designated nonpet housing without financial penalty.

In 2013, HUD clarified that an emotional support animal is not merely a pet: "An assistance animal is not a pet. It is an animal that works, provides assistance or performs tasks for the benefit of a person with a disability, or provides emotional support that alleviates one or more identified symptoms or effects of a person's disability." However, HUD also stipulated that emotional support animals "do not need training to ameliorate the effects of a person's mental and emotional disabilities." Furthermore, "For purposes of reasonable accommodation requests, neither the FHAct nor Section 504 requires an assistance animal to be individually trained or certified."

There are no qualification requirements for determining whether a specific pet is appropriate to serve as an emotional support animal. So, by default, an emotional support animal is basically a person's pet that lives with that person and provides emotional support. HUD does stipulate that housing providers are not required to provide accommodations if an animal is destructive, poses a direct threat to the health and safety of others or interferes with the ability of a facility to perform its intended purpose. So, in practice, most people with proper documentation can have a pet live with them and serve in the role of emotional support animal as long as the animal is not destructive, disruptive or dangerous.
Recommendations
Because federal law does not require emotional support animals to be trained or certified, the potential exists for some of these animals to be unpredictable and cause harm. Until there is greater oversight regarding emotional support animals, I recommend that counselors avoid a chain of liability and not name a specific pet to serve as an emotional support animal. When providing documentation, refer only to the benefit of the individual having an emotional support animal, but do not name a specific animal. The decision concerning the specific pet to be designated as an emotional support animal should be made by the individual owner of the pet. It is not the responsibility of the counselor or other mental health provider to sanction the appropriateness of a particular pet to serve as an emotional support animal. That is not to say that counselors should avoid assisting individuals in the decision-making process regarding emotional support animals.

For instance, counselors can recommend that clients have their pets evaluated by a qualified evaluator before designating the pets to serve as emotional support animals. A standardized evaluation can often determine if an animal possesses the appropriate stamina and temperament to serve in this role.

Evaluation is important for health and safety reasons. Some animals may find the role of emotional support animal to be too stressful, and the emotional and physical health of the pet will be damaged. We must not overlook the welfare of the animals when considering whether they might provide emotional support for individuals with emotional and psychiatric disabilities. In addition, some pets can respond to stress with overprotective tendencies and aggression, putting members of the public at risk.

Many individuals desire to have their emotional support animals accompany them to pet-restricted facilities outside the home. Many businesses and institutions today are wrestling with how to make this happen while still maintaining the safety of those who may come in contact with these animals. It is my opinion, as a very experienced handler and animal team evaluator, that if individuals were to have their pets' temperament evaluated by a qualified evaluator, both initially and periodically (say every two years), and provide current documentation that the animal had passed a standardized temperament evaluation, then they might be granted permission by a business or institution on a case-by-case basis to have their emotional support animal accompany them to places where pets are typically not allowed.
Animal temperament evaluations
Animal temperament evaluations assess the animal's social attitude and behavior toward both people and a neutral test dog. In addition, the evaluation assesses the animal's ability to walk politely on a leash, interact with a small crowd of people and respond to a variety of basic obedience commands by its handler. Failing a temperament evaluation would not interfere with the right of an individual to have the pet live in the home in the role of emotional support animal. Federal law protects this right. Qualified animal temperament evaluators can be found through national organizations such as the American Kennel Club (AKC) Canine Good Citizen (CGC) program and the national Pet Partners program.

The AKC website (akc.org/dog-owners/training/canine-good-citizen/) provides information about the CGC evaluation, which is best suited for the simple purpose of determining if a pet is well-behaved enough to be around the general public. However, it is designed solely to evaluate the temperament of dogs, not other species. The CGC evaluation is relatively inexpensive, takes about 30 minutes to complete and requires the handler to take the dog through a series of basic obedience commands. Local CGC evaluators can be found at many large pet stores that offer dog training for handlers or at community obedience training clubs. The Pet Partners organization offers evaluations for a number of different domestic animal species, but the investment in cost and effort is higher. This is because the intended purpose is to register Pet Partners teams that can provide services to the public as handler and therapy animal (note that a therapy animal is not the same as an emotional support animal). The Pet Partners registration requires a rigorous handler-team evaluation - for temperament, skills and aptitude - and requires the handler to complete a training that is available online or through an eight-hour, in-person workshop. The training includes learning about risk management and infection control procedures that are valuable to follow when a pet is engaging with the public. The Pet Partners website (petpartners.org) provides information on training and finding a local evaluator.

The animal temperament evaluation procedure may resolve a prominent ethical dilemma. If an emotional support animal can alleviate or assist with a person's emotional or psychiatric disability at home, why shouldn't the animal be allowed to serve this purpose outside of the home as well, such as in the classroom or a work environment? At the same time, because no oversight exists regarding behavioral requirements for emotional support animals, how do businesses and institutions protect the public from danger posed by a potentially unruly animal? Because there is no federal regulation that requires facilities other than housing to allow the presence of emotional support animals, then businesses and institutions can establish their own policies around this issue.

Requiring a standardized animal temperament evaluation may be a reasonable solution to this ethical quandary. The business or institution could provide a letter of access, for a designated period of time, to an individual accompanied by an emotional support animal if that person provides the institution with:

1) Official documentation from a professional counselor, or other mental health or health provider, designating the need for an emotional support animal (this could be the same documentation used for federal housing rights)

2) Proof that the animal passed a recently administered standardized temperament evaluation from a reputable source such as AKC or Pet Partners (the evaluation should have been completed within the past two years because appropriate animal temperament can deteriorate over time)
Advocacy
Perhaps the greatest source of confusion today is around the concept of emotional support animals. The general public may not be aware that emotional support animals are not the same as psychiatric service animals and therefore do not have all of the same federal rights to access facilities. Many people are unaware that current federal law does not require emotional support animals to be trained or evaluated. Thus, some emotional support animals with inappropriate temperament may pose a risk to the general public. Generally, the public does not realize that most emotional support animals are essentially a person's pet serving in the role of emotional support.

I am an advocate for the idea of emotional support animals, but I firmly believe there should be greater oversight. This would include evaluation of the appropriateness of a pet to serve as an emotional support, taking into consideration both the prospective health and welfare of the animal and the health and welfare of the public, particularly if the animal is to accompany the individual to facilities outside the home. Current federal law clearly states that an emotional support animal does not have to be trained or certified to be allowed to live with a person, implying that the animal does not have to be evaluated either. But federal law does not make stipulations about access to facilities other than the home for emotional support animals. Thus, businesses and institutions are free to make policies that allow individuals to be accompanied by their emotional support animals, while also providing for the safety of the public.

Counselors can more effectively advocate for their clients if they understand federal regulations pertaining to emotional support animals. Additionally, this information is beneficial for protecting the general public from those who might misrepresent the role of their animal or the right for the animal to accompany them into pet-restricted areas. Unfortunately, profit opportunists exist who encourage such misrepresentation by selling (to anyone who is willing to pay) an official-looking - yet completely unofficial - vest for a pet to wear and a worthless "certification" document that may ultimately confuse the public about the legitimate role of the animal and the rights of the individual the animal is accompanying.

Federal advocacy for those with emotional or psychiatric disabilities, through recognition of the right to have an emotional support animal in the home, is a positive development in our society. Moreover, businesses and institutions that recognize the potential benefits of allowing an emotional support animal to accompany a person with a disability outside of the home reflects enhanced sensitivity to human welfare.

Animals are an excellent source of nurturance and companionship. Creating additional yet responsible opportunities for human-animal interaction enhances people's lives. Movement toward greater integration of well-behaved animals into our daily lives at home, school and work is a reflection of enlightened social evolution.

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Cynthia Chandler is a professor of counseling and director of the Consortium for Animal Assisted Therapy at the University of North Texas. She is author of the book Animal Assisted Therapy in Counseling (2012). Contact her at cynthia.chandler@unt.edu.

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Confirming the benefits of emotional support animals - Counseling Today

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Have you received a telephone call of the following nature? "Can you certify my pet to be an emotional support animal?" If you are a professional counselor, then the likelihood of you receiving such a request is on the rise. This is because word is spreading that the U.S.

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Author: Kendra Cherry

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Animals can provide joy and companionship. Animals can also provide emotional support to people with mental health concerns. These animal companions are known as emotional support animals (ESAs), and they have been growing in popularity in recent years.

Definition

An emotional support animal is an animal companion that offers some type of benefit to an individual with some form of disability. The animal is intended to provide companionship and support that will help alleviate at least one aspect of the disability.

Dogs are the most common type of emotional support animal, but cats are quite common as well. Other types of animals, such as miniature horses, can also serve as ESAs.

For example, a peacock made headlines after it was denied from entering a United Airlines flight, despite the fact that its owner said that the animal was an emotional support animal. Some of the more unusual emotional support animals that have flown with their owners include a pig, a duck, a monkey, and a turkey. The vast majority of ESAs are not rare, exotic, or barnyard creatures.

Why would an individual choose to use an emotional support animal? Research has long supported the idea that animals can provide significant mental health benefits. One research review found that owning a pet has positive effects on mental health by fostering emotional connectivity and helping people manage in times of crisis.

Some of the other benefits that emotional support animals may provide include:

Less anxiety. Simply petting an animal can create a relaxation response and elevate mood.

Trauma support. Pets can provide comfort to people who are dealing with difficult situations, including those who have experienced some type of trauma.

Improved physical health. Studies have found that emotional support animals help to lower blood pressure, decrease respiration rates, and improve the ability to cope with pain.

Fewer feelings of loneliness. Animals can provide companionship, which is especially important for people who live alone and experience symptoms of depression and anxiety.

Reciprocal care and love. Caring for an emotional support animal can also help give people a sense of purpose. Not only do animals provide unconditional love and companionship, but they also require care and love in return, which can be emotionally rewarding.

It's easy to say that animals can help make people calmer, happier, and even more fulfilled. But are emotional support animals really that different from any beloved pet? So far, the research remains inconclusive. While some suggest that support animals may produce positive effects, support for the therapeutic effectiveness of emotional support animals tends to be scant.

For example, research has not been able to demonstrate that support animals provide significant benefits over what any regular pet would provide. According to a 2016 study published in the journal Professional Psychology: Research and Practice, it is not clear whether emotional support animals have any therapeutic effects beyond the positive benefits that animals provide in general.

"Little empirical data exists to support the conclusion that ESAs are effective in mitigating psychological disorders and related problems, and empirical research that does exist is inconsistent, sparse and emerging," suggested psychologists Jeffrey Younggren and his colleagues in an article published by the American Psychological Association in 2016.

Emotional vs. Service Animals

While emotional support animals and service animals share some similarities, there are important distinctions between the two. Emotional support animals are intended to provide companionship and support. Service animals, on the other hand, assist individuals with disabilities by performing specific tasks.

Service animals are those that have been specially trained to perform a service for a person with some form of disability. Such disabilities may be sensory, physical, intellectual, psychiatric, or mental in nature. Tasks that a service animal might perform include alerting a person about a sound, guiding a person along the street, pressing an elevator button, retrieving items, alerting others or standing guard if the individual is experiencing a seizure, or reminding the individual to take his or her medication.

Emotional support animals, on the other hand, are there to provide companionship aimed at alleviating distress or provide some other type of relief.

Titles II and III of the Americans with Disabilities Act specify that service animals must be dogs, although reasonable accommodations must be made to allow miniature horses to serve as service animals in cases where the animals have received training to perform specific tasks for the disabled person.

It is also important to note that emotional support animals and psychiatric service animals are not the same things. Where an emotional support animal may provide benefits to people with mental illness, psychiatric service animals are specially trained to perform specific tasks for people with psychiatric conditions. This might include reminding the individual to take their medications or stop someone from engaging in self-harm.

Under the Federal Fair Housing Act, housing providers are required to make reasonable accommodations to allow individuals with disabilities to keep an assistant animal in their home. The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) requires housing providers to make exceptions to "no pets" policies.

The two conditions required for such an exception:

The individual living with the animal must have some type of disability that significantly limits one or more major life activities.

The animal must provide some type of relief or assistance related to these identified disabilities.

HUD does not specify which disabilities qualify an individual for an exception. Rather, they state that the functions of an ESA include "providing emotional support to persons with disabilities who have a disability-related need for such support."

An exception usually requires a verification letter from a mental health professional stating the individual's needs for an emotional support animal. Landlords may also require that people requesting accommodation also submit a verification form completed by a physician or therapist that confirms the disability.

The Fair Housing Act

However, tenants are financially responsible if their animal causes any type of damage to persons or property.

While the Americans With Disabilities Act allows people to legally bring their service animals into public areas, emotional support animals are not covered by the law. Emotional support animals do not meet the definition of a service animal under the law, which requires that service animals be specifically trained to perform tasks to help the individual with the disability. Because of this, business and public spaces can deny the admission of emotional support animals.

Controversy

While there is some evidence pointing to the value of emotional support animals, not everyone agrees that they are always necessary. Some mental health experts have suggested that support animals may be overused.

The number of emotional support animals appears to be growing every year. United Airlines, one of the largest airline carriers in the US, reported a 75% increase in the number of emotional support animals flying on the airline between the years 2016 and 2017.

One study published in PLOS ONE found that the number of emotional support animals found in the state of California had increased 10-fold between 2002 and 2012.

Airlines, other businesses, and federal regulators are now considering additional rules regarding the use of ESAs, including:

Limiting the number of species that may be allowed to be used as support animals

Requiring owners to submit documentation in advance as to their use of an emotional support animal

Stating that the animal is housebroken and safe to be around other people

The increased demand for ESA's sometimes places therapists in a bind as well. More and more, patients request letters of documentation supporting their need for an emotional support animal from their psychologist, therapist, or doctor.

Why are so many people interested in having a support companion? Many experts attribute it to the fact that the law allows these individuals with disabilities to bring an emotional support animal on a plane at no additional cost. Normally, airlines require people to pay an extra fee to bring their pets on a flight, but with a letter stating that they need an emotional support animal, people can avoid this fee.

The Air Carrier Access act suggests that a wide variety of animals may be permitted to board flights as emotional support animals, although airlines are able to use their discretion in cases where animals are too heavy, large, or disrupting as well as those prohibited in other countries.

The problem is that the law is vague in defining exactly who needs an ESA. This has led to many people attempting to obtain letters supporting their need for an emotional support animal in order to travel with their pet without having to pay to bring the animal on board the flight.

People also occasionally obtain letters from physicians and psychologists in order to justify keeping an animal in their rental home or apartment. Because the Fair Housing Act requires landlords to allow renters to keep emotional support animals in their residence, tenants may sometimes have their pet designated as an emotional support animal to keep their pets in their homes.

Ethical Considerations

The vagueness of the law creates a quandary for many psychologists and therapists. Do they write a letter for a patient who may not truly have the need, or do they deny the request and risk losing the patient?

Some patients may become angry if a therapist or doctor denies their request for a documentation letter. This creates an ethical problem for therapists. Should they write a letter in order to ensure that a patient stays in treatment, even if they do not feel that a support animal is necessary?

In the absence of such guidelines, a number of online businesses have emerged that promise to deliver a diagnosis and provide an ESA documentation letter. Many of these sites promise to provide a diagnosis and letter of documentation in under 24 hours for less than $100.

This type of abuse of the law has led to many airlines requiring that an ESA documentation letter be submitted in advance of the flight along with the name and contact information of the mental health professional who provided the diagnosis.

For example, in June 2018, JetBlue announced that it would require passengers to submit additional proof that their emotional support animals were needed and properly trained. Representatives for the airline attributed the new rules to "dramatic increase in industry incidents involving emotional support animals that haven't been adequately trained to behave in a busy airport or the confined space of an aircraft."

These rules include only accepting dogs, cats, and miniature horses as support animals and only allowing one animal per customer. Passengers are also required to submit a medical form completed by their care provider, a veterinary health form, and an animal behavior form.

Eligibility

Emotional support animals may be helpful to those with certain mental health conditions such as depression or anxiety. If you feel that a support animal may help relieve your symptoms, talk to your doctor or therapist about some of the possible benefits and risks.

Having a pet requires an investment of time and effort, so it is important to be sure that you are prepared for the commitment and capable of caring for the animal. It may be helpful to talk about what you hope to gain from having an emotional support animal and discuss which type of animal might be right for your needs.

An ESA can provide support and comfort that some individuals may need to cope with their disorder or disability. Obtaining an ESA documentation letter to avoid paying extra for your pet ultimately hurts the legitimacy of the many patients who have a real need for a support animal.

If you feel you have a legitimate need for an emotional support animal, talk to the doctor or therapist who is currently treating you. Don't buy a letter from a scammy online site that promises a dubious certification document to anyone willing to pay their fee.

A Word From Verywell

While research has yet to demonstrate the long-term effects of emotional support animals for alleviating the symptoms of psychological conditions, you may find a support animal a helpful and rewarding addition to your existing treatment plan. Whether you are dealing with stress, anxiety, trauma, or some other type of mental health condition, a pet can provide companionship and support. Talk to your care provider about whether an emotional support animal might be helpful for your individual situation.

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Animals can provide joy and companionship. Animals can also provide emotional support to people with mental health concerns. These animal companions are known as emotional support animals (ESAs), and they have been growing in popularity in recent years. An emotional support animal is an animal companion that offers some type of benefit to an individual with some form of disability.