Service animals are defined as dogs that are specifically trained to assist a person with a disability. The person may have a disability that renders them in a wheel chairs, or be visually impaired, have PTSD, require a service dog due to seizure ailments and many other issues. Service dogs alert and guide the visually impaired, they pull a wheel chair, they alert others during a seizure, they provide relief and calming to one with PTSD. So the service dog is specifically trained to handle the issue that the Owner or handler is diagnosed with and facing. Service dogs are accordingly permitted to accompany the person into public and private facilities and buildings, transportation and many if not all of the areas one needs to be in life. The law that allows a trained service dog to accompany a person with a disability is the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).

An emotional support animal is typically a dog or cat that provides a therapeutic benefit to its owner through companionship. The animal provides emotional support and comfort to individuals with psychiatric disabilities and other mental impairments. Emotional support animals are covered in the federal Fair Housing Act as it relates to allowing you into housing that has a no pet policy or breed or size restriction policy. Emotional support animals are also covered in the federal Air Carrier Access Act which permits an ESA to be permitted into the cabin of an airplane with you on your travel at no cost. For both housing and air travel you will need an ESA prescription letter which United Support Animals will shepherd you the process to obtain.

Psychiatric Service Dogs are service dogs that provide assistance to people with psychiatric disabilities, such as severe depression, anxiety disorders, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). These dogs have been trained either by their owner or a trainer to perform tasks such as
providing safety checks or room searches for individuals with PTSD, blocking persons in dissociative episodes from wandering, and preventing or interrupting impulsive or destructive behaviors, such as self-mutilation. As of January 10, 2021, a U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) rule amended the requirements for traveling with service animals and emotional support animals. The rule requires airlines to treat trained psychiatric service animals the same as other service animals.

By contrast, Emotional Support Animals provide therapeutic benefits to their owner through companionship and physical presence. An ESA can be any animal and provides comfort and relief to its owner suffering from psychological or mental impairments such as stress, anxiety, panic attacks and other similar conditions.

The main difference between PSD’s and ESA’s is that PSD’s are specifically trained to assist their owner with psychological impairments.

Psychiatric service animals are treated the same as other service animals that are individually trained to do work or perform a task for the benefit of a qualified individual with a disability.
❤️