You’ve likely heard of emotional support animals and maybe you are wondering if one would help you, or if you even qualify for one. Here are the basics you need to know about emotional support animals including if you qualify for an emotional support animal.

What is an Emotional Support Animal?
An emotional support animal is an animal that provides relief to individuals with a psychiatric disability through companionship. Emotional support animals are protected under the Fair Housing Act, meaning they can live with their owner anywhere regardless of pet policy or fees. They are not however, protected under the Americans with Disabilities Act the way service dogs are, meaning they cannot accompany you in public or travel with you with the same amount of ease as a service dog.

What Disabilities Qualify for an Emotional Support Animal?
In order to have an official emotional support animal, you must have some kind of psychiatric disability which has been diagnosed by a mental health or medical professional. Some common mental disabilities that qualify someone for an emotional support animal are anxiety, depression, learning disabilities, attention deficit disorder, chronic stress, and post-traumatic stress disorder.

What Requirements Must You Meet for an Emotional Support Animal?
To have an official emotional support animal, all you need is an emotional support animal certification letter. This is a letter written by a licensed mental health professional verifying you have a mental or emotional disability for which you need an emotional support animal. This letter means you can live with your emotional support animal anywhere regardless of pet policy or pet fees, and under law your landlord must allow you to.

An emotional support animal provides companionship and comfort to those suffering with a mental illness or disability. To qualify for an emotional support animal, you must have a mental illness or disability diagnosed by a licensed mental health professional. The mental health professional can then write you a letter of certification verifying your need for an emotional support animal. If you are still in doubt about what qualifies you for an emotional support animal, our professionals at United Support Animal can answer your questions and provide you with an emotional support animal letter of certification. To select a letter package call to see if you qualify at 800-918-3151 or do an online screening.