Harper Jefcoat
Harper Jefcoat

Why You Don’t Need an Emotional Support Animal Registration

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7 min read

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  • What is an Emotional Support Animal (ESA)?
  • Emotional Support Animal Registration Vs. ESA Letter
  • What Rights Do You and Your ESA Have?
  • How to Certify your ESA and Get an ESA Letter?
  • What is the difference between an ESA and a Service Dog?

Getting an ESA letter for your animal cat or dog will be the best decision you will ever make. We know how important it is for you to have your emotional support animal nearby and an ESA letter will make it easier for you. However, there is a misconception regarding it as many people think that to keep their dog or cat, they need to ‘register’ them, which is wrong.

Want to know why it is wrong and what you should do instead?

Read below to know the reasons and the process of getting your ESA letter and forget your search for the best emotional support animal registration site.

What is an Emotional Support Animal (ESA)?

An Emotional Support Animal, ESA, is a special kind of companion animal that helps you deal with multiple mental and emotional disabilities like chronic depression, anxiety, fear, anti-social behavior, and ADHD.

Emotional support animals are equally helpful for kids and adults and many nursing homes use therapy dogs to help their patients cope with their symptoms in a better manner.

It is said that an ESA can truly be a blessing for everyone who is suffering from some mental or emotional issue and is in need of some help and companionship. An emotional support animal offers everything from a helping hand to constant and non-judgmental companionship.

It helps you steer through the moments of ambiguity, anxiety, and panic and guides you in having a happy and normal life.

However, something that many people do not know, an ESA is not a pet and it certainly is different from the service animals.

These animals do not need any special training or requirements to be with you, they just need to be well-mannered and able to provide you with the needed support.

How to Get Legal Emotional Support Animal Registration?

There is no such thing as a legal emotional support animal registration because no registry is necessary by the law. To keep an emotional support animal, only a valid ESA letter is necessary. Even if you see free emotional support animal registration online, you should know that it is not required.

There are no ADA emotional support animal registration laws which mean it has no connection with the validity of your ESA.

So, what is an official emotional support animal registration? There isn’t one and even if you do find websites claiming it, be careful of getting scammed. Emotional support animals enjoy certain rights that are not given to a therapy dog or animal. But, to get the benefits of these rights, you will need to get an ESA letter from a licensed therapist to live and travel with your beloved canine friend.

How to Certify an Emotional Support Dog?

There is no specific certification for your emotional support dog or animal. The process is simple and easy to follow as you will have to get in touch with a licensed therapist and get your symptoms checked to see if you qualify for an ESA. If you are qualified, the therapist will write you a recommendation letter.

Similarly, you don’t need an emotional support animal registration cat or dog. The only valid documentation required is a valid letter from a licensed mental health professional.

Emotional Support Animal Registration Vs. ESA Letter

Let's get this straight, there is nothing like an emotional support animal registration. Search online and you will find a number of websites and sources that claim to have professional ESA doctors who help in the registering of your support or assistance animal.

Such sites ask for emotional support animal registration cost to provide you the said registry, which is neither legally required nor should you get into doing any such thing.

To get and keep your emotional support animal, all you need is an ESA letter from a licensed mental health professional. Therefore, if any website is claiming to give an ESA registry with an ID card for your animal, or an emotional support animal registration for housing, then chances are that it is a fake website, that is just trying to rob you.

The only and the best way of doing it is by consulting a professional ESA doctor who can do it for you. Look for a legitimate ESA letter instead of Legitimate emotional support animal registration.

Your ESA letter will include the following points and information about you and your emotional support animal.

  • Your full name.
  • Details about the disability that you are acquiring your ESA for.
  • Details about how the disability is interfering with your daily routine.
  • Reasons for prescribing an ESA.
  • Details about the federal law that protects you and your ESA.
  • Date, no later than a year from the current one.

Therefore, if someone or some website tells you to register your dog or cat, or any other animal, as an ESA then it is fake and you should steer clear of it.

What Rights Do You and Your ESA Have?

As an emotional support animal and as an emotional support animal owner, you and your animal are entitled to a number of rights like the right to have free housing and traveling with your ESA if the airline allows your request.

Fair Housing Act (FHA)

According to the Free Housing Act, emotional support owners have the right to live with their ESA without having to pay any additional pet fees. It is important to know your rights so that even if your landowner objects to your ESA living with you, you can remind them of the rights you have.

Your landowner can’t object or show bias over a specific breed. No matter what, as for now, these rights stand legal and for the people who cannot even think of traveling without their emotional assistance animals.

These acts are no less than blessings that allow them to be in company with their beloved ESAs. But, this does not mean that you have no obligations regarding them.

Many ESA owners think that because these federal laws allow them to live and travel with their animals, they can have any type of animal without any additional responsibilities.

Unlike a pet fee or a pet deposit that the tenants have to pay in case of having a pet, as an ESA owner, you will not have to pay any such fees. Since your ESA is not a pet, this rule of giving pet deposits does not apply to it.

These ESA prescription letters enable you to enjoy all these rights and safeguard you and your ESA against any possible discrimination. Thus, you can live peacefully and without any additional fees.

What Disabilities Qualify for an Emotional Support Animal?

Many people suffer from multiple kinds of visible and invisible disabilities that are not considered disabilities by many people. Some emotional and mental disabilities that qualify for an ESA include depression, anxiety, panic attacks, loneliness, ADHD, and several kinds of phobias. People suffering from these illnesses often find relief when accompanying their support dog or cat.

How to Certify your ESA and Get an ESA Letter?

To get the letter, all you have to do is to get in touch with us and fill out the online questionnaire. We have a team of professional therapists who understand your symptoms and will help you get a legal and signed ESA letter.

Below are the steps to follow to get your ESA letter:

  • Determine your need for an emotional support animal
  • Contact a mental health therapist to verify your condition
  • Complete the screening tests
  • Get the letter
  • That's it. You need no other ‘registration’ than a genuine ESA letter

Make sure that you keep the letter with yourself every time so that you can present it whenever needed. This letter states the reasons why your ESA should accompany you wherever you go and its effects on you.

What is the difference between an ESA and a Service Dog?

For many people, an emotional support animal and a service dog are the same things but they are different and it is important to know the difference between an emotional support animal vs. service animal. A service or guide dog is a specially trained dog that helps its owner in performing a particular daily task. Many physically challenged people have a service dog that helps them in commuting and performing tasks related to mobility.

An ESA, on the other hand, just needs to be well-mannered and does not require any special training. They are used for their therapeutic benefits as they offer emotional stability to their owners just by being around. Commonly, dogs, cats, rabbits, hamsters, and pigs are regarded as the most beloved and chosen ESAs, mostly because they could be easily domesticated.

6.1 Does Service Dog Registration Exist?

Probably the most common question is, does a service dog registry exist? No, there is nothing like a service dog or emotional support animal registration. All you will need to do is to qualify for either of the animals and get the certification and ESA letter.

Some of the key therapeutic benefits that these cute companions offer are:

  • They offer constant comfort and companionship.
  • They minimize the symptoms of anxiety, depression, and loneliness.
  • They help their owners cope and socialize properly in a better manner.
  • They provide a sense of belonging and security
  • They offer support and unconditional love.

An ESA is a real help for you if you are suffering from any emotional disorders and with the help of our therapists, you can take a step closer to it.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I register my animal as an emotional support?

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You don’t have to register your animal as an emotional support animal. The only document you need to keep an ESA is a valid ESA letter.

Is ESA registration legit?

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ESA registration is not legit as it is not required by law. Online websites scam people by making such claims, ESA letter is the only valid document that ESA owners should have.

Harper Jefcoat

WRITTEN BY

Harper Jefcoat

Harper Jefcoat is a dedicated pet enthusiast and esteemed author at RealESALetter.com. With a profound passion for animals, Harper combines extensive knowledge and personal experience to provide insightful and informative content. Specializing in canine behavior and wellness, he strives to empower pet owners with the tools and understanding they need to nurture and care for their furry friends effectively. Harper’s writings reflect his commitment to enhancing the lives of pets and their owners, making him a trusted voice in the pet community.

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