Emotional support animals are incredibly valuable companions, and these animals are an essential part of the treatment plan for many people dealing with mental health conditions. Emotional support animals bring multiple benefits to their owners’ lives, though it is important to make sure your companion animal is valid. This is done by obtaining an emotional support animal, or ESA, letter.
Our guide tells you more about emotional support animals, ESA letters, and who can write this important document.
What Is an Emotional Support Animal?
An emotional support animal (ESA) is any animal that provides its owner with comfort, companionship, and relief from mental health symptoms. ESAs are allowed to be any type of animal; it is not just limited to cats or dogs, though your ESA must be legal to own in your state. You must also be able to reasonably care for them in your chosen housing. For example, you cannot have an emotional support chicken in a studio apartment.
Emotional support animals are prescribed by licensed mental healthcare providers, and you must adhere to all state laws when it comes to adding one to your treatment plan. Your provider and state legislation will be able to provide further clarification on this.
Who Qualifies for an ESA?
Any individual with a mental health condition who can find symptom relief from an animal companion may be eligible for an emotional support animal. Adding an ESA to your treatment plan is a very personal decision, and it’s important that you think about how you would physically and financially provide for any animal you adopt.
You should also speak with your therapist to evaluate how an ESA would look as part of your treatment plan; your provider has the last say on whether or not you are approved for a companion animal. If approved, you will get an ESA letter.
Will My Emotional Support Animal Have Rights?
Your emotional support animal will have rights, as outlined in the federal Fair Housing Act (FHA). These rights entitle you to live alongside your ESA in any reasonable area of housing, including housing that does not typically allow pets and housing that has breed restrictions in place. Additionally, you will not be required to pay pet fees, pet rent, or any additional related costs for your ESA.
That being said, if your ESA damages your housing unit, you will be responsible for the cost of the damages.
Other than housing rights, your ESA can only accompany you to public spaces that are pet-friendly for your specific animal. For example, if you have an emotional support dog, they may be welcomed in spaces that allow dogs to accompany their owners, such as a patio, but not indoors.
What Is an ESA Letter?
An emotional support animal support letter is a letter written by your provider that states your need for an emotional support animal. This letter will contain details about your chosen ESA, such as their name, animal type, and breed, if applicable. Your provider will include their details, such as their name and licensing information.
You should also keep in mind that while your ESA letter will state your need, it will not detail your mental health condition or disclose sensitive health information. This can give you peace of mind when showing your ESA letter to landlords or a property management company as you request your housing accommodations.
Who Can Write an ESA Letter?
Your ESA letter is an essential document, and it’s important to note that only certain licensed individuals can write these letters for you. State laws do vary, but all states require that a mental healthcare provider licensed in your state write your ESA letter.
Some states allow a medical doctor to write your letter, but many primary care providers will refer you to a mental healthcare provider if you are expressing concerns about a mental health condition that needs ESA assistance.
Once you meet with your provider, you will be approved or denied for an ESA as part of your treatment plan. After the approval, your therapist will write your ESA letter.
Keep in mind that you cannot write your own ESA letter, a family member or friend cannot write this letter either, and you cannot simply print a letter out that you found online. ESA letters are prescriptions, and they state your needs for an emotional support animal, in addition to providing details about how your ESA helps you; do not attempt to forge or fake these letters.
Can I Get My ESA Letter Online?
It is possible to get your ESA letter online, though you will need to ensure that you are working with a legitimate ESA service instead of purchasing a templated letter or receiving a letter online that has not been approved by a licensed mental healthcare provider.
Typically, websites that are legitimate sources of online ESA letters will charge suspicious prices, and there will be no provider licensed in your state that oversees the process. These websites might be full of grammatical errors, they may have poor ratings from consumers elsewhere online, and they may simply give you a letter that has been given to hundreds of other people.
A fake ESA letter or a templated ESA letter that is not tailored to your needs and your situation by a licensed mental healthcare provider is not valid. You should not trust these letters, even if they seem cheaper, as they will not grant you the federally protected housing rights you need with your ESA.
Get your ESA letter online through us. Our website connects you with a mental health professional licensed in your state to evaluate your symptoms on a consultation call so that you know whether you qualify for one.
Can I Write My Own ESA Letter?
You cannot write your own ESA letter, as tempting as it might be to simply compose your own. Your ESA letter must be written by a therapist, doctor, or other mental healthcare provider licensed in your state to be valid. This letter must include details about your provider’s practice and license information as well, meaning that attempting to write your own ESA letter or forge this kind of letter could result in serious legal issues.
What Happens If I Don’t Have an ESA Letter?
Obtaining an ESA letter is an essential step in ensuring that your emotional support animal is valid. If you don’t have an ESA letter, you may not be able to take advantage of your protected housing rights.
This means that your emotional support animal does not need to be granted access into your chosen housing unit, and even if your companion animal is permitted, you might need to adhere to breed and size restrictions, pet fees, and pet rent regulations that your landlord or property manager has in place.
How Do I Get an Emotional Support Animal?
If you believe you would benefit from the assistance of an emotional support animal, your first step is to speak to a mental healthcare provider licensed in your state. Your provider can help evaluate your condition and discuss your needs with you, including providing counseling services or referring you to the correct provider needed to treat your condition.
Some states require that you have at least a 30-day relationship with your provider before they are able to evaluate your need for an ESA and approve you for this companion animal; check with your provider about specific state rules if you have questions.
Once you have an established relationship with your provider and discussed your concerns, your therapist will either approve or deny your request for an emotional support animal. If you are approved, your provider will write you an ESA letter stating your need. You can then use this letter to take advantage of protected ESA housing rights.
Understanding Who Can Write an ESA Letter
Emotional support animal letters are highly important documents that allow individuals with ESAs to take advantage of their federally protected housing rights. You must have an ESA letter if you wish to utilize these rights, and you risk being denied housing accommodations without this letter, as your ESA letter is what validates your emotional support animal.
If you have any concerns or questions about your emotional support animal or how to ensure your ESA is valid, speak to your mental healthcare provider. Your provider will be familiar with your situation and the laws in your state, and they can better help you navigate adding an ESA to your treatment plan.