An emotional support animal is a pet that provides support to the owner by helping with certain symptoms of a disability. It is typically a dog or cat, but it can be any type of animal.
We help people get the proper documentation to make their pet an official Emotional Support Animal. Online approval in minutes - Housing & Travel letters.
An emotional support animal does not require any special training, but the owner must take their pet to a doctor for a medical checkup every year to make sure it is still qualified. The owner also still needs to attend counseling or therapy as needed to ensure that they are also qualified.
This article will explain what qualifies as an emotional support animal in Colorado and what you need to do if you want one.
What Is An Emotional Support Animal?
A service animal is an animal that works with its handler for the benefit of the handler. The ADA defines a service animal as “any guide dog, signal dog, or other animal individually trained to provide assistance to an individual with a disability.”
The ADA also provides protection against discrimination based on disability and requires that places of public accommodation (like restaurants) allow service animals in all areas open to the public, unless they have legitimate reasons for denying them access (like health concerns).
In addition to service animals, there are also emotional support animals, or ESA. These are pets that provide support to their owners by providing therapeutic benefits like companionship and comfort. They do not perform any tasks for their owners, but the owner may need them for mental health reasons.
We help people get the proper documentation to make their pet an official Emotional Support Animal. Online approval in minutes - Housing & Travel letters.
The ADA defines an emotional support animal as “any dog or other animal that is individually trained to provide assistance to an individual with a disability.”
Emotional support animals do not need any special training, but they can’t accompany their owners in all areas of a public accommodation (like restaurants). However, they are covered under the ADA and therefore cannot be required to be registered with any organization or organization-run website.
However, there are no federal laws that protect the right of people with disabilities to bring their emotional support animals in public areas.
While service animals assist people with disabilities by performing tasks like guiding them or pulling a wheelchair, emotional support animals provide non-task-related benefits such as companionship and comfort for people with disabilities who would otherwise suffer from loneliness or depression if left home alone (such as people with PTSD).
How Do I Get an Emotional Support Animal Certificate?
You should get an emotional support animal if you have a mental health disability that substantially limits your ability to live independently. These disabilities include anxiety, depression, bipolar disorder, and schizophrenia.
To get an emotional support animal, you must go to a doctor and get a letter stating that you have a mental health disability. The letter should explain the symptoms of your disability and how your emotional support animal can help you.
After getting the letter, you will not need to apply for a certificate that states whether or not your pet is an ESA. The letter from your doctor (as long as it is licensed) is enough proof that you can bring your emotional support animal into private spaces.
Tom
Tom has always loved to write since he was little - he wanted to be either a writer or a veterinary doctor, but he ended up being a professional writer while most of his works are based on animals. He was born in San Francisco but later moved to Texas to continue his job as a writer. He graduated from the University of San Francisco where he studied biotechnology. He is happily married and a soon to be father!
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