ESA Certification in Florida

What is an Emotional Support Animal?

A person who has a mental or emotional disability, including post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD), autism, and schizophrenia may need to be accompanied by an animal for the person’s safety.

A Florida Emotional Support Animal certification law was passed in 2020 to allow people with these conditions to be accompanied by an assistant animal in their residential area. Under this law, people with such disabilities are allowed to have an emotional support animal in their presence.

The law requires that anyone applying for an emotional support animal certificate must have a doctor’s letter of confirmation stating that the person has a disability and requires the person to provide proof of that disability.

Why is this Emotional Support Animal Law Important?

This law is important because it allows people with disabilities to be accompanied by their emotional support animals in private spaces. It also allows them to travel with their emotional support animals in public, even though certain terms still apply.

People who use emotional support animals for the purpose of assisting them in the tasks of daily living will find this law useful because it allows them to go about their lives without having to worry about being discriminated against.

Florida is also one of the few states in America who has a very clear law about emotional support animals. By passing this bill, people with disabilities will be able to take advantage of the benefits that accompany such an animal’s presence such as companionship and comfort without worrying about the hurdles of renting, etc.

What Types of Animals Can Be Used as Emotional Support Animals?

Any species of animals can be used as an emotional support animal under this law. However, these animals must be housebroken and must not create a nuisance while they are in public places where they are allowed to be present with a person who has a disability under this law.

Examples of dogs that may qualify include those that are trained for guide dog work or those that have been trained for therapeutic purposes by handlers who have been certified under this law. Other animals that may qualify include those that are trained for emotional support work such as horses, pigs, goats, and even ferrets.

Who is Eligible to Use an Emotional Support Animal?

Anyone who has a mental or emotional disability may be able to use an emotional support animal under this law. This includes people who have PTSD, OCD, autism, and schizophrenia. However, people who are applying for an emotional support animal certificate must have a doctor’s letter of confirmation stating that they have a mental or emotional disability.

In conclusion, the Emotional Support Animal law in Florida allows people with disabilities to be accompanied by an emotional support animal in private spaces. This includes going about their daily lives without having to worry about being discriminated against.