General Discussion > Emotional Support Animals (publicly viewable board)

Questions from someone interested in getting an ESA

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.La.Vie.En.Rose.:
I have a congenital heart defect, but I also have depression which makes it hard if not impossible to be on most antidepressants. And even then the ones I can take, don't do much after a few weeks of taking them or have made me dizzy...so much so I have nearly fallen down the stairs at my college. I was wondering if anyone that has a lot of knowledge about getting an Emotional Support Animal could give me advice on how to go about getting an ESA. Do you even think it would happen for me? Or do you think they wouldn't give me the clearance to have an ESA. I am going to be moving in soon with my fiance, but in the summer months, he works out of town a lot and I don't do well at night, home alone. So that's a problem too. However, if there is an animal around, especially if I'm bonded to that animal, it helps out a lot, helps keep me calm and my mood doesn't go south or dip into depression. I have a cat, but for the time being he is with my dad because I couldn't have him where I live now. Does an ESA have to only be a dog? Or could my cat qualify? Thank you so much for anyone's input to this post.

Kirsten:
An ESA or emotional support animal is simply a pet belonging to a person with disabling mental illness.  There are only two places where that designation matters:  in "no pets" housing and on commercial aircraft.  In either of those locations, you need a doctor's letter stating you are disabled, you are under that mental health professional's care for that mental illness, and that in their professional opinion, the presence of a pet (ESA) is a necessary part of their treatment plan for you.

So whether you get one depends on whether your psychiatrist, psychologist, licensed clinical social worker, or therapist thinks you need one.  Then you go pick out a pet that appeals to you.  Choose one that is smallish and of a commonly domesticated species, preferably a dog or cat, and preferably under 30 pounds.  Choose a breed not known for aggression or on any banned breed lists.  These characteristics will decrease stress related to getting an accommodation to keep one in "no pets" housing by making it easier for the landlord to agree and harder for him to find anything to object to.  It matters little if in the end you turn out to be right after you've spent a year battling it out with a landlord who hates you, so it's better to just try to make it as painless as possible for them so they don't take it out on you.  If you get a dog, enroll it in a basic obedience class, often called a "family dog" class or else a CGC (Canine Good Citizen) class.  In such a class your dog will learn basic manners and obedience to make him a welcome member of society.  That too will decrease stress for you, since you won't have people complaining about your dog barking too much or jumping on people, etc.

Here's our section on ESAs, including sample letters for both housing and aircraft:
http://servicedogcentral.org/content/esa
(the right sidebar gives an outline of related articles)

.La.Vie.En.Rose.:
Awesome :smile: Thank you for the info.

BlindMag:
Welcome. I like your screen name. Have you heard Donna Summer's version of that song?

Roxie:
Welcome!

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