You’re in the store, you see a dog with a vest on, but what does it mean? Does it mean it’s a Service Dog, Therapy Dog, or an Emotional Support Dog? By the end of this series, you’ll know how to identify and act around these special dogs. Since I am based in the US, I will only be covering the rules, regulations, and etiquette in the US.
First, we will start with an Emotional Support Animal or ESA. Possibly the most important thing to note, is that an ESA is a pet and is not permitted where dogs are not allowed. You do not need to certify or register an ESA. In fact, the only document you need is an letter for the pet's owner from a mental health professional. A fun fact is, as of recently, airlines are no longer required to accommodate an ESA. ESAs are now to be considered as pets on airlines. According to the United States Department of Transportation only service dog’s that are finished training and only dogs are considered service animals, except in special circumstances miniature horses. Probably from all the people abusing the system. An ESA is becoming increasingly popular due to the benefits of owning one. However, people abusing the use of an Emotional Support Dog, Service Dogs, and Therapy Dogs are making things increasingly harder for those who truly need one. Point incase is the airlines no longer being required to accommodate ESA. An ESA must be prescribed by a mental health professional to a person with a mental health disability. ESA unlike Service Dog’s cannot go into places that do not allow dogs. ESA also do not need to be tasked trained. One of the most common things ESA do is relieve anxiety. Research has shown that animals change the biochemistry of a brain. Petting an animal has been scientifically proven to increase the Oxytocin levels in our brain. Which can do many amazing things, some of those include slowing your heart rate and breathing, lowers high blood pressure, and prevents the production of stress hormones. As you can see having an ESA can be an amazing experience, but is not something to be abused, as this misrepresentation can seriously hinder those who actually need one. For more information on Emotional Support Animals visit ada.gov
Next, week will look into Therapy Dogs!
There are many opinions on Emotional Support Animals, the opinions in this are simply my opinions. I hope you enjoyed my article. Let me know in the comments if this helped you or just taught you something new. Be sure to subscribe, to receive our monthly newsletter and be notified when my next article comes out. If you have any questions, or need training advice, leave a comment, or send me an email and I will get back with you as soon as possible!
Jaynie Kiel
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