EMOTIONAL SUPPORT ANIMALS (ESA)

Emotional Support Animals (ESA) are animals who provide companionship and comfort to their owners. ESAs can be dogs or other animals and are not required to receive any special training. This is because Emotional Support Animals do not have public access rights; meaning they cannot legally go into non-pet-friendly places. However, ESAs are protected on the Fair Housing Act (FHA) which makes accommodations for them in regard to housing. Under this law, Emotional Support Amimals do need documentation in the form of an ESA Letter from a licensed health care professional. While Emotional Support Animals do not require any specialized training, it is always good practice to train your dog for basic obedience. Additionally, ESAs can learn in-home tasks to better help their owners. Contact ASA about training options and certifications.