Emotional Support Animal (ESA)

There has been a lot of controversy over the years about what an ESA is and isn’t. Service animals used to be well known as ‘the dog wearing the vest’, but when ESA’s and other supportive animals came on the scene the water became a little murky.

For example, according to the ADA, “If the dog has been trained to sense that an anxiety attack is about to happen and take a specific action to help avoid the attack or lessen its impact, that would qualify as a service animal. However, if the dog’s mere presence provides comfort, that would not be considered a service animal under the ADA.” 

What is an ESA:

• The pet needs to be prescribed by a licensed mental health professional to a person with a disabling mental illness

• The animal provides support through companionship and can help ease anxiety, depression, and certain phobias

• Behaviors such as cuddling on cue, although comforting, do not qualify as training

• The Fair Housing Act includes ESAs in its definition of assistance animals. Under the act, people cannot be discriminated against due to a disability when obtaining housing.

What is a service animal:

• The Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA) defines service animals as “dogs that are individually trained to do work or perform tasks for people with disabilities.”

• There are service dogs, known as psychiatric service dogs that require extensive training to work specifically with people whose disability is due to mental illness. These dogs detect the beginning of psychiatric episodes and help ease their effects.

• The ADA considers service dogs to be primarily working animals that are not considered pets. 

• Although some service dogs may wear vests, special harnesses, collars or tags, the ADA does not require service dogs to wear vests or display identification.

• Types:

  • Guide Dogs

  • Hearing Dogs

  • Mobility Dogs

  • Medical Alert Dogs

  • Psychiatric Service Dogs

What is a working dog:

• A purpose-trained canine that learns and performs tasks to assist its human companions.

• Since working dogs are specifically trained to perform certain roles in certain locations, they’re not often subject to legal ramifications.

• Detection, herding, hunting, search and rescue, police, and military dogs are all examples of working dogs.

“Facility dogs” are a growing category of therapy dogs that may work in a specific institutional setting such as a school, courthouse, or healthcare facility.   

What is a therapy animal:

• These are dogs that, with their human teammate (often the dog’s owner), volunteer in clinical settings

• Trained to be comfortable in new environments and to interact with different people

• Provide opportunities for petting, affection, and interaction in a variety of settings on a volunteer basis

• Example of environments used in:

  • hospital patients, assisted living center residents, stressed travelers in airports, college students during exams, victims of traumatic events or disasters

• Although they’re defined as comfort dogs and often used in therapeutic settings, therapy dogs aren’t considered service dogs under the ADA

What is a courthouse dog:

• Several states have enacted measures that allow a child or vulnerable person to be accompanied by a courthouse, facility, or therapy dog during trial proceedings.

For more information please visit:

https://www.akc.org/expert-advice/training/service-working-therapy-emotional-support-dogs/