Emotional Support Registration: Is it possible?
No. You do not register your emotional support animal.
Let’s repeat that one more time for the people in the back. Does your loving, furry friend need to be registered as an ESA?
No.
If any ESA Service asks you to sign up/get “registered” in its database, it’s a fraud. You do not need a registration or certification to have an emotional support animal. You do, however, need an emotional support animal letter verified by a licensed mental health professional to become an ESA owner.
What’s the difference between an Emotional Support Animal Registration and Emotional Support Animal Letter?
An ESA registration has no legal value whatsoever. Sites that ask you for money but only confirm that your emotional support animal is now registered do not uphold in any court of law and does not apply to the Air Carrier Access Act or The Fair Housing Amendments Act. Learn more about these emotional support animal laws here.
An emotional support animal letter is a form signed by a licensed mental health professional that agrees you would benefit from an ESA upon performing an in-depth assessment to determine if you have an emotional or psychological disability.
What if I don’t have access to a licensed mental health professional?
That’s where CertaPet comes in.
CertaPet offers you the chance to connect with licensed mental health professionals while eliminating the hassle of going to a clinic and cutting downtime trying to become an ESA owner.
NOTE: An ESA letter is given to a patient with a mental disability, not to an animal. To see if you qualify for an ESA, click here.
Unlike most other places where you can get an ESA letter online or even a false emotional support animal registration, ours meets all requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act, other Emotional Support Animal laws and is 100% HIPAA compliant.
Types of Dogs: Service Dog vs. Emotional Support Dog
Service dogs are individually trained to guide, alert, and perform tasks for their physically disabled owners. These dogs are taught how to provide the best care of their owners such as being a walking guide or spotting the signs of a medical emergency and retrieving medication/help.
ESAs are more specifically chosen as companions to individuals who are psychologically or emotionally disabled. Unlike service dogs, they do not have to be specially trained. All they need to be is support for you, emotionally and psychologically.
So now I know that Emotional Support Animal Registration is unnecessary. What about Service Dog Registration?
No such thing as an official service dog registry or national service animal registry or-
You know what? Just assume that any site trying to get your service dog or emotional support dog registered is complete and total BS.
Emotional Support Dog Vest: Do they have to wear it?
There are not any emotional support animal laws that say a vest is required, but it does help others recognize them as an ESA.
As a great indicator for flight attendants and landlords, the emotional support dog vest lets them know you’re an ESA owner and makes for less explanation. Keep in mind you still have to provide verified identification (hint: your ESA letter) in both cases if you do not want to be charged with any fees or denied your rights to housing or flying with an emotional support animal.
While an emotional support animal vest may not be mandatory, you can’t deny who’s a good boy in this picture, can you?
ESA Registration Is Not the Real Deal
A lot of sites out there can be tricky with their small print and fancy words. We’ve all been subjected to it at some point in our lives. But the main take away is that emotional support animal registration is not a “real” thing and will not provide you with the assistance you need for your ESA.
To learn more about how to get an emotional support animal or emotional support animal laws, click here.