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Pet Vs. Emotional Support Animals: What’s the Difference?

“Are emotional support animals allowed in restaurants? What about pets? Is there even a difference between these two?!”

These are questions we get a lot. To answer them properly, we need to first learn about what an emotional support dog is and what makes them different from a pet!

A pet is a cute companion animal that entertains their owners and keeps them company. Pet owners get them because they love animals and want a new furry buddy in their lives.

ESAs have a job to do, however. They have one giant task: making living with a mental health illness or condition easier. They maintain their owner’s well-being and provide comfort during the really bad days. Ufff — not an easy job, sometimes!

People suffering from mental or emotional conditions such as post-traumatic stress disorder, PTSD, anxiety or depression may massively benefit from the companionship of an ESA.

Who Can Get an Emotional Support Animal?

While anyone can own a pet, not everyone can get an ESA! Only people with emotional or mental disabilities can welcome an emotional support dog in their lives. This is the main difference between a pet and an ESA. ESAs are prescribed by a licensed mental health practitioner (LMHP) to mitigate the symptoms of your disability.

You can think of an emotional support dog as a doggo with a job. Because they do provide a service for their owner, they are assistance dogs. On the other hand, pet dogs are not assistance dogs. It may not sound like a big difference, but trust us — it is!

What is the Difference Between and ESA and Service Animal? 

Since we’re on the topic of assistance dogs, let’s get something clear: an ESA is not a service dog. Both are assistance animals. But the definition of a service animal is different from the definition of emotional support dog. The main difference lies in who needs to be trained and what kind of tasks each of them carries out.

Service animals and psychiatric service animals are specifically trained to help with daily tasks that may be limited due to the individuals disability, for example a seeing eye dog or a dog that recognizes when PTSD is triggered and intervenes.

What is an ESA Letter, and How Can You Get One?

In a nutshell, an emotional support dog is an assistance dog. So, they have emotional support animal letter!

A licensed mental health professional (LMHP) has to issue your ESA letter. It states that the ESA owner has a mental health problem or other disability that requires them to have an ESA by their side. Thanks to this letter, you’ll be able to be near your furry ESA companion at all times.

There is only one way of getting an emotional support letter. A doctor’s note just won’t cut it. You need to find a licensed mental health professional in your state to issue your ESA letter.

Having an ESA sadly isn’t your answer to “Are emotional support animals allowed in restaurants?”. Still, there are other perks!

If only there was a convenient way to reach out to a therapist… Oh, there is! CertaPet puts you in touch with a LMHP in very quickly. To get started, complete this free, 5-minute pre-screening test and we will handle the rest!

ESAs Are Protected by Two Federal Laws!

The beauty of having an ESA is that there are two important federal laws that protect them. Neither answer the question “Are emotional support animals allowed in restaurants?” — but they’re even better!

In the United States, emotional support animal laws cover fair housing and travel by plane. Luckily, these two ironclad laws protect your disability rights.

A Close Look at the Fair Housing Act

The Fair Housing Act (FHA) is an ESA owner’s best friend. If you live in private or public rented accommodation, you can live with your ESA. Unfortunately for pet owners, this law doesn’t apply to them.

Under the FHA, all landlords must provide reasonable accommodation for ESAs and their owners. This includes not charging a pet deposit or fee at the end of every month and not refusing them housing.

There are only two exceptions to this law. The first is if your ESA is a direct threat to other people, your landlord has the right to evict you. The second is if you don’t show your accommodation provider a valid ESA letter.

Understanding the Air Carrier Access Act

Under the Air Carrier Access Act (ACAA), your ESA can fly with you. Leave your flight anxiety at home and bring Fido along with you!

Make sure to bring your emotional support letter with you and to read up on the airline’s ESA policy. If you do everything right according to their policy, you and your dog will board right away. If you’re denied boarding, you have the right (and duty!) to file a complaint. After all, flying with your ESA is one of your disability rights.

**Please note, as of January 11, 2021, under new regulations passed by the U.S. Department of Transportation, the allowance of Emotional Support Animals onboard flights may vary from airline to airline. Please contact your airline of choice for their most up-to-date policies on Emotional Support Animals.

When Are Emotional Support Animals Allowed in Restaurants?

When going out with a service dog, you may access all public establishments. But it’s a different story when it comes to ESAs. The question remains — are emotional support animals allowed in restaurants?

The short answer to that is: it depends. ESAs can only go into public establishments that have a pet-friendly policy. If the restaurant you’re dying to go to allows pets, your ESA can go in. If it doesn’t, then your cute pooch will need to stay home. Unless…

Unless you call ahead and check with the establishment’s owner if they can make an exception for you! Make sure you explain your situation and hope for the best. You never know, the owner might be a lover of animals…

Why Service Animals are Legally Allowed in Restaurants and ESAs are Not

Now, you may be confused about why a service animal has access to all public places. Why don’t ESAs have the same access? This is because service animal laws are different from ESA laws. The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) covers service dogs (and the occasional miniature horses). This law allows them to go into all public establishments while the dog is on duty.

But this isn’t the end of your dreamy lunch-or-dinnertime escapades with your ESA! There are plenty of pet-friendly public restaurants in the United States. A quick Facebook or Google search will give you a list of pet-friendly restaurants near you.

What about Public Stores Pet Policies?

Are Dogs Allowed in Walmart? Is Walmart Dog Friendly?

Unless it’s a service animal, Walmart is non pet-friendly so you cannot bring your ESA there.

Are Dogs Allowed in Target? Is Target Dog Friendly?

Like Walmart, Target only allows service animals and not other pets!

A Well-Behaved, Well-Mannered ESA is Often a Welcome ESA

An emotional support animal does not need to be trained. Yet, it is a good idea to train and socialize your dog from a young age. Everyone loves a puppy with good manners — including restaurant owners!

Getting into a public establishment with a trained dog is much easier than with an unruly one. Teach them to sit, stay, and come back on command! Plus, they don’t have to be trained by a professional to do these things — you can train them yourself!

If You Need an ESA Letter: CertaPet Has You Covered

There are so many benefits to getting an emotional support letter. Coming home to a loving presence after a long day at work alone makes the whole process worth it. And the best part? CertaPet makes your life a whole lot easier by handling the paperwork for you.

To get an ESA you need an emotional support letter. Don’t worry about the hassle of finding a licensed mental health professional. CertaPet does all the leg work for you. Simply take this 5-minute free screening test and you’ll be holding your fuzzy friend in no time!

Get Started Here

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Emotional Support Animals (ESAs) are animals that are specially designated to assist individuals with emotional or psychological disabilities. They are a type of assistance animal, and according to federal law, assistance animals can be distinguished in the following ways:

Service Animals

Individuals who are blind, deaf, restricted to a wheelchair, or suffer from seizure disorders can benefit immensely from the aid of a service animal. Service animals are dogs or miniature horses that are specially trained to perform tasks and recognize medical conditions.

Emotional Support Dogs and Other Animals (ESA)

ESAs are more specifically chosen as companions to individuals who are psychologically or emotionally disabled. These companions can range from a dog, a cat, or even a miniature horse. ESAs are not trained to perform tasks or recognize particular signs or symptoms but are distinguished by the close, emotional, and supportive bond between the animal and the owner.

See If You Qualify for an Emotional Support Animal

Who Can Obtain an ESA Letter?

Individuals limited by an emotional and/or mental disability, such as depression or a similar condition, which affects their mental well-being can obtain an ESA letter.

Emotional and psychological disabilities applicable to an ESA letter may include:

• Social Anxiety Disorder
• Postpartum Depression
• Depression
• Phobias and Fears
• General Anxiety Disorder
• Panic Disorder
• Bipolar Disorder
• Obsessive Compulsive Disorder
• Post Traumatic Stress Disorder
• Seasonal Affective Disorder

An ESA letter is written by a Licensed Mental Health Professional who believes you would benefit from an Emotional Support Animal.

While ESAs may become members of an individual’s family, they should not be confused with traditional pets. ESAs provide a very specific service as an emotional support animal, and very specific laws govern their use.

See If You Qualify for an Emotional Support Animal

Federal Laws and ESAs

There are two main federal laws applicable to ESAs and their owners, which are the Air Carrier Access Act and the Fair Housing Act.

It is important that anyone considering obtaining an Emotional Support Dog letter be aware of the laws that apply to owners and what they should expect from airlines and landlords.

A brief summary of federal laws and ESAs can be found by reading on:

The Air Carrier Access Act

The Air Carrier Access Act was passed in 1990 and works alongside Department of Transportation rules prohibiting discrimination of disabled individuals traveling by air. According to the Air Carrier Act provisions, airlines are not allowed to refuse transportation, limit, or require advanced notice before offering service to individuals who are disabled.

Airlines may require advanced notice for certain accommodations, such as medical equipment or electric wheelchairs, and may require notice for ESAs specifically, depending on the individual airline guidelines.

The Air Carrier Act, however, still requires that airlines accommodate ESA owners who have verified identification, which is your ESA letter and possibly additional forms based on the specific airline.

ESA owners are not required to sit in any particular location unless the animal is large enough to obstruct an aisle that must remain unobstructed.
The Air Carrier Act also restricts airlines from charging fees for accommodating disabled persons with an ESA.

**Please note, as of January 11, 2021, under new regulations passed by the U.S. Department of Transportation, the allowance of Emotional Support Animals onboard flights may vary from airline to airline. Please contact your airline of choice for their most up-to-date policies on Emotional Support Animals.

Emotional Support Animal Housing Laws: The Fair Housing Act (FHA)

The Fair Housing Amendments Act of 1988, commonly known as FHA, requires apartments and housing communities that ordinarily restrict pets to make “reasonable accommodation” for ESAs.

The US Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) defines “reasonable accommodation” and obligates all housing providers covered under the FHA to allow ‘assistance animals,’ including ‘Emotional Support Animals,’ as a reasonable accommodation.

You can download the exact notice issued by HUD regarding assistance animals here (it’s only a few pages long and defines the laws very clearly – all ESA owners or applicants should go through it).

In short, that means that verified ESA owners (i.e. owners who have an ESA letter written by a Licensed Mental Health Professional) cannot be denied housing, just as individuals in a wheelchair or with a disability cannot be denied housing based on their condition.

In order to be protected by FHA laws, the ESA owner must have a diagnosed disability and provide documentation to the property owner or housing representative.

The benefits of FHA laws include the fact that property owners cannot charge an advance deposit or other pet fees for ESAs. ESA owners should note, however, that if significant damage is done, or if it becomes apparent that the animal is being neglected, the property owner might be able to recoup fees later.

Property owners also cannot question the disability, require the animal to wear identification as an Emotional Support Animal, or refuse housing.

See If You Qualify for an Emotional Support Animal

Emotional Support Animal Registration is NOT REAL

Unfortunately many ‘ESA registration’ sites take advantage of unsuspecting consumers.

These sites claim that to make your pet an Emotional Support Dog or ESA, all you need is to be “registered” in their database and put an emotional support dog vest on your pup.

This neglects the key point of Emotional Support Animals: they are for people with diagnosed disabilities and serve an important purpose. They’re not intended as a ‘cover’ to allow just anyone to fly with their pet for free. Furthermore, wearing an emotional support animal vest is not required for your animal.

This also goes for Emotional Support Animal certification sites, or the idea that you need to get your ESA “certified.”

This is a false statement that does not hold up in a court of law and tricks consumers into paying for something that isn’t real.

Both the Air Carrier Access Act and the Fair Housing Act mentioned above only apply to people and pets with a legitimate ESA letter from a Licensed Mental Health Professional (LMHP).

If you want to learn more about getting a legitimate ESA letter, click here to get started.

I Already Have an ESA Letter. Should I Use an Emotional Support Dog Registration Site Too?

As stated above, registration sites offer no value. There is no such thing as an “Official Emotional Support Animal Registry” or “Emotional Support Dog Registry.”

This also goes for sites with names similar to “United States Dog Registry,” “US Animal Registry,” and “Service Dog Registry of America.”

These are simply fraudulent companies that are exploiting consumers.

Can a Landlord Deny an Emotional Support Animal?

Most of the time no.

But let’s be clear.

There are two questions a housing provider must consider when a request for reasonable accommodation is made:

1. Does the person seeking to use and live with the animal have a disability — i.e., a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities?
2. Does the person making the request have a disability-related need for an assistance animal? In other words, does the animal work, provide assistance, perform tasks or services for the benefit of a person with a disability, or provide emotional support that alleviates one or more of the identified symptoms or effects of a person’s existing disability?

If the answers to both questions are “yes,” then a landlord must provide reasonable accommodation for an Emotional Support Animal, as long as the tenant can provide proof of a legitimate ESA letter.

CertaPet ESA letters are written by REAL Licensed Mental Health Professionals and in such a way that more than 99% of landlords accept the letters without incident.

Please note: Emotional Support Animals may not be accepted in:

• Buildings that have four or less units, with the landlord occupying one of the units
• Single-family housing that’s sold or rented without a real estate broker
• Private clubs
• Motels/hotels used as dwellings

ESAs are More Than “Man’s Best Friend”

Emotional Support Animals are not restricted to Emotional Support Dogs or Emotional Support Cats, but could even be a miniature horse!

Individuals who already have a pet that brings them comfort and emotional support can also apply for an Emotional Support Dog letter, which will provide them with the protections discussed in this article and benefits that are immeasurable.

What is important is that the ESA and the owner have a special relationship that genuinely offers emotional support and wellbeing.

CertaPet makes the process of getting a legitimate ESA letter simple and easy.

We know the invaluable contribution animals make to help people cope with mental illnesses and other emotional disabilities. Whether a person is living with depression, anxiety, PTSD, bipolar disorder, or another disability: ESAs can have a massively beneficial and life-changing impact on their owners.

So how does CertaPet work?

We know that for some people, the process of finding, traveling to, and meeting up with a therapist can be incredibly overwhelming, stressful, and/or anxiety-inducing.

That’s why we make it easier than ever for you to connect with a Licensed Mental Health Professional (LMHP) in your state, who you can consult with virtually, allowing you to go through the ESA process from the comfort of your own home!

Ready to get started? All you need to do is to take our free, 5-minute pre-screening test. If your answers indicate that you may qualify for an ESA, we will connect you with a LMHP in your state, who can issue you an ESA letter.

See If You Qualify for an Emotional Support Animal

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