Humans have had special relationships with animals since ancient times. Dogs, cats and many other species have been by our sides during good and bad, work and play. For people with emotional or mental health issues, these bonds can be even stronger. The purpose of an authorized emotional support animal (ESA) is to provide that vital presence that enables individuals with these issues to function normally on a daily basis.
An ESA can be a dog, cat, bird or reptile. ESAs are prescribed to people who are diagnosed with a disabling mental or emotional illness such as post-traumatic stress disorder, anxiety disorders, phobias or depression. For an animal to legally be considered an ESA, a psychiatrist, psychologist or therapist must determine that the person needs the animal to be at their side in order to maintain their mental health. The animal can be of any breed or age.
Emotional support animals furnish their humans with a number of important benefits. These include the following:
In contrast to service animals like guide dogs that are trained to perform a specific function for their disabled handler, ESAs are not allowed to accompany their owners into public places like supermarkets and malls. ESAs differ from psychiatric service dogs, who receive extensive training to help their handlers with specific, mental illness-related conditions such as post-traumatic stress disorder, often detecting psychiatric events in their initial stages and helping their handler to minimize the effects. While service animals are trained to do particular jobs to assist their handler with mental illness, ESAs do their magic simply through their presence and are not recognized as service animals by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).
Even though ESAs are not afforded all of the privileges that service animals receive, they can bestow numerous gifts to their human companions. They include the following:
Of course, having an ESA is not for everyone. Caring for animals can represent a financial burden, and chances are good that the owner will outlive their special pet.
Regardless of age or species, having an animal in your life can bring many benefits. Unconditional love, laughter, joy and comfort are just a few of the most important. If you believe that the quality of life for you or someone you love could be enhanced by having an ESA as a companion, talk to your therapist or psychologist today. You’ll be glad you did.
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