Are Therapy Dogs Service Dogs (SDs) or Emotional Support Animals (ESAs)?

No, Therapy Dogs (or therapy animals) are not Psychiatric Service Dogs nor are they Emotional Support Animals. TDs are anyone's pets that have been trained to behave properly in a wide variety of environments and who are exceptionally gentle and well-mannered with a wide variety of human beings. Their "job" is to bring a higher level of social functioning to people in nursing homes, schools, hospitals, hospices, etc. They cannot go into no-pets-allowed places unless they are invited. TDs are a great asset to the community, though! TDs were used after 9-11.

the link again is http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Therapy_dog

Are Emotional Support Animals (ESAs) Support Dogs (SDs)?

No, Emotional Support Animals (ESAs) are not the same as Service Dogs (SDs). ESAs are Therapeutic Pets, usually prescribed by a therapist or psychiatrist or doctor, that help people with emotional difficulties or with loneliness. They may include cats and birds.

Under the USA's federal laws, Emotional Support Animals (ESAs) cannot go into no-pets-allowed places, BUT THEY ARE ALLOWED in no-pets-allowed housing (see further information on this forum and in the links below for the specific legal exclusions and on how to assert your rights) and in the cabins of airplanes when accompanied by a note from their handler's doctor.

Although not trained to do work or tasks, ESAs can be greatly beneficial to their owners just by their comforting presence, company, companionship and love.


External links

• Legal information about service dogs in the U.S.
• Bazelon's List of Limitations on Major Life Activities for Psychiatric Disabilities
• Psychiatric Service Dog Society
• About Psychiatric Service Dogs
• Selecting Shelter Dogs for Assistance Work
• Service Dog Tasks for Psychiatric Disabilities
• Delta Society

I was recently pleasantly surprised to see that airlines allow Emotional Support Dogs to fly free! All you need is a letter from the psychologist/psychiatrist stating the need. Very nice. Does the category include bunnies???? TC.

I acually just looked that up on the internet last week,because I was wondering about my puppy and traveling with him! I got this huge list of what they consider service animals,and,comfort or support animals.One on the list was if your Doctor fills out a form claiming that "Your dog,or cat or etc...provides emotional support for the owner,and that the owner is being treated for a mental health disability,and that it is necessary that you be accompanied by the animal.",now I quoted that right from the printout from the travel laws I looked up on the internet! I'm just wondering if they,meaning the Doctors have the forms on file,or if you have to print them off a website or something,cause I know my doctor will fill it out! I hope this info helped anyone!

Hi Justice,

I just want to say that if your animal is not TRULY an emotional support animal or service animal then you should NOT be having your doctor fill out the form just so you can travel with your puppy. This only serves to discredit the true service/emotional support animals out there.

I worked for an airline and saw people trying to pass off their pets as emotional support animals or service animals. It makes our job very, very, very difficult trying to distinguish between the two. I have seen cases where we denied a true service animal. This happens because people abuse the system.

We require the doctor's note as assurance that the animal is truly an emotional support animal. A doctor should not be signing such a letter unless there is a true need for the animal. That would be grounds for losing a license.

The law is in place for people who need their animals to live normal lives. As I said, abuse of this law discredits the importance of these animals and makes it more difficult for those who truly need them.

I obviously don't know your situation. However, from you post above it does sound like your doctor will sign the letter and you asked your doctor to sign the letter just so that you can travel with your puppy. I really hope that is not the case.

Anyone who is considering doing this, PLEASE reconsider. You should be happy that you are not disabled and don't require an animal to perform daily/routine functions. Please don't make it any more difficult for the people who do.

Thanks,

Anin

Hello Anin

where I can understand the point you are making about people abusing the system, yet I do think it somewhat presumptious that you dont know this member nor their health problems, yet are suggesting this was an attempt at abusing the system. If someone has disabling mental health problems and they need their dog with them while traveling why would that be less acceptable than say someone who is sight disabled

I was also surprised to see the comment
why would you have denied a "true service animal" in the first place

Hi Chemar,

You are correct, I do not not the original poster's situation but I thought I mentioned that. I apologize if I came across as implying that a mentally disabled person has any less of a right to a service animal than a physically disabled person (such as a blind person). I did not mean that at all. I have a mental disability myself as well as have a friend with an emotional support animal and a couple blind friends with seeing eye dogs. These animals are essential to their lives and I'm very glad we have the law in place to allow them to travel with these companions.

I did, however, get the sense that the poster was just trying to get her puppy to be able to travel with her not that she needs the puppy to function normally in her day to day life (services a service/emotional support animal provide and the reason we have the law). That may not have been his/her intention but I just wanted to make the community aware that using the service/emotional support animal law as a means to to be able to travel unrestricted with your pet is truly an abuse of the system.

While I have never denied a service animal, I have heard of and saw a case where it happened. Agents sometimes have a hard time distinguishing between a pet and a service/emotional support animal and it is their job to discern what really is a service animal because we cannot board pets unrestricted. While emotional support animals do require documentation, service animals don't necessarily. I don't want to state specific examples but I will say that I've read about cases where the passenger went to check in, was advised of the fee to bring their pet, then tried to pass the pet off as a service animal to avoid the fees. Of course this doesn't happen all the time but it does make it a lot harder for the true service/emotional support animals out there.

I'll just give an example of my own case. This is part of the reason why this issue is very near and dear to my heart. I have a pet I am very emotionally attached to. I honestly feel like she's my only friend and I have considered asking my doctor for the letter to make her an emotional support animal so I can fly with her. Since I work for an airline I fly a lot! and she is too large to be a cabin pet so the only way I could travel with here anywhere would be as an emotional support animal. But the fact of the matter is that I don't need my dog with me at all times, I can function fine without her so would not feel right asking my doctor to consider her an emotional support animal.

I am not saying our mental disabilities are less life-altering than physical disabilities. I'm just saying we shouldn't use our mental disabilities as a means to travel with our pets unless they truly are providing a service. I meant no disrespect to the original poster.

Thanks!
Anin

Well said Anin. As a doctor, the onus is on me to make an accurate judgment in these cases, as the power to decide who should have this credential potentially affects many people.

A year ago my my cousin lost her 16 old Pom and as her sitter and servant I mourn her to this day. I have had dogs/family in the past but have not done so for the last 6 years or so. I have been in medical care for migraines since the age of 14 and have moved on to fibro and acrute arthritis, among a few other things. In psychiatric care due to the loss of a child since 1985-she actually passed away in 97. I try to mentally disconnect when I can.

I discussed with my current psychiatrist, the last retired, getting a small dog that sheds little and will make me go out more, for the needed walks, just for a walk. He thought it was a great idea; just what what I needed and gave me the needed paperwork for my condo association which I will present in a manner that others cannot abuse.

On further research I find how therapy these pets can provide from what I see on this forum so now I can look forward to maybe letting go of one or six or more meds that I take daily. I could also have a handicap tag but I choose not to, because I dont because while I can I want to keep pushing it. One day I won't have that choice.

Thank you all for all this wonderful information!

for the love of God.
this persons are faking their doggies, I apologize if my English is not perfect, I am Puerto Rican. I had my service dog after trainings and trainings. his name is Rowdy and he serves me for invisible disabilities. panic, anxiety. he is not a therapy dog nor a companion dog, he pull me out of many situations before my panic attack usually kick. he had prevent many of them. and this persons are faking little puddles just to flight??? that is almost causing me nauseas.

anyways. if you have a real service dog, we all know there is not a certification available online that is not fake.

and today I am happen to be going true a situation and will like a advice from legitimate service dog handler. please if you are not, don't bother.

I just moved in in this complex and honestly I had never had to present any "documentation" for Rowdy except for answering if he is a service dog and what he does for me (the classic 2 questions)
it is true that I have to present a doctor note were he explain my disabilities? I though I didn't had to share that private info.
and if true. anyone have a sample letter for me to bring to my doctor or a link to the right one to print so I can take it to my psychiatric ?

also... if my landlord is mistaking asking me for this info, please let me know.
I will appreciate.