Emotional Support Animals (ESA) do not need any specialized training and are there to purely give comfort and love. Emotional support animals can be dogs, cats, birds, rabbits, lizards, etc. People may usea variety of animals to give them the emotional support they need to live a fulfilling life. The emotional and/or physical benefits from the animal living in the home are what qualifies the animal as an assistance animal. A letter from a medical doctor or therapist is all that is needed to classify the animal as an assistance animal. Emotional Support Animals are not allowed public access.

The Fair Housing Act

The Fair Housing Act (FHA) is a federal law that states any person with a mental or physical disability cannot be turned away from housing with their certified service animal or emotional support animal. This includes buildings and apartments that have a “no pets policy” in place. Landlords and apartment managers are required to make a “reasonable accommodation” for both service and emotional support animals.

Under the FHA, a disability is defined as a physical or mental impairment which significantly limits a person’s major life activities. Even if a lease says "no pets" or restricts pets, landlords are required to make what is called a “reasonable accommodation” to allow pets who serve as assistance animals, which includes animals who provide emotional support.

Assistance animals are in a different legal classification than pets who are not assistance animals, which is why pet restrictions and fees are waived for them. They are animals that work, assist and/or perform tasks and services for the benefit of a person with a disability or provide emotional support that improves the symptoms of a disability.

There is no official certification or training for assistance animals, and they can assist in a wide variety of ways. Breed and weight restrictions do not apply to assistance or service animals.