Understanding Law’s and FAQ’s

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Flying is stressful, but an ESA can make it much less so. Which is why the Air Carrier Access Act recognizes and acknowledges this need. When you obtain an ESA Letter, you can then fly with your pet, free of charge. Your ESA travel letter, though, needs to be written by a licensed mental health professional and explains that your pet is part of your treatment plan and, through its company, provides you relief from your symptoms. The Air Carrier Access Act protects your rights as an ESA owner and airlines are not allowed to refuse transportation to individuals with an ESA. It’s important to check in with individuals airlines, however, to ascertain whether you will need additional documentation like a Veterinary Health Form, for example. So before you fly, be sure to contact the airlines directly just in case. It’s always better to be prepared so you’re not dealing with unnecessary stress when you arrive at the airport. You can also outfit your emotional support animal with a vest or patch and a photo ID of your pet; but just know that only the letter from your mental health professional and the possible custom forms for each airline is legally required.

We can’t emphasize this enough. Emotional Support Animals do not need to be enrolled into a registration. Nor is Emotional Support Animal Certification a real thing, either. We want to protect you from the unethical practices all too common online, so therefore, all you need to be accompanied by an ESA is a letter provided by a licensed mental health professional. The letter should include: The type of license carried by your licensed mental health professional. The license numbers. The issue date of the license. The state in which the license was issued. The date on which the letter was written. The ESA letter should confirm the following information: That you are currently a patient of this LMHP. You are being treated for a disability. That you are significantly inhibited in performing a major life activity. That the prescription of an ESA is an integral part of your treatment plan

We are a dedicated team determined to teach the world about the very essential and necessary need for an ESA, and CertaPet is the #1 empowerment facilitator of this mental health movement. An ESA Letter from CertaPet provides: Recognition that you are a patient on a case-by-case basis under a licensed mental health professional’s care for mental or emotional disabilities. Verification that you are significantly limited by an individual disability, such as depression or a similar condition, affecting your mental well-being. Prescription for an emotional support dog (also known as a companion dog), or other support animal, as a necessary reinforcement for your mental health within 48 business hour.

Working alongside Certapet, Therapetic is the #1 Emotional Support Letter Service. We connect you with a licensed mental health professional in your state to secure you an ESA letter that is compliant with both state and federal regulated.

If you have an ESA, then you are protected by the FHA and ACAA and afforded travel and housing benefits in all 50 states. So, travel away throughout this great country! However, some states have more restrictions when it comes to emotional support/assistance animals, and it’s important for you to be prepared with knowledge about those discrepancies.

Indiana differs from the other 49 states in a very specific law regarding a patient’s therapy sessions. The law dictates that you need to have additional services, meaning at least one therapy session before you get your ESA letter. To ensure that you comply with this, CertaPet added one therapy session before your ESA consultation and two after.

Florida has had some problems in the past and is looking to ensure that those with a real need get the support. Therefore, to reduce the number of people misrepresenting their pets as assistance animals, it is a “misdemeanor of the second degree, punishable as provided in s.108 775.082 or s. 775.083, and must perform 30 hours of community, service for an organization that serves individuals with disabilities, or for another entity or organization at the discretion of the court, to be completed in not more than 6 months” – stated by the Florida Senate.

Under state law, a person caught lying to their LMHPs about needing an ESA or misrepresenting a pet as an ESA to landlords or airlines could be charged with a class C misdemeanor. This law is much like the Utah service animal law where it is also a crime to misrepresent a pet as a service dog.

As you may know, landlords can request an additional reasonable accommodation form in addition to an ESA letter. And now in Tennessee, a tenant can be charged with a Class B misdemeanor if they misrepresent their pet as an ESA or service animal. CertaPet LMHPs are readily able to supply your landlord with the necessary support documentation should they require it.

Those with certain psychiatric disabilities (anxiety, depression, PTSD, etc.) may be afforded protection for an emotional support animal in New York, even in housing or travel situations that might otherwise prohibit animals. Flying with an emotional support animal in New York requires an ESA travel letter from a licensed mental health professional, which must explain that a mental health disability exists and there is a need for the animal. The letter should clearly indicate the type of practice (ie license type) in which the health care professional specializes. The letter should also be under the health care professional’s letterhead and cannot be more than one year old. Finally, you may be required to give 48 hours advance notice to the carrier. For housing, a landlord may require a renter with an emotional support animal to show documentation (ESA housing letter) supporting the fact that the renter has a disability and that reasonable accommodation for the support animal is necessary.

Like service animals, emotional support animals are protected by California law and federal law in housing and travel. However, support animals do not receive the same protections in public places as service animals do. Landlords are required to allow renters to live with their emotional support animals or service dog in California. This means that a landlord may not evict a renter or even charge a pet deposit for emotional support animals, excluding certain rare exceptions such as harming others or the property. Employers are not legally obligated to allow your ESA in the workplace. It is entirely up to the discretion of the employer whether or not you may bring your ESA to work with you. To fly with an emotional support animal, you will need a letter from a licensed healthcare professional declaring the mental health disability and the need for the animal. The letter must contain the health care professional’s letterhead and must be less than one year old.

Under the Texas state law, emotional support animals are companion animals that provide safety and comfort to those suffering from an array of mental illness. Like in many other states, an emotional support animal in Texas will be protected under the Air Carrier Access Act so airlines must make reasonable accommodation to passengers by allowing their comfort animals to join them in the cabin, free of charge. However, as a responsible owner and handler, it is your job to ensure: You fill all the appropriate documents made mandatory by the airline of your choice. That you provide an ESA letter from your licensed mental health professional. Provide a 48-hour notice to the airlines, dictating that you’ll be traveling with an emotional support animal. Your ESA is able to behave well while in a public setting. An emotional support animal in Texas is not protected under the ADA. Therefore, employers do not need to provide accommodation to owners of ESAs. For college students, ESAs are allowed on campus but strictly only permitted in university housing.

An ESA in Ohio is protected by the FHA and ACAA, just as all states are; therefore, you are able to fly and live with your emotional support animal with no added fees. According to Ohio employment law, an ESA is not automatically entitled to attend a workplace, in the way a service animal for a physical disability is. However, when the owner is in possession of an ESA letter from a licensed mental health professional, some employers may be lenient. Many employers work on a case-by-case basis.

ESA’s are not service animals and therefore, do not require special training. However, it’s important that your pet understands basic commands like “sit” or “stay,” and behaves appropriately in public. Your support need is important but it’s also imperative that the quality of life of those around you is not disturbed as well. But what happens if there is an issue? An airline can revoke your privilege if you pet acts aggressively toward flight staff or other passengers. And landlords can also deny accommodations or file for an eviction if your pet is disruptive or if your ESA bothers other tenants. Training your pet to handle public environments surrounded by strangers is imperative for your peace of mind in traveling or living with an ESA. We can’t emphasize this enough–your need is valid and essential, but while we work toward educating the masses about ESA, it’s imperative for you and others that we create a positive experience for all.