How to Adopt an Emotional Support Dog

[Meta: Emotional support dogs are beneficial companions to many. Our article tells you how to adopt an emotional support dog to help you out.]

Adopting an emotional support dog can be beneficial for many individuals who may be struggling with certain mental health conditions or disabilities. These canine companions often bring many benefits to their owners, and if you want to add one of these wonderful dogs into your life, read on. Our article gives you essential details on emotional support dogs and provides you with the general steps to adopting an emotional support dog and receiving the comfort these animals provide.

What Is an Emotional Support Dog?

An emotional support dog provides comfort, companionship, and routine to their owners. These dogs are not trained to help with a disability like a service dog would be, but they still provide significant benefits to individuals with certain mental health conditions or disabilities. If you believe that you can benefit from an emotional support dog in your care plan, your first step is to speak with your doctor or therapist.

Who Qualifies for an Emotional Support Dog?

Many individuals may qualify for an emotional support dog. Certain mental health conditions or disabilities that often benefit from the presence of a companion animal include anxiety, depression, chronic stress, PTSD, OCD, or sensory disorders. It’s important to note that emotional support dogs are not trained to complete disability-related tasks for their owners and that their benefit is primarily the comfort and companionship they provide.

Steps to Adopt an Emotional Support Dog

When you get ready to adopt an emotional support dog, there are a few steps you should take to ensure that you can bring the right dog home and have them registered as a legitimate emotional support animal. We give you the general steps to follow for this process below.

• Your first step should be speaking with a mental healthcare provider licensed in your state about the possibility of adopting an ESA. They will work with you to understand your concerns and evaluate your eligibility for an emotional support dog.
• If an ESA is approved for your care plan, you can start visiting local shelters or rescues to find a dog that is right for your home. Make sure to take your time when selecting a dog and always prefer adoption over purchasing a puppy or another dog from a breeder – giving a dog from a rescue a loving home is a wonderful way to benefit both you and your dog.
• Once you have adopted your emotional support dog, your mental healthcare provider will give you an ESA letter that states your need for an emotional support dog. You can use this letter to request your ESA accommodations at any housing unit or apartment you wish to live in.

Make sure to note that if you want to take advantage of housing rights with your emotional support dog, you will need a legitimate ESA letter. This letter will allow you to live alongside your companion dog without being subject to breed restrictions, pet rent, or other pet fees.

Are Emotional Support Dogs the Same as Service Dogs?

Emotional support dogs are not the same as service dogs, and while these companions do not legally need service dog certification they still benefit from being certified. Emotional support dogs only have federally protected housing rights, according to the Fair Housing Act, and these rights allow you to live alongside your emotional support dog no matter what. It’s important to understand your rights once you have adopted an emotional support dog so you can understand where to take your pup and how to live alongside them without discrimination.

Adding a Comforting Canine to Your Life

Adopting an emotional support dog is a beneficial step for many individuals who may suffer from certain mental health conditions or disabilities. With the comfort, companionship, and routine an emotional support dog provides, specific symptoms of a mental health condition or disability can be relieved. If you want to add one of these wonderful comforting canines to your life, speak with a mental healthcare provider licensed in your state and visit local shelters to learn about your options.

Image Source: Freepik