Can Your Pet Be an Emotional Support Animal? An ESA Registration Guide

You love your pet, and you want to be able to take them everywhere. Registering them as an emotional support animal or 'ESA' will do the trick, right?

Turns out it's not so simple as it seems, due to various legal challenges and regulation changes in recent years.

Thanks to growing reports of pet owners abusing the system and incidents involving untrained pets throughout the late 2010s, an ESA certificate is no longer considered a free pass today in the 2020s. Airlines have added more restrictions to their service dog and other animal policies. Many restaurants, stores, workplaces, and schools have cracked down as well.

If you’re a pet owner looking to register your dog (or cat) as an emotional support animal, the good news is that you aren’t necessarily out of luck. But instead of filling out the first online ESA registration form you see and showing up at the airport with your pet in a vest, it’s crucial to proceed with caution. And whether or not you have your pal registered as an emotional support animal, it's always important to practice responsible pet owner etiquette in public settings. 

To avoid unnecessary challenges, take some time now to learn what exactly ESAs are defined as, where they’re allowed, and your legal rights that apply.

10 ESA pet FAQs

Before we cover how to get your pet registered as an emotional support animal, let’s go over 10 important therapy pet and ESA frequently asked questions.

1. What is an emotional support animal?

The exact definition of an ESA varies by business, service program, or even region. However, the general description is an animal that helps keep their human owner calm and able to navigate potentially triggering scenarios. In some cases, emotional support pets are prescribed by a psychiatrist or therapy program. Providing emotional support and stress relief is supposed to be the animal’s primary purpose.

The term “therapy pet” is often used interchangeably with emotional service animal, but the two technically refer to different types of animals. Therapy pets are primarily regular pets who help provide comfort to people on the side (like a dog who is brought around to meet with hospital patients). Owners of therapy pets typically don’t suffer from emotional duress themselves.

2. Can a cat be an emotional support animal?

The short answer is yes, cats can be emotional supports animals. However, it’s important to know that cats may not be recognized as service animals everywhere, and there is no law that requires them to be. Many psychiatric organizations that prescribe or recommend these animals will only offer ESA letters for dogs.

3. Does my pet qualify to be an emotional support animal?

Maybe. The question should not be “does my pet qualify as an ESA,” but “Do I qualify for an emotional support animal?” While getting a certificate for an ESA pet online is fairly easy through different services, attaining a valid ESA letter that is accepted with landlords is a bit more challenging. In most cases, you will need to be diagnosed with a mental health condition that can be eased by the calm presence of an animal.

People who suffer from any of the conditions listed below may be good ESA candidates:

• Anxiety
• Depression
• Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)
• Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)

To learn more about whether or not you may qualify, reach out to a licensed mental health professional.

4. How much does it cost to register an ESA?

It depends. Although there are many online services advertising ESA registration for anywhere between $30 and $100, these often just include certificates and ID cards that are not actually legally binding.

You’ll need to get an ESA letter through a mental health professional in order to have an emotional support animal that is recognized with landlords and has better chances of entering public transportation and businesses. An assessment for this can cost around $150 or more, but some charity programs may help qualified individuals get it for free or at a reduced rate.

5. Do ESA pets require training?

No. Unlike Seeing Eye dogs or other working working animals, ESAs are not required to undergo training. Instead, their mere presence is considered comforting to their owner. That said, some emotional support animals do still undergo training in order to learn to recognize their human’s emotions and intervene when appropriate.

6. Can emotional support animals go everywhere?

No, ESA pets cannot go everywhere and are subject to individual business policies. Contrary to popular belief, there is no law that prohibits them being turned away from public transportation, stores, restaurants, and public spaces.

In 2020, the United States Department of Transportation (DOT) ruled that airlines are able to turn away pets for a number of reasons. However, as of 2024, some still accept them if a letter from a licensed psychiatrist is provided beforehand. Air Canada banned ESAs in 2021. It's also worth noting that in 2024, US Border Control enacted stricter rules for transporting pets into the country, regardless of service or ESA status.

Many ESA registration services offer ID badges and certificates that identify pets as emotional support animals. However, it’s worth knowing that these do not serve any legal access purpose regardless of what is printed on them.

7. Are ESAs and therapy pets considered service animals?

No. Both emotional support animals and therapy pets are not considered service animals, though some trained service animals may also serve either purpose.

According to the DOT’s 2020 ruling, a service animal is defined as “a dog, regardless of breed or type, that is individually trained to do work or perform tasks for the benefit of a qualified individual with a disability, including a physical, sensory, psychiatric, intellectual, or other mental disability.”

The Americans with Disabilities Act (Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)) explicitly states that “emotional support, therapy, comfort, or companion animals” are not considered service animals or covered under ADA law. Service dogs are not legally required to have ID cards or visual advertisement of their status.

The Human Rights Act of Canada does not mention service pets or ESAs. However, individual provinces have their own definitions and laws regarding laws regarding service animals. animals.

8. Do landlords have to accept emotional support animals?

Yes. In the United States, federal mandates that landlords and property managers accept both service and emotional support animals. But there’s a catch. In order for the animal to be permitted on a property that otherwise denies pets, many landlords require an ESA letter from a doctor.

As US Service US Service Animals states on its website, “The [ESA] ID Card, in addition to a vest, collar tag, and leash, many times go unquestioned. However, in order to receive federal legal protection for you and your ESA, Federal Law requires that you present your prescription letter for an emotional support animal to your landlord.”

Landlords who don't accept ESAs could find themselves in hot water. Specifically, they can face charges of disability discrimination. In July 2023, state of New Jersey Attorney General Matthew J. Platkin and the Division on Civil Rights (DCR) announced that they found probably cause in three cases where landlords were accused of denying tenants' emotional support animals. In all three cases, emotional support animals were denied in spite of the legally required medical documentation being provided.

Keep in mind that you will still be held responsible for any damage or incidents caused by your ESA at a rental property.

9. How can I get a housing letter for my ESA?

In order to get a housing letter for your emotional support pet (also known as an “ESA letter”), you must speak with a licensed mental health professional. There are some online services advertising ESA letters, but proceed with caution as not all may be valid. It’s best to speak with a known licensed psychiatric doctor to apply for your ESA housing letter.

10. Are emotional support animals eligible for tax deductions?

No, ESAs are not tax deductible in either the United States or Canada.

How to register your pet as an emotional support animal

Again, you cannot technically register your pet as an emotional support animal. Be careful around services advertising registration, as they may not provide any valid ESA letter. That said, there are specific steps you should take to get an ESA letter for housing:

• Look up licensed mental health professionals in your area who provide ESA letters. If you’re unsure, give them a call.
• Make an appointment for a mental health assessment. To help expedite things, make it clear ahead of time that you’re interested in an emotional support animal.*
• Once you receive your letter, make copies of it and stow them in a safe location.
• Send your landlord a copy of the letter. This should be done prior to you moving your pet in.
• Sign any pet agreements your landlord asks you to sign. However, it’s important to know that while ESAs are not exempt from pet deposits under the Federal Fair Housing Act, you should not be charged additional monthly fees (like pet rent).
• Consult with an attorney specializing in local tenant law if you are unsure about your landlord’s actions being legal.

*Do not harass any mental health professional who declines to give you a letter, either before or after an assessment.

Tips for bringing your ESA around in public

• Ensure your pet is trained trained properly to be calm and obedient in public spaces, including around other people and animals.
• Do not assume your emotional support animal is allowed anywhere. Always ask first and look for signs that may either permit or prohibit them.
• Look up pet-friendly establishments ahead of time.
• Do not get combative with any staff who refuse to allow your ESA on the premises. Many have strict rules regarding pets due to past bad experiences, and arguing will not improve the situation.
• Exit any areas quickly where your pet may be aggravating (or aggravated by) another animal or person. If your ESA attacks someone, you can be held liable.

Before you go anywhere with your ESA, you’ll want to make sure they’re protected from the unexpected with pet insurance. Now that you’ve taken the time to learn about enrolling your pet as an emotional support animal, take just a few more minutes to learn about pet health coverage and how it can help with your pal's veterinary care.