The Issue: Many therapists, doctors, social workers, and nurses don’t know what to do when their patient asks them to verify an emotional support animal and provide documentation. ESA letters have legal significance for individuals but not all healthcare providers know how to wri [...]
Yes, an emotional support animal can be left unattended at home for reasonable periods of time. In fact, it is quite common for ESA owners to leave their animals at home while they go to work, school, or run errands. Of course, no pet should be left at home for too long — every o [...]
Data from the U.S. Census Bureau shows increases in the 65-year-old and above group. By 2030, about 70 million U.S. residents will be aged 65 or over. This rapid growth demonstrates the need to find care and quality-of-life interventions for the elderly. Comfort animals [...]
Why costs can be unpredictable: Before giving someone an ESA letter, a licensed professional must first assess the client’s emotional and mental health. The total bill can reach several hundred or even thousands of dollars for multiple sessions at a private clinic. The final tab [...]
Technically: No, it’s not essential.But: It’s still probably a better idea to disclose. Renters with emotional support animals (ESA) often face a quandary when signing a new lease, especially if they are moving to a no-pets building. Even though ESA owners are protected aga [...]
The Beehive State is a great place to live for pets and people. A Gallup Poll over a decade ago once placed Utah as the “Best Place to Live in the Future.” Presently, the designation has proven to be true. Utah is known for its natural beauty, safe living environments, and strong [...]
No, emotional support animals (ESA) and service animals like psychiatric service dogs do not have the same rights when it comes to travel or going to a restaurant. That is a common misconception. The same goes for landlords who try to reject an emotional support animal because th [...]
This article was last updated on May 14, 2025, to reflect the updates in ESA regulations If you rent your apartment or house, federal law protects your right to have an emotional support animal even if your lease says no pets are allowed. That’s because, according to HUD, the Fai [...]
The short answer: Likely no, but there are times when a landlord can properly deny housing for a tenant’s ESA even if the tenant has an ESA letter. Example: a landlord can legally reject an ESA if the animal has caused significant property damage or there is evidence the animal i [...]
What does it mean? Some landlords do not have to comply with federal emotional support animal rules. The “Mrs. Murphy” exception exempts owner-occupied buildings with 4 or less units. An owner-occupied building may also be known as a live-in landlord. Where did it come from? "Mrs [...]