EMOTIONAL SUPPORT ANIMAL? HERE ARE THE DETAILS

 So many of us want to have a pet in our home. Yet, living in the Bay Area most renters will find few options for a pet-friendly apartment. This has lead to an increased request for an Emotional Support Animal (ESA). 

The role of an ESA can be broad, but the idea is that this pet  provides a needed coping mechanism for the pet owner. This could mean that having the pet can reduce anxiety, reduce depressive symptoms, allow for emotional safety following trauma, to name a few.

As many people have started to recognize the value of an ESA as well as the difficulty of finding pet-friendly apartments, many have turned to their therapist for a letter. The letter allows an individual with an ESA to circumvent the normal rule within the home, and with a letter from a mental health professional you can reside with your ESA. The landlord may say that it is NOT pet-friendly, but the ESA letter will supersede that.

Unfortunately this has been overused or abused by some. But, if you are in need of an ESA please contact your therapist or other mental health provider.