An ESA An emotional support animal (ESA) is a companion animal that provides therapeutic benefits to individuals with emotional or psychological disabilities. These animals offer comfort, support, and alleviation of symptoms to their owners.

An  ESA is different from a service animal because although both serve individuals with disabilities, an emotional support animal only provides comfort and emotional support.  It requires no special training. However, a service animal is trained to perform specific tasks for people with physical or mental impairments.

ESAs can be various types of animal, not limited to dogs or cats. Any animal that provides comfort and support to an individual with a disability can qualify as an ESA, including rabbits, birds, or miniature horses, among others.

You qualify for an ESA if you have a verifiable emotional or psychological disability diagnosed by a licensed mental health professional. They can provide an ESA letter, stating that the animal is necessary for your well-being.

Yes, according to the ADA, anxiety is one of the mental health conditions that may qualify you for an emotional support animal. An ESA for anxiety provides a range of soothing benefits including lower stress levels and an improved sense of well-being.

No, you do not need to register your emotional support animal. There is no official registry for emotional support animals. A legitimate ESA requires an ESA letter from a licensed mental health professional, created after a telehealth or in-person consultation, to be recognized as valid.

While a vest, leash, tag, or other accessories are not mandated for emotional support animals, they can help clarify that your animal is an emotional support animal, thereby reducing questions and intrusive approaches.

Yes, you can take your ESA to certain public places, but ESAs do not have the same level of public access rights as service animals. They are generally allowed in housing with no-pet policies.  However, they might not be permitted in all public places, such as restaurants, cinemas or food stores.

No, ESAs can not go anywhere, although they are granted certain privileges under the Fair Housing Act (FHA) and the Americans with Disabilities Act. For example, they are allowed to live in housing with their owners, even in housing with no-pets policies.

However, ESAs do not have the same level of access as service animals and are not permitted in public places where pets are generally not allowed, such as restaurants, stores, and other businesses.

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No, ESAs are not generally allowed in stores or other public places where pets are not permitted. Unlike service animals, ESAs do not have public access rights and are only granted special privileges in housing and air travel under specific laws.

When taking your ESA outside your residence or during travel, we recommend checking with the specific location or transportation provider regarding their policies regarding ESAs.

Yes, under the Fair Housing Act, individuals with verified ESAs can request an exemption from "no pets" policies in housing. The landlord must grant reasonable accommodation, allowing the ESA to reside with its owner in the housing unit.

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Yes, your landlord can deny your ESA  if the animal poses a direct threat to the safety or property of others or if it causes undue financial hardship for the landlord.

However, landlords are generally required to make reasonable accommodations for individuals with ESAs under the Fair Housing Act.

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While ESAs are not automatically granted access to hotels or Airbnb-type accommodation, some establishments may accommodate them if you inform them in advance and provide the necessary documentation, including your valid  ESA letter. 

However, it's essential to check with the specific hotel or Airbnb host about their pet policies and whether they allow ESAs. Keep in mind that the rules may vary from one location to another and may be subject to change.

No, your ESA can’t fly for free. Under the Air Carrier Access Act (ACAA), ESAs do not have the same rights as service animals so are not typically allowed to fly with their owners in the cabin of the aircraft. 

It is essential to contact the airline ahead of time and follow their specific guidelines to ensure a smooth and hassle-free travel experience with your ESA which will typically travel under the airline's policy for travel with pets and is likely to be subject to additional fees.

Yes,  there are airline restrictions for ESAs. Since 2021, US airlines have not been required to accommodate emotional support animals. As a result, most airlines no longer allow ESAs on flights, unless they travel under the same terms and conditions applied to regular pets.

Yes, ESA letters typically have an expiration date. The validity period of an ESA letter may vary depending on the specific regulations of the organization or healthcare professional that issues it. 

Most ESA letters, including those issued by Free My Paws through Felicitails, are valid for one year from the date of issue, after which you will need to renew it to continue enjoying the privileges it provides.

Yes, you really need to renew your ESA letter every 12 months to ensure that it will continue to be accepted as valid.  

Although the Fair Housing Act and U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development does not provide guidance around the issue of ESA letter expiration, in our experience it is helpful to renew your ESA letter annually for a few reasons:

• Landlords and property managers may refuse to accept an outdated ESA letter that was issued a long time ago. Renewing your letter allows you to supply current documentation that verifies your need for an emotional support animal is still relevant.
• Our clinicians may not be able to validate an ESA letter that is expired should a landlord or property manager request verification. An annual consultation with a clinician to discuss your needs for an ESA letter is advisable in order to keep your licensed clinician’s recommendations current.

Renewing your letter is easy through our seamless consultation process.

An ESA letter must be written and signed by a licensed mental health professional, such as a psychiatrist, psychologist, licensed clinical social worker (LCSW), or licensed therapist. The professional must be actively treating the individual's mental or emotional disability and should state in the letter that an ESA is a necessary accommodation to alleviate symptoms of the disability.

Our ESA letters contain the following:

• The official letterhead of the mental health professional.
• Their business, contact information, and signature.
• Their license information - allowing anyone to check the status of their license.
• Their confirmation that you meet the definition of a disability and recommendation for an emotional support animal as part of an overall prescription to support your mental health.

Yes, we can confirm that our letters for ESAs and PSAs are fully compliant with the Air Carrier Access Act and the Fair Housing Act. These are the two most important laws that regulate the terms by which individuals may make use of an ESA Letter for mental health purposes and live with a designated emotional support animal in situations where regular pets are not permitted.

Our vetted network of licensed and qualified mental health therapists have the credentials required to carry out a consultation and write a certified ESA Letter as part of an overall mental health prescription..

Our website is fully HIPAA Compliant, ensuring that your information is protected according to federal law.

The cost of obtaining an ESA letter can vary depending on several factors, including the fees charged by the mental health professional, the complexity of the evaluation, and additional services provided. On average, the cost of an ESA letter can range from around $80 to $200 or more.

Start by completing our easy online questionnaire, and schedule your telehealth consultation  with one of our licensed therapists. If you need an ESA for your mental health prescription, your  Free My Paws Letter will typically be issued within 24 hours.

After speaking with a licensed mental health therapist and receiving your own ESA Letter, all you need to do is designate your specific emotional support animal. It can be any breed or species, an existing pet or a new pet you’ve adopted or rescued. You do not need to go to a specialized breeder or trainer. 

However, It is important to keep in mind that an ESA Letter is only valid for one animal, so you can't use a single letter to cover multiple pets.

You can have as many ESAs as you need to support your daily life. While the laws regarding ESAs can vary from one jurisdiction to another, in general, there is no strict limit on the number of ESAs an individual can have. 

However, you’ll need to demonstrate that each ESA is necessary to provide emotional support for your disability, and each animal should be covered in the ESA letter issued by a licensed mental health professional.

No, your ESA does not need to be specially trained. Unlike service animals, ESAs are not required to undergo specialized training to perform specific tasks. The primary role of an ESA is to provide comfort and emotional support to individuals with mental or emotional disabilities. 

However, it is essential for ESAs to display good behavior and not cause disruptions in public or housing environments. Proper training and socialization can help ensure that your ESA is well-behaved in various situations.

The Felicitails refund and cancellation policy ensures that our Free My Paws team of certified  mental health therapists can effectively allocate their support to those in need.

Once signed, your order is non-refundable, unless you meet the following two reasons: 

• You do not qualify for an ESA letter after your consultation as determined by the licensed mental health professional. In this case your 100% refund will be processed immediately.
• If your landlord does not accept your ESA letter after filing a complaint with HUD. If the outcome of the complaint does not support the validity of your letter, we will process a full refund with immediate effect.

Yes, sadly ESA owners need to be aware of ESA letter scams. These fraudulent sites claim to provide ESA Letters, but these are not  legitimate, and do not comply with US federal and state laws. 

The most typical fraud we've come across are sites that claim to certify service animals (not emotional support animals) without any of the formal testing or accreditation required for that process. The US government has started to crack down on these types of fraud and will impose hefty fines – or even prison sentences– for convicted  offenders.

Here are the clues to help you spot a scam site: 

You don’t have to speak with a mental health professional live by phone or video. Legitimate ESA Letter suppliers are required by law to ensure that you speak with a licensed mental health professional over the phone or video. 

If a web-based company simply asks you to answer questions using a quiz or "exam" but doesn't ask you to schedule a live consultation afterwards, it is probably a scam. 

If you are guaranteed a letter without a consultation, it is definitely a scam!

Free My Paws, through Felicitails does not guarantee the diagnosis you are seeking. Instead, we refer you to a highly-experienced and licensed mental health therapist who conducts a live evaluation and provides legitimate ESA letters according to their professional assessment of your condition. 

In the event that your diagnosis does not require the support of an ESA, you will receive a 100% refund of your prepayment without delay.

Protect Yourself from Scams and Purchase your Free My Paws ESA letter with confidence from Felicitails!