Just when I thought my depression was going to get the better of me during the pandemic, a scroungy looking, half baby teeth gone pupper showed up at my doorstep. She is far from service animal, but she helped me a lot. She gets me out of the house every day and she makes me smile more than any human I interact with.
She's probably not a puppy anymore now lol but that's such a sweet story 😍 That's the wonderful thing about animals, they won't judge you and a dog is so loyal 💗
As long as you don't try to take it to non pet friendly stores or restaurants. That is illegal. ESA does not legally have public access according to federal ADA laws.
It cracks me up when the airlines don't want to support ESAs but their cool with annoying as babies and kids who are crying at the top of their lungs and pooping their diapers to fk up the entire cabin.... but I can't bring my dog who's trained, kind, and doesn't even bark at a mouse.... this world I live in...
When my dad had a severe brain injury after a brain haemorrhage I took his greyhound up to see him most days in the unit he was in, it did him wonders. I also used to go around and visit other patients in the ward as well, and they all loved it and used to say it was the highlight of their day, and Yaris (the dog) loved all the attention as well…lol. Never underestimate the power of a dog.
An animal* Any animal could do just as good. My pet pigeon makes me feel instantly better, he cures my depression and anxiety instantly. Soon I will be training him for emotional support as i finally found something that makes me feel safe and happy without medicine
All these people commenting "my therapist recommended an emotional support animal" - why is this even a thing? Why isn't there a hard line in the sand, and it's either #1. No disability - therapist can recommend a pet. No special treatment from airlines, restaurants, hotels or housing. Or #2. Disability - Therapist can recommend a SERVICE dog. Why the grey area of emotional support pets and the UA-cam ads promoting the sketchy online certificates from licensed MDs? The world survived for centuries without the term "emotional support animal" until the last few years, I think this needs to change, at minimum for the sake of the truly disabled & their necessary accommodations. People with ESAs don't realize the burden they're placing on people with diagnosed disabilities. I'm glad you mention that pets bring all of us comfort, because that is very true. Pets feel like children to us, and we do fall in love with them. Why only call them "emotional support" for certain people and not others? It just seems wrong, we provide them emotional support, & they do the same for us in return. The whole industry is selfish and needs to be banned or totally changed somehow.
As a disabled person, I might actually be able to answer this one for you. I was prescribed an esa (a cat) for worsening symptoms by a physician that I had been seeing for years, not some bogus certificate place. I always assumed I would get a service dog, but I am not in the right place in my life for one. It would be cruel to keep a dog in the size apartment that I have, especially since I'm not active enough in my current condition to care for one. I do hope for that one day. I'm not going to give out personal medical details to you, but you have to believe me when I say I do much much better with my cat in the house, and I can tell you this in terms of psychiatric symptoms. I would never take him anywhere he did not belong. That's unfair to others and unfair to him him being an ESA allows me to waive the apartment fee, which would cause me financial hardship as a non-working adult, and allows him to keep his claws in a place that otherwise demands declawing. If you don't know about declawing look it up. It's barbaric. So yeah, as a disabled person who has actually researched service animals and hopes to be a Handler one day, I can tell you that you really have no right to get between me and my ESA. The problem with esa's is not that they exist, it's that people are irresponsible with them. And that hard Line in the Sand that you speak of would render me ineligible for an esa, as I am also disabled. And I've already told you why that would be a problem , because I can't Harbor a dog . Talk to a responsible Esa owner and you will realize why they are necessary. I don't think any Esa should be allowed in public, but your Hardline stance is part of the problem. There are several things that we can do to deter esas in public, and a lot of the issues with them stem from a lack of knowledge of the Ada on the part of businesses. The Ada gives the explicit right to kick out unruly animals, and if businesses bothered to read about and adhere to the ada, they would know this. So yeah, you are certainly not speaking for this disabled person. I know what's been a year, but I hope that you read this and broaden your mind a bit. I understand your frustration, but I think there's Nuance to the situation that you are not seeing.
Good info but, as a therapist who does evaluate people for the necessity of an ESA, there is one bit of info that needs correction…an ESA letter DOES NOT allow someone to bring a pet into a restaurant. The laws around ESA animals apply to housing specifically. A service animal can go anywhere but an ESA cannot. Also, sometime people think that because they have an ESA letter, they can use this at hotels/motels but they can’t as the laws relate to housing not lodging. Thanks for the info on this channel…I give the info to clients so they can learn more outside of the therapy office.
Thank you so much for these corrections. Very rarely do ESA handlers take the time to train their pets or hold them to the same standards as a service animal, which is especially important in settings such as restaurants and hotels.
@@Ausgar-yc1yl Service dogs can go anywhere the general public is allowed so long as it does not fundamentally alter the goods, services or programs offered. This includes places that require a sterile environment in the hospital such as surgery rooms and burn units. At a zoo, service animals can be restricted from areas where the animals on display are the natural prey or natural predators of dogs, where the presence of a dog would be disruptive, causing the displayed animals to behave aggressively or become agitated. They cannot be restricted from other areas of the zoo. So, broadly speaking, yes, service dogs can go everywhere. However, emotional support animals (ESA's) do not have ANY public access rights whatsoever. They can only go where normal pets are allowed. Since an ESA is just a regular pet that happens to also have the job of comforting their owner and they are not task trained, trained in public access or held to any standards for obedience.
Pets and other animals like a cat does relieve anxiety and stress. They love you unconditionally so you trust them completely where humans you can be unsure of their sincerity. I believe that you open your heart completely to a pet and they touch you deep within your soul. Thankyou for this video Dr. Tracey.
Very true. While I was in high school and going through intense abuse from my mother and stepfather, my cat was the only creature who showed me unconditional love. Without her, my cPTSD symptoms would’ve been much worse-although it’s still pretty bad and I’ve been in treatment since ‘18. Having had her to cuddle, care for and to nurture saved my sanity 1000%. (When she passed last Halloween, I fell apart hard, lost my job, but have since rebounded after having to learn how to live without depending on her always being there when home. Since, I’ve adopted a puppy who is sooo affectionate.)
@@di_kid00 I feel the same way about both my cats in the past and the cat i have now. I too have been surrounded by disfunction and abuse and my cat was the only one there for me. The cat i have now has saved my life and stood by my side and when i was at my lowest she would wake me up at dawn meowing to wake me up, walk with me down the street a block too the methadone clinic and wait for me to walk one block back after dosing and then walk home with me and i would then feed her. So she would literally wake me up and make personally make sure i took my medicine every morning. She is a huge part in me being able to manage my PTSD.
Im seeing a psychiatrist and a psychotherapist for a severe depressive episode, Im on antidepressants and have meds for panic attacks. I cant imagine anyone caring about the fact that the cat I adopted helps me a lot with feeling better with depression and anxiety I experience daily. Im scared of needing to move cause a lot of landlords dont allow pets, and I can say without a shadow of a doubt I would be in much worse shape without my cat in my life.
Based on what you've told us, you would easily qualify, and would have an easy time documenting. It's not exactly about who "cares" that you have depression. A LL isn't supposed to "care", in the sense that he's not family. But, he does have to comply with laws. This video and most comments are about people that don't truly qualify as disabled, and are just trying to finagle an ESA to keep a beloved pet.
As a guard at a major museum in New York City, we have a serious problem with people claiming to have emotional support animals when they in actuality got the harness that says "service animal" off of Amazon. In fact, I overheard a visitor who was talking to a person who was an impostor with an "emotional support" animal say, 'Oh we should get a harness that says service animal so we can take our dog to the museum'. These so-called service animals wreak havoc in the museum. They start fights with real trained service dogs. They're not supposed to BE in the museum and we're getting overrun with these things. We have a K-9 unit. I know what a real service dog does. No, it's not the same as a disability dog, but I know enough not to pet Vale because she's WORKING! The only thing I ever got out of dealing with so-called emotional support dogs are that people are supremely selfish and they ruin it for people who DO need a highly trained dog to survive. I really don't have respect for the emotional support pet crowd because it makes life so much harder for our disabled visitors.
@@RogueBagel If an emotional support animal is a genuine working dog, I have no problem with that. The problem is that the impostors have ruined the the name emotional support animal to the point that both impostors and legit have been irrevocably lumped together in the minds of the staff. It's tarnished the name "emotional support animal". It causes problems in terms of dealing with both the dog, the owner, and other visitors who do monkey see, monkey do. It's only now that I see there are legitimate working emotional support dog. Bottom line is, and I hate to say this, if you have a working dog, say up front that it's a working dog for the disabled as you would say a seeing eye dog." Emotional support dog" doesn't mean much anymore because of these impostors. At least not in my fellow colleagues' eyes.
I love this comment. My service dog and I have to deal with all the fakes every time we go somewhere. I just wish more businesses cared enough to monitor these fakes. I have lost track of how many times these fakes have tried to attack my dog.
@bethhayes8427 Actually, my museum does care. However, we're hamstrung with laws that are as strong as vapor trails. All we're allowed to ask the owner is, "Is this a service dog? What does it do?" That is the extent of the law. I know that those disgusting fake ESA licenses are not legally binding. I know those phony licenses and certificates ruins it for legit disabled people. Unfortunately, there's nothing beyond the two questions that allows us a decision to kick them out. And if we do kick out an ESA, out come the lawyers. So your job and that of every real person in need of a real service animal has to join a group with disabilities and dogs and get politically active. You have to educate the public, and lobby local, state and federal governments to codify into law a clear, unconfusing law that businesses can follow without fear of litigation from ESA people. Moreover, let people know that you have the right to enjoy your animal that can cost up to $30,000 whereas an ESA is an untrained regular pet scooped off the street from somewhere. Nothing will change unless you band together and fight. I've managed to change things as an activist, so I know change is possible. It could be as easy as getting a stamp on your driver's license or ID and some laws for businesses to follow. You show ID all the time anyway. So fight back!
That’s why some places have started going the, “if the dog is well behaved and is properly trained it can come in.” That way the is it or is it not a service dog isn’t an issue, as you can kick out a disruptive service dog, so it just makes things easier.
Thank you Dr. Tracey. As a former case manager, my clients' parents were constantly trying to manipulate us into getting them an emotional support letter just because they didn't want to pay the pet deposit or get rid of the dog. You explained the liabilities beautifully and hopefully more people will understand the risk that they ask mental health providers to take
I didn't know the housing complex i lived in allowed pets with a deposit. They seemed very intent in the paperwork that pets WERE NOT ALLOWED....without a doctor's note. I saved up money to cover a deposit and a visit to my doctor for the note, because I was suffering anxiety due to auditory hallucinations. Having pets before allowed me to write off weird sounds as the pets goofing off. I had no clue the risk I was asking my doctor to take. And found out after that the note was to waive the pet deposit..... which was not what the housing manager explained to us when we asked.... I'm glad it didn't cause the doctor to lose her job. At least the unnecessary doctor visit was cheaper than the deposit...
@@VioFax Yes, I had an apartment manager who charged me for major damages I asked them about when I moved in. Now, I make sure to put something in writing, if there are damages when I move in, and get proof of mailing.
I have severe CPTSD with severe anxiety and dissassociation..I have been declared by not only my doctor but social security as disabled as soon as I became an adult at 21...I'm 54 now...I have an emotional support animal a cat named Tigger...He travels in a pet backpack that he travels with me...I keep my psychiatrists letter with him at all times that Tigger he helps me to keep my anxiety at a manageable level..when I feel my anxiety ramping up in certain situations it helps for me to at least put my hand in the bag and at least pet him...if it gets really bad I go into the bathroom and hold him for a bit..He is like a grounding for me so I can continue to function..
I’m terrified of dogs. So I don’t go places where there are likely to be many dogs and probably dogs off leads. I like dogs but am too scared. So that’s my choice to avoid those places so I don’t inconvenience other people by getting upset. I get extra frightened if I am somewhere I didn’t expect to see a dog. These dogs however are usually clearly service dogs and I can deal with that and calm down because I know they are so well trained and will not bother with me or other people. People using and sometimes abusing the emotional support animal reason is different. The animals, which could be a variety of things, behave differently and unpredictably. This can be very distressing for others also just trying to live. Not all animals are “therapeutic” to all people. But the type of person to abuse the use of an emotional support animal is usually the type of person to not think about others point of view or why it’s different.
This is such a necessary video, especially going out of the way to define the validity of psychiatric service animals and what exactly makes them a service animal! I want to also jump in and add on, on the topic of liability, that untrained emotional support animals in public spaces greatly put other people and service animals at risk. I've fortunately never had an incident, but I know other service dog handlers who've had dangerous encounters with ambivalent or clueless pet owners letting their pets charge and attempt to attack service dogs without intervening to correct their animal or break up the confrontation. One of the requirements of an SD is that they can't have any bite incidents (where they bite another animal or human) and can't be threatening/aggressive/otherwise violent. Worst case scenarios: the dog doesn't fight back and is horrifically maimed, the dog does fight back and no longer is protected by the ADA as a valid service animal, or the dog does come out of the encounter physically unscathed but traumatized by the ordeal to the point where they either have to go back to basics and be resocialized or potentially be retired altogether if they can't recover. Service dogs are a limited resource: program wait lists are anywhere between 1 - 4 years and privately trained service dogs take a minimum to 2 years to train, which adds up to $$$$s in the base price of the pup, the training and the basic care of the dog with no guarantee that the dog will have the right temperament and drive to be a service animal and may need to be washed out/retired. Careless people who bring their untrained pets in public are risking the safety and independence of disabled people, no other way to phrase it. If anything ever happened to my dog because of another person's negligence, I would be virtually stranded and totally compromised in my independence, because my dog being mobility-assistance trained is what allows me to be in public by myself without relying on a human carer (who are even more limited resources).
THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU! THANK YOU for taking the time to do this video. As a pet professional for nearly 20 years, I have so many clients that don't understand the difference, the legalities, the requirements. I hate seeing this being abused, it makes it more difficult for those who really need it. Thank you for the clarity. I will be sharing this video to my colleagues and clients. ❤️❤️❤️❤️
Dr. Marks did a great job covering this. As a psychologist, (and a animal lover) often explain to people though I believe that many animals can provide emotional support-- I am trained to diagnose and treatment mental health conditions. I have no training to evaluate if an animal has the appropriate training to accompany them in social environments/or not be destructive in the home they rent etc. I leave those type of evaluations to the experts that provide such training and certification. I wish that this was more widely available--and if so, us professionals might feel more comfortable in verifying the patient's mental health diagnosis that supports the need for the animal.
From a flight attendant 👩🏾✈️ There was a lawsuit in 2019 in Delta that involved a passenger who was bite by an emotional support animal and had to get stitches. Hence why the airlines are more strict on what animals they allow onboard
I wish cats were included because it's been scientifically proven that a cat's purr has actual healing effects. Cat's can be just as if not more intuitive about their owner's emotional state. I worked in a nursing home that brought cat's into the facility for the residents. Even people who "didn't like cats: would warm up to them and enjoy their company. Sometimes just watching a cat play with another cat or even just watch the birds outside the windows was a comfort and put a smile on a typical blank face.
I used to visit nursing homes a lot as a kid. My great grandmother loved our reactions to the birds. She point out the nests and tell us what the residents named the birds (they had no official names) I also remember her talking about the dogs and cats they brought in. We were there when they had a little terrier. He was a sweetheart, and I'm not a dog person. The nursing homes that have no animals (or worse empty birdcages) feel very.... devoid of life? My experiences were usually the nursing homes without animals of any sort were more likely to abuse their residents. You could tell the ones where the birds were moved for cleaning, and which were vacant for a long time... they don't collect much dust, but have a 'look'. I really hope my grandma reconsiders her choice of nursing home, because it's one of those bad ones, and they've neglected her before, though they gaslit her into believing it was everyone else caring for her that was causing her harm.... not their lack of physical therapy. But the one her mom was in was very expensive. The Medicare wing is not as nice, but run just as well. And she'd be right next to her hospital.
It is much harder to guarantee the behavior of a cat though. Cats aren't untrainable, but it is easier to train a dog. Part of the covenant with society for service animals is that if you allowed to take this animal into places animals are not usually allowed, you promise the animal won't cause a disturbance or damage.
Include in what? Cars are considered as emotional support animals, but unfortunately not service animals although some are very helpful in alerting owners when something is wrong, and can also be trained to walk on leashes. Not sure if any were ever trained to be support animals.
@@FacebookAunt cats can’t cause serious damage if they attack, therapy dogs in hospitals and schools have mauled people. Dogs are so anxious and barely capable of being trained, they just love food and will do anything to get it. Never seen an animal always hungry like dogs, they are an abomination.
As a flight attendant who loves animals, I have to follow the rules and be considerate of other passengers who may not like animals. If it is not a service animal , the animal is automatically deemed a pet in cabin and must stay inside their carrier. If removed from carrier, the passenger can be banned from flying with the airline.
The are also records of pets dying, "getting lost" or injured when not traveling on the main cabin, so I also understand when pet owners are weary about leaving their furry friends in cargo. We are still very far from having transport and facilities that are truly pet friendly. Hopefully that'll happen one day
I was a volunteer coordinator for Pets on Wheels,Inc. Non-Profit Pet Therapy Program in PG County Maryland during the 1990's ( program serves 9 Maryland counties and 2 Virginia counties and my county would serve DC if pet visits were requested) My county served 40 facilities, mostly long term care, assisted living, adult day care, a mental health facility and 2 special schools. The pet visits,mostly dogs were loved and the people who were visited regulary really showed positive reactions, even the people who had trouble communicating or who were confused with dementia or brain damage issues. I have so many positive memories and stories of the benefits of the pet therapy visits. We had pet health, temperment and behavior standards and volunteer orientation and first visits were accompanied by an experienced volunteer or myself and volunteers were under the Activity Director's supervision while in the facility.
This is right on time. I love this stray cat 🐱 I named him Garfield 😻 I feed him and when he left I thought he was gone for good. I became worried and had no idea how attached I was to him. It was truly shocking how sad I got. When he returned I was so over joyed...he really brings me joy. 🐱
This was great information that I am sharing with all my disabled friends and family. When on a plane I recall someone had a 🦚 no lie...no I know why💯💝💗Thank you
I have Autism and I have a very special parrot (conure) as my emotional support animal and she has been with me through the toughest times and she’s always been with me ever since we met, and she’s also my best friend and we go everywhere together and do almost everything together, she’s extremely quiet for a parrot and the only time she a little noisy is when I start to feel comfortable in any way and she gives me a little chirp saying that I’ll be okay and then she goes from my shoulder to my chest and chirps softly then until she calms me down by letting me pet her until I feel better and she even felt the nervousness of an old lady in my doctor’s office and she jumped off my shoulder and went and laid her little head against the old lady’s chest and I first thought that my little parrot was acting up for some reason, but when the old lady petted her the old lady calmed down in about 5-10 minutes and then she returned to my shoulder, I have never seen her do that for anyone else, so I thought that I would share this.
Honestly, then you should obtain a psychiatric service dog. Your parrot, no matter how well behaved, does NOT have public access in the United States to go anywhere / everywhere with you. Your ESA can be in pet friendly places.
Thank you so much for this information! First off, I am dog owner and do love him as though he is my own child. HOWEVER, this whole ‘service animal’ thing has gotten out of control. Good to know that the airlines have made changes to stop the people that are clearly taking advantage of this service. I’d hate to be the person that had to sit next to the passenger that has to have ‘Stanley’ the potbelly pig oinking and squealing the entire flight 🐷
Fortunately, lauries, the pig thing is now eliminated from airlines, as the video explained. But there may be other places where it's still permitted. "Service animal" is not out of control. People who claim a pet is an ESA is out of control. People that have a legitimate ESA but claim it's a service animal is out of control. People that either don't understand the difference, or deliberately try to deceive are the problem.
Thanks for this‼️‼️ So many fakes out there that just makes it harder for actually service dogs and their handlers‼ There are thousands of scam/fake websites offering service dog credentials and fake vests🤦🏼♀️
I didn’t understand emotional support animals until my roommate pretended to have one in our non pet friendly apartment. It was not allowed and he was only there for a week but he calmed down my PTSD and OCD, my brain hasn’t been quiet my whole life and it ruined my life and being around cats helped me so much. Now I’m about to move to a pet friendly apartment to get an ESA cat. c:
Thanks Dr. Marks for clarifying this. I'm an Aspie " I know they don't call us that anymore" but for reference sake. I used to go to the VA for help, but honestly the only thing their interested in is trying the latest drug on you or putting you in group. I have serious social / people anxiety. I do my best to avoid interaction with others, particularly in public, by choosing when and where I shop, and so on. I once asked about an emotional support dog, specifically my toy poodle that never leaves my side to be that animal. The psych nurse assigned to me absolutely refused and I never brought it up again. She does help me keep my emotions in check and I dread the day I loose her.
I can’t understand how anyone could live with themselves by pretending to have a disability just because they don’t feel like paying for an animal… it just isn’t fair, it’s so selfish!!
As someone who is disabled and has a legitimate task trained service dog I'll just say this -- if I could pass off my disabilities to someone else and leave my dog at home whenever I left the house then I'd be thrilled!!! Yeah, dogs can be cute and get attention, but if you need attention that badly then you have other issues. Being disabled and requiring a service animal to be in public is not fun. We are stared at by everyone, half the people want to stop us and ask questions, random people will pet the dog without asking and of course because of all the ESA's in public (legally ESA's do not have any public access in the United States) our medical equipment is constantly at risk. I desperately wish more people understood that pretending to be disabled is just wrong.
I didn’t know how bad I needed an ESA until I went to college. I grew up with dogs. I had a lot of stress and trauma. When I got to college I had another large trauma. It caused me sleep problems. My school therapist recommended me to get a support animal. Mentally I got worse until I got my Guinea pigs. It put me into a severe depression when they passed(both caught a disease). I got a dog and a few month ago and he’s helped a lot. I’m planning on training him to be a psychiatric service dog to help with my GAD and cPTSD symptoms. Those symptoms got so bad that I had to drop out my last year.
The way you went about describing how the term disability can be applied or rejected based on who's asking and what there is to gain reminded me how this applies to both mental and physical disabilities. In France, even though I can't see the details of my own hand when my arm is half extended before me if I'm not wearing glasses, I'm not considered as a disabled person because I have glasses. This means the State and Medical authorities don't take into account the possibility of having a problem with my glasses at any time or the fact that even with them there are still things I can't do compared to someone with a better eyesight... and that's as ridiculous as telling a paraplegic person they're not disabled because they can get around with a wheelchair and are in possession of one... 🤦🏾♀️ I guess it's easier to deny people with invisible disabilities access to support and help without looking like jerks than it would be to deny help of people visibly afflicted by a well-known officially recognized disability... (And no, I'm not saying I have it as bad as people who can't see at all... But with the pandemic it's been even harder to get appointments with eye specialists as ever before where I am and my glasses have been damaged a few months back. The old pair is not always doing the trick...)
I am so sorry to hear that. Believe it or not, the US can be the same way. They rate disablility on your ability to work, so it's very hard to get disability services if your disability is invisible or in the opinion of the authorities doesn't stop you from holding a job...even if it does by reasonable people's standards. I am very sorry to hear about your circumstances.
I have had to deal with mental health issues all my life and honestly prefer to treat the root cause using medication and for therapy simply enjoy nature, taking long walks and living more simply In the past due to my mental health issues including depression & anxiety I would have not been capable of looking after a dog especially living alone nor do I feel up to that task now which in my opinion would have the reverse effect by adding stress eg. barking, so personally a dog would be of no value to me I am also concerned of some mental health professionals and the media recommending "just get a dog" there are many people that find out in time they can't cope with looking after a dog and even end up homeless as you can be restricted with available rental accommodation if you end up in a tight financial situation, finally not everyone wants to share a confined space with a dog which has the potential to bite, anyway each to their own
Dr Marks originally your videos came up as a suggestion from UA-cam. I’m really glad it did. I’ve watched a lot of your videos, and this one was particularly interesting to me. My wife has some cognitive impairment, anxiety, and depression issues. She had a stroke a year ago her emotions have changed. We are planning on getting a dog to assist her in some of her disability. I live in a building that voluntarily offered the proper paperwork for an emotional support dog. Thank you again for your video for I think it makes it very clear what you need to do and how helpful it might be.
Thank you for calling out the people who are abusing the system, I have a lot of friends with trained service animals who unfortunately struggle because of the bad reputation fake service animals have given them. I have autism and chronic illnesses that are making life really hard for me right now, and I think an emotional support cat would really help with the depression and other things. I'm doing a lot of research so I can do it right, and will talk to my therapist about it next time I see them. Thank you for all the information!
I have a Service Dog🐕🦺. Per the ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) Emotional Support Animals (ESAs) DO NOT have public access rights this means they can NOT accompany you into the store or a restaurant. However, some states and stores (Lowe’s for example) do allow pets and ESAs inside stores and at OUTSIDE sitting areas of a restaurant, you just have to check the stores/restaurants policy. Service Animals, per the ADA, are either a dog or a miniature horse that has been TASK trained to help meditate a person’s disability/disabilities. A Service Animal DOES have public access rights. A Service Animal is allowed pretty much anywhere that is open to the public, anywhere the handler goes. There are however a few exceptions to this: they’re not allowed in the Operating Room or the Burn Unit of a hospital, as well as places of worship (have to call and get permission first).
I'd love to have an ESA one day (or psychiatric service animal...I do have a disabling disorder (kind of a russian nesting doll of commonly paired disorders really lol) that's kept me from working recently). I mean, I also just really want a pet in general. I brought it up to my therapist and she loved the idea (but I also live in a no-pet apartment right now). I currently spend a lot of time with a family member who has dogs because I know how much they help me, right down to getting out of bed. It's so much easier to care for another creature than it is for myself. One of my family members' dogs will lay his whole body over me if he wants me to get up (and at times when I've been depressed and spent the whole day sleeping he'll come sort of check on me, licking my face and giving me attention in ways he doesn't otherwise.) Getting out of bed in the morning is the hardest task of the day and if I don't manage that things can obviously really snowball. I think the combination of deep pressure, the dose of oxytocin, plus the motivation of caring for another creature would really help. That said, I haven't pursued it because a) it's expensive and my resources are limited and b) any creature in my care deserves more stability than I can offer them right now. There's just nothing better than doggy love. With or without ESA status it's a goal.
💜Pets can do so much for us, humans. I hope we are doing the same in return. I hope those pets are treated well by ppl who use them as emotional support and therapy pet. You know, pets can feel fear, frustration, anxiety so I hope they're well emotionally as well. Plus getting food, water, basic stuff.
Very good point. Animals/pets do feed off their owners energy and if their owner is basically treating them like a non-verbal therapist, that's a lot to put on a creature that doesn't have any training or understanding of what's going on. I also hope they are getting their emotional needs met and are not living in constant states of anxiety, nervousness, fear or depression themselves. I see emotional support animals oftentimes if I go to Walmart or other shops and restaurants, and the people who own them often seem pretty high strung. I just hope the animals still get to live a happy life, they deserve it.
@@YTStoleMyUsername You make good points re service dogs. They still need to be a dog & all dogs need basic things. To get in a brisk walk or walks each day for exercise for the dog. Good nutritious foods, toys to play with, vet care when needed & to get the vaccines dogs need to stay healthy. I see a service dog as not your full time comfort/therapy pet but one part of several areas a person who needs a service dog has to work on. Maybe meds that calm or therapy with a human therapist so that the human owning a service dog is working on themselves apart from the animal. Read books by Jon Katz. He gives great insights into what a dog needs from their humans. Dogs are sentient beings & yes a dog can feel what their owner feels. But the dog has needs to meet their well-being & to live a well-rounded life that is fun & has variety & stimulation. Another view of a dog's inner life is a great book: Merle's Door, Lessons from a Freethinking Dog by Ted Kerasote. I met the author at a book signing of this book. If you love dogs, read this book. Hope this helps people thinking of having an emotional support dog.
I’m extremely new to ESA and I’m moving very soon. I’m trying to register my dog as an ESA and I hate that I haven’t done it sooner like last year (I was debating on it but didn’t think much of it. I was also really financially unstable last year and couldn’t afford much but I can this year). I’m not trying to get an ESA so I don’t have to pay a fee or to get around dog breed restrictions because she’s a pit bull terrier, I’m trying to register her as an ESA because she actually does help me. I have severe depression and other mental health concerns that came from scarring things in my life. I’ve had dogs all my life but my current dog has helped me get through even the darkest days and the thought of being in a home without her makes me very distressed and anxious. She’s honestly saved me more times than I can count just by being here and giving me support and comfort when I’m feeling distressed. I genuinely need her because it will definitely be very hard to function without her. This video helped a lot. I’ve also heard of people taking advantage of this and making it hard for people who genuinely need an ESA. I’m doing my best now to prove that my dog genuinely helps me function and prove that this isn’t a game to me. My dog helps me more than anyone can understand and I am doing everything to bring her with me so I can function properly.
I have severe social anxiety and PTSD thanks to the Army and I can't afford a service dog. The best I can do is an emotional support animal. I struggle with depression and anxiety attacks, panic attacks. I wish that a service dog would be more affordable.
Yes I'd love this! I have ADHD and my brothers probably do as well, my youngest brother is 14 and has a lot of trouble with feeling like his brain is slower than that of others around him. I'm sure that he is very capable academically, but the combination of his addiction to screens (not that I'm not a screen addict, I am as well) and his seemingly slow cognitive tempo is really holding him back.
Great video. I understand a love for pets but get really annoyed when I am at a grocery store and someone has their chihuahua with them, wearing a "emotional support" leash or jacket, and licking his private parts in the grocery cart while I stand at the fresh vegetable section trying to decide my purchases. Obvious the person filled out a form, paid a fee and received a bogus "emotional support" designation. I know a service dog when I see one, as the dog is disciplined, trained, and doesn't bother others. And many wear a sign asking others not to interfere or bother the service animal. Personally I think this bogus certificate process of emotional support should be banned. I would rather see the person seek emotional support from a therapist, and learn to cope with their emotions in a more professional manner. I don't like someone's "emotional support animal" licking me or spreading fleas in my groceries. I don't like it when I have to step over poop in the aisle in a big box store either. I have often thought about picking it up and placing it on the counter of customer service. A few cleanups would get the message across. Food entities need to ban these emotional support animals/certificate to ensure clean, sanitary conditions. I worship my cats but make sure they do not bother others.
Most don’t even bother faking it as a service animal, they just take their filthy, parasite infested dog everywhere with them and have no care for how disgusting this is to other people.
ESAs should/are technically banned--most places have legislation about pets in food places and only SDs have access rights. The problem is that places aren't informed and opt to let pets in out of fear of bad press or accidentally creating liability by booting a legit SD. (amusingly, legit service dogs can be booted for any bad behavior--so an SD licking groceries would in fact lose protection and be bootable) These days ESAs only have permissions regarding housing and I think maybe hotels?
@@Gemma626 Actually, they are making perfect sense, since Emotional Support Animals (ESA's) have absolutely NO public access rights in the United States. They are only legally allowed where normal pets can go. This is due to the fact that ESA's do not have any standards whatsoever. They do not require obedience, they do not require public access training and they are not task trained to mitigate a person's disability. So they have absolutely no reason to ever be in public places unless it's somewhere that allows all pets.
I have an ESA, but I understand that it’s not like a “medical equipment” like a service dog . It’s crazy that people try to bring untrained animals in certain places and possibly attack service dogs.
Apartment management needs to state whether it’s a pet FEE, which you will not get back, or a pet deposit, which is money put up in case there is damage done specifically by the animal. I don’t understand why pets have to pay rent as well. I lost my emotional support cat last fall. I can’t find anyone who can help me get an animal to replace her. I’m not looking to get out of a deposit. I’m not looking to manipulate a therapist do help me get out of a deposit. And, I am fine with giving a pet deposit. But a monthly rent for the pet as well is the deposit is not fair for folks with a real disability and on a fixed income. I am very fortunate to have a landlord that understands this. Also, she’s an attorney and understands the legalities.
Ever since my two beloved rat terriers passed away I notice I get sad and depressed and I feel lonely. I always felt joy, happiness, contentment when my dogs were alive!
Emotional support animals do not exist in the UK. Because anyone can benefit from an animal and this stops people from just getting an animal and trying to take it everywhere. Service animals are not the same and are trained to higher standards. ESAs don't need to be trained, another reason why something like that doesn't exist here.
People still try it though. We had to tell a man to leave and he showed the metal disc tag on the dogs collar which said THERAPY DOG. He still had to leave and probably made that himself!
@@piperjaycie therapy dogs also don't have access everywhere though. Therapy dogs have to be booked to attend sessions at places they're needed. For example when I was 17 and homeless I lived in a halfway support home with other young people, they hired a couple with trained therapy dogs to bring them to the place so we could have animal enrichment which as I stated before, Is great for everyone
I was diagnosed as autistic now that I am nearing 40 and the diagnostic process happened because I have for several years now started to not be able to cope with life as much as I used to. I knew for 10+ years I was possibly autistic but I felt like I coped "ok". Now I am unable to do many things and I am not sure how I used to ever be able to do them prior to the past several years. I love animals but I get too upset if something is wrong, I am the type to bring a pet to the vet over any little thing. I've only owned small pets that stay in a cage or tank. I sometimes feel an emotional support animal such as a dog could help me a lot. I just don't know if I could take care of it AND myself, it may end up being a distraction from myself and a burden. I'm very conflicted. I don't go out anymore, I might even be too uncomfortable bringing a dog. Sometimes I think it would be nice if someone owned a dog but needed me to watch the dog sometimes, that way it has a home to go home to. Kind of curious if anyone reading has this dilemma about wanting a support animal (pending whether I'd be approved one of course) or not due to the responsibility and "burden" (I don't see pets as a burden... But I get overwhelmed easily, and the pet is #1 to me).
An important component that people sometimes overlook is that a certified Service Animal is trained to behave flawlessly in public. It isn't just "I need this animal" but also "I promise this animal won't cause problems". If you take a certified service animal into the grocery store they aren't going to touch the food or start barking at another dog. The standard of behavior was set by seeing eye dogs, who obviously can't be running around doing dog stuff while a blind person is relying on them. What gave emotional support animals a bad rap is that they weren't required to be trained at all, so some of them were poorly trained and behaved badly. Anybody could claim their poorly trained pet was an emotional support animal and let it go hog wild in public. Or have an emotional support animal in their apartment that they leave home alone for 10 hours a day, both causing irritation for the neighbours and proving that they don't actually need it with them providing emotional support at all times. My mom has a certified service dog and not only can it go everywhere with her, it MUST go everywhere with her. Part of the agreement with the agency that supplied the dog is that it can never be left alone for more than 2 hours. The dog never barks -- not at other dogs, squirrels, cats, nothing. When she visits a grocery store her nose is going a mile a minute, but she never touches anything (unless ordered to pick something up). She's a lab so she loves everyone and loves getting rambunctious at play time, but when she has her vest on she's working 100%. It is a privilege and a responsibility.
Hey just letting you know that their is no certifications for service dogs at all. Any "certifications" are scams, i highly recommend looking up ADA service dogs.
I am on service-connected disability for PTSD from military service. It has to be pretty bad before mental illness is considered a "disability." I don't handle aggression from people to the degree that working in the field of customer service cracked me after a while. I started having mental breakdowns after dealing with unhappy customers, and anyone who has worked in that field knows that you encounter it all the time. Now, I'm agoraphobic and don't leave my room for weeks on end. I have anxiety from walking outside. It has to be crippling in order to be validated legally. And hell, I'm only considered 70% disabled.
I wouldn’t get out of bed if I didn’t have my cats. They are my children. I’m fighting a medical condition and I keep battling for their sake more than my own. Recently, I noticed that one of my cats picks up on my anxiety and stressors, and he tries to distract me. I used to see it as interruptions until I realized that he was removing me from stressful situations to tend to his needs. I change my focus and calm down. I had a dysfunctional landlord who would show up, unannounced, and go off on me. Whenever she would start raising her voice, my cat would actually jump on me. I couldn’t figure out why he was jumping on me and not her! 😂 It would immediately shut her up and I would be forced to walk away to get him off of my back or shoulders. He was protecting me. That’s a service! He trained himself!They know when I’m not feeling well and come over to snuggle. They’re an endless source of love and support. I do have a real ESA letter from one of my mental health providers. She agrees that they do provide the support that I need to get through the day.
Struggling with mental problems myself. Previous behaviors that I thought I left behind have begun resurfacing. And one of the behaviors scares me. You wouldn't know it now but my dog HATED my presence. Now we sleep together almost every night. Animals can keep your sanity. However fleeting it may be.
I think cats should qualify. Buddy literally saved my life so many times when I was dealing with a breakdown. He used to come to work with me, church, school, etc. If I didn’t have him I doubt I would have lived to be my now stable ADHD me. He was better behaved than most service dogs.
I don't like people abusing the emotional support animals in public or whatnot, but I think it can't be as bad to get a note just to have your animal live with you. Landlords just love to refuse any pets or have such high fees to allow them. Working in an animal shelter, so many people are bringing in pets due to moving and nobody will allow pets anymore. I wish something would be done in that regard.
What if you're allergic to a dog and cats? How can I get a service animal that isnt a dog or cat? If not, then this is medical discrimination. Califronia has bird service animals. It sounds like I have to get a lawyer.
So frustrated in South Africa!! I have a disabled dog and he is not allowed anywhere! Not even in a fully zipped up special pram. He weighs 1kg! Needing constant care, feeds and meds
This is a wonderful explanation, thank you so much! I've been trying to figure out what term to use for my hedgehog and I may try to get him registered as an ESA now that I know what that really entails. I have a handful of mental disorders that he helps with by giving me a reason to get out of bed and start my day by feeding him because I struggle with getting out of bed for myself. He helps me focus better when he is sitting in my lap because he provides gentle low-level stimulation. He also helps because of the oxytocin-mediated reactions you talked about towards the end of the video, and keeps my mood up throughout the day whenever I see him or think about him. I believe this may qualify him as an ESA (once he would get proper documentation of course) since he cannot be trained like a service animal.
Legally in the United States there is no such thing as registration, certification or ID's for service animals or emotional support animals. Obtaining them only wastes your money since they don't grant access or offer any legal standing of any kind. Here is what the ADA says about it: "Covered entities may not require documentation, such as proof that the animal has been certified, trained, or licensed as a service animal, as a condition for entry. There are individuals and organizations that sell service animal certification or registration documents online. These documents do not convey any rights under the ADA and the Department of Justice does not recognize them as proof that the dog is a service animal." Also, please note that in the United States emotional support animals do not have any public access rights and are not allowed in businesses that do not normally allow pets. {another reason why identifying and ESA in public is pointless -- because ESA's can't go into non-pet-friendly businesses anyway and can only go where pets are allowed, so why bother labeling them if they won't ever be questioned since all pets allowed in the places ESA's can go anyway} "Are emotional support, therapy, comfort, or companion animals considered service animals under the ADA? No. These terms are used to describe animals that provide comfort just by being with a person. Because they have not been trained to perform a specific job or task, they do not qualify as service animals under the ADA.
I don't have a physical disability, but I have intrusive thoughts and anxiety, and its debilitating. I'm not looking to say that I have a disability or looking for special treatment. I have had my dog for 3 years now. When I have a hard time with intrusive thoughts, I have to stop driving for an hour or two. My dog usually comforts me when I have an episode, I am a truck driver and it is effecting my job. I'm not looking to explain myself to any one in wanting a my dog to be an emotional support animal, I've tried to get a letter for my dog, but was denied three times. I'm not sure if it's my dogs breed but would hope that would have nothing to do with it and I'm not sure why. I'm not looking to get into a house anytime soon but would be nice to have it when I decide to stop driving.
Humans get all weirded out when I go up to them and start petting their fur and scratching behind their ears telling them how pretty they are but I've never had any problems with it with any of the other animals I've known.
My “esa” rabbit is trained to sense when I’m having a panic attack and sit on my lap and signal for me trying to get me to lay down then do pressure therapy on my chest to calm me down but I don’t have a therapist what should I do because I wanna make him official my esa cause I’ve had a severe anxiety disorder sense I was very little and Milo is the only thing that actually gets me out of my episodes and calm me, I really don’t think I would be able to live without Milo, I really want to be able to get him certified so I can bring him to college with me, I’m currently in high school, and have parents that think that therapy is a waste of money so I’m kinda stuck, but it really pisses me off when ppl fake esas and servíce dogs so i would never use one of those sites cause I don’t really know it doesn’t feel right for the reason ppl use it for that
I would have liked it if Dr. Marks had been a little more thorough about service animals, particularly in housing. As a LL, I know the law requires me to accept service animals. But I think that many states make it illegal to claim an animal is a service animal when it isn't. We need some of the "pet" owners and "ESA" owners that are falsely claiming they have a "service animal" charged! If we could get some publicity on those wrongdoers, that might serve as a deterrent. It seems only a LL wrongfully denying an animal hits the news.
Thank you for educating us all-especially patient advocates. Never pay for animal certifications -that was all a money making scheme. Getting a proper service animal-yes absolutely.
People bringing animals into public because they feel an emotional need to do so, and having it piss on the floor or lunge and bark at people is getting out of hand. It used to not be allowed to have dogs in restaurants unless the person was blind, and I think that's still best.
I have to admit the time I needed an ESA,, I was so depressed and considering suicide. But NO ONE cared or did anything for me! A guy moved into one of my apartments with an ESA "Piss cat!" No pet fees or damage deposit allowed. His cat destroyed all the carpets/pads, damaged sub floor. This cost me thousands of $ that I did not have! Guy took his cat, paid me NOTHING!
There was once a lady who brought her dog to our workplace. I was eating lunch in the dining area and her dog was running around near my feet. I wanted to kick it. And kick her. Dogs stress me out, which is why I don't have one. It was so selfish of her to bring it to a public workplace and lunchroom at that! Just had to share. I hope pet owners will be more considerate of others and leave their pets at home, or work from home!
Emotional support animals DO NOT have public access rights! Per the ADA, a service dog may go anywhere the public can (excluding sterile environments like kitchens and operating rooms), but an emotional support animal does not have the same strict standards and thus not the same rights. An emotional support animal is not required to be trained at all which often creates a situation for endangering/distracting working service dogs, property damage, hurting people, or general annoyance. An emotional support animal gets to live with a disabled individual, not go everywhere with them. P.S. Airports typically have "potty stations" which are a square of fake grass and service dogs will be trained to use the bathroom on command.
I think most everyone agrees pets are good to help calm and lower blood pressure. Good things. That alone does not necessarily mean every pet qualifies as an ESA. Certifying a pet as an ESA has indeed become a cottage industry. Sadly, just like the business of a diploma mill. Just a family doctor's note saying a pet helps Little Johnny stay calm isn't enough to qualify as a disabled person in need of an ESA. Pets help to calm us all, it takes more than just that generic note.
You need to do some more research. Emotional support animals are not allowed in restaurants. The ADA requires businesses to allow service dogs but not ESAs.
I have cfs my cat thinks she's an emotional support pet not me thinking she is one If I'm sick she goes and gets my flat mate if I don't go to bed she puts me to bed if I don't eat she puts me into the kitchen if I go upstairs she walks in front of me to stop me going so quick I also have mobility issues my cat thinks she's my owner and I'm her pet she makes an excellent help she is not a trained animal as a service animal but she really does try her very best I do not know how she knows but somehow she knows when I'm sick and when I'm not doing what I need if I need a bath I even get sniffed at and kicked out of bed if anyone else has an animal that has not been trained to do this but does I would absolutely love to hear your Storys it's very late as I fell asleep in the day so it's early hours of the morning and she's tried telling me to go to bed since 1.30 am she will not go without me
Can you imagine if we had comfort people? People who actually had to work to pay their bills before the government stepped. Who fed their kids without asking for handouts? People people who comforted each other and helped each other. Let's try people over animals.
Hot take, I'm fine with people bringing their emotional support animals onto planes whether they're legally service animals or not, since people are pretty much always going to be allowed to bring their babies and small children onto planes regardless. Loud, smelly, and unsanitary? Check, check, and check. I don't much care if it's your two-year-old son or your two-year-old pet. Either way it'll be annoying but hopefully kinda cute.
Respectfully, comparing a baby to an animal in regards to sanitation is offensive and inaccurate??? Babies have diapers, are generally not smelly, and are far more “hygienic” than animals. By the way, ESAs are not always cute dogs. There are many different types of animals that have been permitted on planes as ESAs. I work in the legal field and specialize in this area, so believe me, I have seen a lot.
@@wayNAY87 Kids can make just as much mess and five times the noise. ESAs and service animals are trained to be able to handle travel and different situations but a screeching toddler is always going to be a screeching toddler (for the duration of a flight at least).
It amazes me how you simplify things and make it sound so easy. Out of curiosity if you have depression would an animal be helpful? Thank you for being you!
I suffered from depression for years, and it got increasingly worse. I’m now on medication that helps me tremendously, but before that, my pets sometimes were the only reason I got out of bed. They needed to be cared for and provided love and companionship. They aren’t a cure, but they can help a lot.
I've noticed that businesses are already posting on their doors that no other animals are allowed in even esa animals to their stores. It says service animals only. Should we report them?
We shouldn't be denying animals the right to self-determination and freedom, the ability to mate when they want, or even their genitalia, just to make us feel better. Humans are animals too and they can evoke the same benefits, you can volunteer, help or mentor cute kinds or the elderly, the best part about emotional support humans, over pets is that they aren't property, so you can form a true relationship with them, and they don't have to pretend to be nice to you for food and shelter.
Interesting to know! My pets are unofficial ESA… they benefit my mental health A LOT but they‘re not trained or anything. I also don’t take them anywhere 😄
My cat was declared as an emotional support animal by my psychiatrist at her suggestion. I had a problem with moving into an apartment. They weren't clear on the animal policy. They told me no pets. It turned out the apartments on both sides had cats. My psychiatrist helped me to keep my cat. I paid the animal deposit. I never take my cat in public where she isn't allowed. Nor on a plane. I am on disability for several mental illnesses. My cat is a huge emotional support to me. I am sorry to hear that so many people are abusing this law. I have seen it happen.
Hi Helena as @Bettie v mentioned, check out my depression playlist. I did a video talking about Depression and neuroplasticity being the model over chemical imbalance. I would put the link in this comment but I’m answering this on my phone and if I get out of the app to find the link I’ll lose my place with your comment
I work at a motel we get alot pets most people claim the pet is a emotional support an they have nothing to show they are what they are here my question does the motel have to excepted them
My question is, why would people say no to someone who needs something like that? Definitely when its obvious and they have forms for it. Its just messsed up honestly.
Such an excellent video! Thank you for letting us know our rights. I have mental illness and physical disabilities. (I am not delusional…my mother and neighbor noticed my cat’s gifts, without me saying anything). My cat has an illness affecting the same body systems in the same ways as mine, and he IS aware of it. He literally helps me remember when it’s time to do self-care routines that help me with our common symptoms. He sniffs me loudly, for a long time when I develop infections, sometimes days before I’m diagnosed. He “diagnosed” my dog (cancer), and the neighbor’s (intestinal torsion), in this manner. My neighbor saw how he was sniffing him and looking at her pointedly, and drove him to the vet, where he passed away naturally. The dog looked well when we saw him, but it’s rapidly fatal. Now I just go in when he does this! He supports me through everything. My cat been sickly since kittenhood, and has been with me 19 years. We live with others without these problems. We do different activities, in different ways. We are obviously “in it together.”
What's upsetting is that a service dog is not covered by insurance with any mental issues, only for veterans who have PTSD. That's the case in my country in Europe and I've read that it's the same in the states too. It could've helped me live my life like any functioning human but now it's 2023 and people with mental issues still are on the backseat. Even the medication I used and still use isn't covered. Crazy...
I'm a frontline respiratory therapist who cared for the 1st Community spread COVID patient in the United States. I suffer from PTSD. Due to our state laws, I'm not categorized as a first responder, therefore do not have access to the financial resources that others receive. I have 3 young kids, and want to be around to see them grow up. Can somebody help me get a service dog please?
Just when I thought my depression was going to get the better of me during the pandemic, a scroungy looking, half baby teeth gone pupper showed up at my doorstep. She is far from service animal, but she helped me a lot. She gets me out of the house every day and she makes me smile more than any human I interact with.
She's probably not a puppy anymore now lol but that's such a sweet story 😍 That's the wonderful thing about animals, they won't judge you and a dog is so loyal 💗
I'm glad you have a pet you enjoy, and that gives you comfort.
As long as you don't try to take it to non pet friendly stores or restaurants. That is illegal. ESA does not legally have public access according to federal ADA laws.
It cracks me up when the airlines don't want to support ESAs but their cool with annoying as babies and kids who are crying at the top of their lungs and pooping their diapers to fk up the entire cabin.... but I can't bring my dog who's trained, kind, and doesn't even bark at a mouse.... this world I live in...
When my dad had a severe brain injury after a brain haemorrhage I took his greyhound up to see him most days in the unit he was in, it did him wonders. I also used to go around and visit other patients in the ward as well, and they all loved it and used to say it was the highlight of their day, and Yaris (the dog) loved all the attention as well…lol.
Never underestimate the power of a dog.
Really nice of you to visit other patients as well!
Dog is goD
An animal*
Any animal could do just as good. My pet pigeon makes me feel instantly better, he cures my depression and anxiety instantly. Soon I will be training him for emotional support as i finally found something that makes me feel safe and happy without medicine
All these people commenting "my therapist recommended an emotional support animal" - why is this even a thing? Why isn't there a hard line in the sand, and it's either #1. No disability - therapist can recommend a pet. No special treatment from airlines, restaurants, hotels or housing. Or #2. Disability - Therapist can recommend a SERVICE dog.
Why the grey area of emotional support pets and the UA-cam ads promoting the sketchy online certificates from licensed MDs? The world survived for centuries without the term "emotional support animal" until the last few years, I think this needs to change, at minimum for the sake of the truly disabled & their necessary accommodations. People with ESAs don't realize the burden they're placing on people with diagnosed disabilities.
I'm glad you mention that pets bring all of us comfort, because that is very true. Pets feel like children to us, and we do fall in love with them. Why only call them "emotional support" for certain people and not others? It just seems wrong, we provide them emotional support, & they do the same for us in return. The whole industry is selfish and needs to be banned or totally changed somehow.
As a disabled person, I might actually be able to answer this one for you. I was prescribed an esa (a cat) for worsening symptoms by a physician that I had been seeing for years, not some bogus certificate place.
I always assumed I would get a service dog, but I am not in the right place in my life for one. It would be cruel to keep a dog in the size apartment that I have, especially since I'm not active enough in my current condition to care for one. I do hope for that one day.
I'm not going to give out personal medical details to you, but you have to believe me when I say I do much much better with my cat in the house, and I can tell you this in terms of psychiatric symptoms. I would never take him anywhere he did not belong. That's unfair to others and unfair to him him being an ESA allows me to waive the apartment fee, which would cause me financial hardship as a non-working adult, and allows him to keep his claws in a place that otherwise demands declawing. If you don't know about declawing look it up. It's barbaric.
So yeah, as a disabled person who has actually researched service animals and hopes to be a Handler one day, I can tell you that you really have no right to get between me and my ESA. The problem with esa's is not that they exist, it's that people are irresponsible with them. And that hard Line in the Sand that you speak of would render me ineligible for an esa, as I am also disabled. And I've already told you why that would be a problem , because I can't Harbor a dog . Talk to a responsible Esa owner and you will realize why they are necessary.
I don't think any Esa should be allowed in public, but your Hardline stance is part of the problem. There are several things that we can do to deter esas in public, and a lot of the issues with them stem from a lack of knowledge of the Ada on the part of businesses. The Ada gives the explicit right to kick out unruly animals, and if businesses bothered to read about and adhere to the ada, they would know this.
So yeah, you are certainly not speaking for this disabled person. I know what's been a year, but I hope that you read this and broaden your mind a bit. I understand your frustration, but I think there's Nuance to the situation that you are not seeing.
Good info but, as a therapist who does evaluate people for the necessity of an ESA, there is one bit of info that needs correction…an ESA letter DOES NOT allow someone to bring a pet into a restaurant. The laws around ESA animals apply to housing specifically. A service animal can go anywhere but an ESA cannot. Also, sometime people think that because they have an ESA letter, they can use this at hotels/motels but they can’t as the laws relate to housing not lodging. Thanks for the info on this channel…I give the info to clients so they can learn more outside of the therapy office.
Thank you for saying this!
Thank you so much for these corrections. Very rarely do ESA handlers take the time to train their pets or hold them to the same standards as a service animal, which is especially important in settings such as restaurants and hotels.
@@rebeccakoch5713 obviously, that was already established in the comment I was replying to.
Service dogs can not go everywhere.
@@Ausgar-yc1yl Service dogs can go anywhere the general public is allowed so long as it does not fundamentally alter the goods, services or programs offered. This includes places that require a sterile environment in the hospital such as surgery rooms and burn units. At a zoo, service animals can be restricted from areas where the animals on display are the natural prey or natural predators of dogs, where the presence of a dog would be disruptive, causing the displayed animals to behave aggressively or become agitated. They cannot be restricted from other areas of the zoo.
So, broadly speaking, yes, service dogs can go everywhere. However, emotional support animals (ESA's) do not have ANY public access rights whatsoever. They can only go where normal pets are allowed. Since an ESA is just a regular pet that happens to also have the job of comforting their owner and they are not task trained, trained in public access or held to any standards for obedience.
Pets and other animals like a cat does relieve anxiety and stress. They love you unconditionally so you trust them completely where humans you can be unsure of their sincerity. I believe that you open your heart completely to a pet and they touch you deep within your soul. Thankyou for this video Dr. Tracey.
That’s it. On top of you trusting them it’s nice to also know you yourself are trusted unconditionally by another being as well.
I don’t believe this.
Very true. While I was in high school and going through intense abuse from my mother and stepfather, my cat was the only creature who showed me unconditional love. Without her, my cPTSD symptoms would’ve been much worse-although it’s still pretty bad and I’ve been in treatment since ‘18. Having had her to cuddle, care for and to nurture saved my sanity 1000%.
(When she passed last Halloween, I fell apart hard, lost my job, but have since rebounded after having to learn how to live without depending on her always being there when home. Since, I’ve adopted a puppy who is sooo affectionate.)
@@di_kid00 That's sound's like your healing. Puppies are awesome.
@@di_kid00 I feel the same way about both my cats in the past and the cat i have now. I too have been surrounded by disfunction and abuse and my cat was the only one there for me. The cat i have now has saved my life and stood by my side and when i was at my lowest she would wake me up at dawn meowing to wake me up, walk with me down the street a block too the methadone clinic and wait for me to walk one block back after dosing and then walk home with me and i would then feed her. So she would literally wake me up and make personally make sure i took my medicine every morning. She is a huge part in me being able to manage my PTSD.
Im seeing a psychiatrist and a psychotherapist for a severe depressive episode, Im on antidepressants and have meds for panic attacks. I cant imagine anyone caring about the fact that the cat I adopted helps me a lot with feeling better with depression and anxiety I experience daily. Im scared of needing to move cause a lot of landlords dont allow pets, and I can say without a shadow of a doubt I would be in much worse shape without my cat in my life.
Based on what you've told us, you would easily qualify, and would have an easy time documenting. It's not exactly about who "cares" that you have depression. A LL isn't supposed to "care", in the sense that he's not family. But, he does have to comply with laws. This video and most comments are about people that don't truly qualify as disabled, and are just trying to finagle an ESA to keep a beloved pet.
I have depression too I was very sad when my cat died but I'm an adult. I'm not going to put my problems on to other people
As a guard at a major museum in New York City, we have a serious problem with people claiming to have emotional support animals when they in actuality got the harness that says "service animal" off of Amazon. In fact, I overheard a visitor who was talking to a person who was an impostor with an "emotional support" animal say, 'Oh we should get a harness that says service animal so we can take our dog to the museum'. These so-called service animals wreak havoc in the museum. They start fights with real trained service dogs. They're not supposed to BE in the museum and we're getting overrun with these things.
We have a K-9 unit. I know what a real service dog does. No, it's not the same as a disability dog, but I know enough not to pet Vale because she's WORKING! The only thing I ever got out of dealing with so-called emotional support dogs are that people are supremely selfish and they ruin it for people who DO need a highly trained dog to survive. I really don't have respect for the emotional support pet crowd because it makes life so much harder for our disabled visitors.
Well, hold on: are you saying you don't respect ALL people who have an emotional support animal, out just the imposters?
@@RogueBagel If an emotional support animal is a genuine working dog, I have no problem with that. The problem is that the impostors have ruined the the name emotional support animal to the point that both impostors and legit have been irrevocably lumped together in the minds of the staff. It's tarnished the name "emotional support animal". It causes problems in terms of dealing with both the dog, the owner, and other visitors who do monkey see, monkey do. It's only now that I see there are legitimate working emotional support dog. Bottom line is, and I hate to say this, if you have a working dog, say up front that it's a working dog for the disabled as you would say a seeing eye dog." Emotional support dog" doesn't mean much anymore because of these impostors. At least not in my fellow colleagues' eyes.
I love this comment. My service dog and I have to deal with all the fakes every time we go somewhere. I just wish more businesses cared enough to monitor these fakes. I have lost track of how many times these fakes have tried to attack my dog.
@bethhayes8427 Actually, my museum does care. However, we're hamstrung with laws that are as strong as vapor trails. All we're allowed to ask the owner is, "Is this a service dog? What does it do?" That is the extent of the law. I know that those disgusting fake ESA licenses are not legally binding. I know those phony licenses and certificates ruins it for legit disabled people. Unfortunately, there's nothing beyond the two questions that allows us a decision to kick them out. And if we do kick out an ESA, out come the lawyers. So your job and that of every real person in need of a real service animal has to join a group with disabilities and dogs and get politically active. You have to educate the public, and lobby local, state and federal governments to codify into law a clear, unconfusing law that businesses can follow without fear of litigation from ESA people. Moreover, let people know that you have the right to enjoy your animal that can cost up to $30,000 whereas an ESA is an untrained regular pet scooped off the street from somewhere. Nothing will change unless you band together and fight. I've managed to change things as an activist, so I know change is possible. It could be as easy as getting a stamp on your driver's license or ID and some laws for businesses to follow. You show ID all the time anyway. So fight back!
That’s why some places have started going the, “if the dog is well behaved and is properly trained it can come in.” That way the is it or is it not a service dog isn’t an issue, as you can kick out a disruptive service dog, so it just makes things easier.
Thank you Dr. Tracey. As a former case manager, my clients' parents were constantly trying to manipulate us into getting them an emotional support letter just because they didn't want to pay the pet deposit or get rid of the dog. You explained the liabilities beautifully and hopefully more people will understand the risk that they ask mental health providers to take
Being forced to get rid of a pet can be traumatic.
There will always be people who take advantage of things and ruin it for everyone.
I didn't know the housing complex i lived in allowed pets with a deposit. They seemed very intent in the paperwork that pets WERE NOT ALLOWED....without a doctor's note.
I saved up money to cover a deposit and a visit to my doctor for the note, because I was suffering anxiety due to auditory hallucinations. Having pets before allowed me to write off weird sounds as the pets goofing off.
I had no clue the risk I was asking my doctor to take. And found out after that the note was to waive the pet deposit..... which was not what the housing manager explained to us when we asked.... I'm glad it didn't cause the doctor to lose her job.
At least the unnecessary doctor visit was cheaper than the deposit...
That’s certainly improper use of these laws. It makes it very hard for those who really need their animals!
@@VioFax Yes, I had an apartment manager who charged me for major damages I asked them about when I moved in. Now, I make sure to put something in writing, if there are damages when I move in, and get proof of mailing.
If someone uses the the term "get rid of" when it comes to a dog, it's a clear sign they have no heart.
I have severe CPTSD with severe anxiety and dissassociation..I have been declared by not only my doctor but social security as disabled as soon as I became an adult at 21...I'm 54 now...I have an emotional support animal a cat named Tigger...He travels in a pet backpack that he travels with me...I keep my psychiatrists letter with him at all times that Tigger he helps me to keep my anxiety at a manageable level..when I feel my anxiety ramping up in certain situations it helps for me to at least put my hand in the bag and at least pet him...if it gets really bad I go into the bathroom and hold him for a bit..He is like a grounding for me so I can continue to function..
Lol
@@chrisreynolds35What is funny about severe PSTD, sir? Laugh at the wrong veteran with PSTD & you may be missing teeth.
Same, would you like to be friends I feel so alone
I’m terrified of dogs. So I don’t go places where there are likely to be many dogs and probably dogs off leads. I like dogs but am too scared. So that’s my choice to avoid those places so I don’t inconvenience other people by getting upset. I get extra frightened if I am somewhere I didn’t expect to see a dog. These dogs however are usually clearly service dogs and I can deal with that and calm down because I know they are so well trained and will not bother with me or other people. People using and sometimes abusing the emotional support animal reason is different. The animals, which could be a variety of things, behave differently and unpredictably. This can be very distressing for others also just trying to live. Not all animals are “therapeutic” to all people. But the type of person to abuse the use of an emotional support animal is usually the type of person to not think about others point of view or why it’s different.
If you want some tips on how to deal with a fear of dogs, I dealt with it for many years and I could give you some advice!
Good point. It is unfair for people to bring their dogs everywhere, in virtually every public space, including spaces that should not have dogs!!!
@T J And your point is??
So what do you do if you see a task trained legitimate service dog? We're not leaving just because your fearful. We have a legal right to be there.
Thank you for clarifying the requirements for obtaining a service dog.
This is such a necessary video, especially going out of the way to define the validity of psychiatric service animals and what exactly makes them a service animal!
I want to also jump in and add on, on the topic of liability, that untrained emotional support animals in public spaces greatly put other people and service animals at risk. I've fortunately never had an incident, but I know other service dog handlers who've had dangerous encounters with ambivalent or clueless pet owners letting their pets charge and attempt to attack service dogs without intervening to correct their animal or break up the confrontation. One of the requirements of an SD is that they can't have any bite incidents (where they bite another animal or human) and can't be threatening/aggressive/otherwise violent. Worst case scenarios: the dog doesn't fight back and is horrifically maimed, the dog does fight back and no longer is protected by the ADA as a valid service animal, or the dog does come out of the encounter physically unscathed but traumatized by the ordeal to the point where they either have to go back to basics and be resocialized or potentially be retired altogether if they can't recover.
Service dogs are a limited resource: program wait lists are anywhere between 1 - 4 years and privately trained service dogs take a minimum to 2 years to train, which adds up to $$$$s in the base price of the pup, the training and the basic care of the dog with no guarantee that the dog will have the right temperament and drive to be a service animal and may need to be washed out/retired. Careless people who bring their untrained pets in public are risking the safety and independence of disabled people, no other way to phrase it. If anything ever happened to my dog because of another person's negligence, I would be virtually stranded and totally compromised in my independence, because my dog being mobility-assistance trained is what allows me to be in public by myself without relying on a human carer (who are even more limited resources).
As always,it is the humans who cause the problems.
THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU! THANK YOU for taking the time to do this video. As a pet professional for nearly 20 years, I have so many clients that don't understand the difference, the legalities, the requirements. I hate seeing this being abused, it makes it more difficult for those who really need it. Thank you for the clarity. I will be sharing this video to my colleagues and clients. ❤️❤️❤️❤️
Dr. Marks did a great job covering this. As a psychologist, (and a animal lover) often explain to people though I believe that many animals can provide emotional support-- I am trained to diagnose and treatment mental health conditions. I have no training to evaluate if an animal has the appropriate training to accompany them in social environments/or not be destructive in the home they rent etc. I leave those type of evaluations to the experts that provide such training and certification. I wish that this was more widely available--and if so, us professionals might feel more comfortable in verifying the patient's mental health diagnosis that supports the need for the animal.
From a flight attendant 👩🏾✈️
There was a lawsuit in 2019 in Delta that involved a passenger who was bite by an emotional support animal and had to get stitches. Hence why the airlines are more strict on what animals they allow onboard
I wish cats were included because it's been scientifically proven that a cat's purr has actual healing effects. Cat's can be just as if not more intuitive about their owner's emotional state.
I worked in a nursing home that brought cat's into the facility for the residents. Even people who "didn't like cats: would warm up to them and enjoy their company. Sometimes just watching a cat play with another cat or even just watch the birds outside the windows was a comfort and put a smile on a typical blank face.
I used to visit nursing homes a lot as a kid. My great grandmother loved our reactions to the birds. She point out the nests and tell us what the residents named the birds (they had no official names)
I also remember her talking about the dogs and cats they brought in. We were there when they had a little terrier. He was a sweetheart, and I'm not a dog person.
The nursing homes that have no animals (or worse empty birdcages) feel very.... devoid of life? My experiences were usually the nursing homes without animals of any sort were more likely to abuse their residents. You could tell the ones where the birds were moved for cleaning, and which were vacant for a long time... they don't collect much dust, but have a 'look'.
I really hope my grandma reconsiders her choice of nursing home, because it's one of those bad ones, and they've neglected her before, though they gaslit her into believing it was everyone else caring for her that was causing her harm.... not their lack of physical therapy.
But the one her mom was in was very expensive. The Medicare wing is not as nice, but run just as well. And she'd be right next to her hospital.
It is much harder to guarantee the behavior of a cat though. Cats aren't untrainable, but it is easier to train a dog. Part of the covenant with society for service animals is that if you allowed to take this animal into places animals are not usually allowed, you promise the animal won't cause a disturbance or damage.
Include in what? Cars are considered as emotional support animals, but unfortunately not service animals although some are very helpful in alerting owners when something is wrong, and can also be trained to walk on leashes. Not sure if any were ever trained to be support animals.
@@FacebookAunt cats can’t cause serious damage if they attack, therapy dogs in hospitals and schools have mauled people. Dogs are so anxious and barely capable of being trained, they just love food and will do anything to get it. Never seen an animal always hungry like dogs, they are an abomination.
As a flight attendant who loves animals, I have to follow the rules and be considerate of other passengers who may not like animals. If it is not a service animal , the animal is automatically deemed a pet in cabin and must stay inside their carrier. If removed from carrier, the passenger can be banned from flying with the airline.
The are also records of pets dying, "getting lost" or injured when not traveling on the main cabin, so I also understand when pet owners are weary about leaving their furry friends in cargo. We are still very far from having transport and facilities that are truly pet friendly. Hopefully that'll happen one day
I was a volunteer coordinator for Pets on Wheels,Inc. Non-Profit Pet Therapy Program in PG County Maryland during the 1990's ( program serves 9 Maryland counties and 2 Virginia counties and my county would serve DC if pet visits were requested) My county served 40 facilities, mostly long term care, assisted living, adult day care, a mental health facility and 2 special schools. The pet visits,mostly dogs were loved and the people who were visited regulary really showed positive reactions, even the people who had trouble communicating or who were confused with dementia or brain damage issues. I have so many positive memories and stories of the benefits of the pet therapy visits. We had pet health, temperment and behavior standards and volunteer orientation and first visits were accompanied by an experienced volunteer or myself and volunteers were under the Activity Director's
supervision while in the facility.
This is right on time. I love this stray cat 🐱 I named him Garfield 😻 I feed him and when he left I thought he was gone for good. I became worried and had no idea how attached I was to him. It was truly shocking how sad I got. When he returned I was so over joyed...he really brings me joy. 🐱
This was great information that I am sharing with all my disabled friends and family. When on a plane I recall someone had a 🦚 no lie...no I know why💯💝💗Thank you
My Mother had a dog during her stay at a rehab for heart surgery. She was so happy and helped in her recovery.
I have Autism and I have a very special parrot (conure) as my emotional support animal and she has been with me through the toughest times and she’s always been with me ever since we met, and she’s also my best friend and we go everywhere together and do almost everything together, she’s extremely quiet for a parrot and the only time she a little noisy is when I start to feel comfortable in any way and she gives me a little chirp saying that I’ll be okay and then she goes from my shoulder to my chest and chirps softly then until she calms me down by letting me pet her until I feel better and she even felt the nervousness of an old lady in my doctor’s office and she jumped off my shoulder and went and laid her little head against the old lady’s chest and I first thought that my little parrot was acting up for some reason, but when the old lady petted her the old lady calmed down in about 5-10 minutes and then she returned to my shoulder, I have never seen her do that for anyone else, so I thought that I would share this.
Honestly, then you should obtain a psychiatric service dog. Your parrot, no matter how well behaved, does NOT have public access in the United States to go anywhere / everywhere with you. Your ESA can be in pet friendly places.
Cringe asf man up
Thank you so much for this information! First off, I am dog owner and do love him as though he is my own child. HOWEVER, this whole ‘service animal’ thing has gotten out of control. Good to know that the airlines have made changes to stop the people that are clearly taking advantage of this service. I’d hate to be the person that had to sit next to the passenger that has to have ‘Stanley’ the potbelly pig oinking and squealing the entire flight 🐷
Amen.
Fortunately, lauries, the pig thing is now eliminated from airlines, as the video explained. But there may be other places where it's still permitted.
"Service animal" is not out of control. People who claim a pet is an ESA is out of control. People that have a legitimate ESA but claim it's a service animal is out of control. People that either don't understand the difference, or deliberately try to deceive are the problem.
Thanks for this‼️‼️
So many fakes out there that just makes it harder for actually service dogs and their handlers‼
There are thousands of scam/fake websites offering service dog credentials and fake vests🤦🏼♀️
I didn’t understand emotional support animals until my roommate pretended to have one in our non pet friendly apartment. It was not allowed and he was only there for a week but he calmed down my PTSD and OCD, my brain hasn’t been quiet my whole life and it ruined my life and being around cats helped me so much. Now I’m about to move to a pet friendly apartment to get an ESA cat. c:
"We are dangerous when we are not conscious of our responsibility for how we behave, think, and feel”.
Marshall B. Rosenberg
Thanks Dr. Marks for clarifying this. I'm an Aspie " I know they don't call us that anymore" but for reference sake. I used to go to the VA for help, but honestly the only thing their interested in is trying the latest drug on you or putting you in group. I have serious social / people anxiety. I do my best to avoid interaction with others, particularly in public, by choosing when and where I shop, and so on. I once asked about an emotional support dog, specifically my toy poodle that never leaves my side to be that animal. The psych nurse assigned to me absolutely refused and I never brought it up again. She does help me keep my emotions in check and I dread the day I loose her.
I can’t understand how anyone could live with themselves by pretending to have a disability just because they don’t feel like paying for an animal… it just isn’t fair, it’s so selfish!!
As someone who is disabled and has a legitimate task trained service dog I'll just say this -- if I could pass off my disabilities to someone else and leave my dog at home whenever I left the house then I'd be thrilled!!! Yeah, dogs can be cute and get attention, but if you need attention that badly then you have other issues. Being disabled and requiring a service animal to be in public is not fun. We are stared at by everyone, half the people want to stop us and ask questions, random people will pet the dog without asking and of course because of all the ESA's in public (legally ESA's do not have any public access in the United States) our medical equipment is constantly at risk. I desperately wish more people understood that pretending to be disabled is just wrong.
I didn’t know how bad I needed an ESA until I went to college. I grew up with dogs. I had a lot of stress and trauma. When I got to college I had another large trauma. It caused me sleep problems. My school therapist recommended me to get a support animal. Mentally I got worse until I got my Guinea pigs. It put me into a severe depression when they passed(both caught a disease). I got a dog and a few month ago and he’s helped a lot. I’m planning on training him to be a psychiatric service dog to help with my GAD and cPTSD symptoms. Those symptoms got so bad that I had to drop out my last year.
The way you went about describing how the term disability can be applied or rejected based on who's asking and what there is to gain reminded me how this applies to both mental and physical disabilities. In France, even though I can't see the details of my own hand when my arm is half extended before me if I'm not wearing glasses, I'm not considered as a disabled person because I have glasses. This means the State and Medical authorities don't take into account the possibility of having a problem with my glasses at any time or the fact that even with them there are still things I can't do compared to someone with a better eyesight... and that's as ridiculous as telling a paraplegic person they're not disabled because they can get around with a wheelchair and are in possession of one... 🤦🏾♀️ I guess it's easier to deny people with invisible disabilities access to support and help without looking like jerks than it would be to deny help of people visibly afflicted by a well-known officially recognized disability... (And no, I'm not saying I have it as bad as people who can't see at all... But with the pandemic it's been even harder to get appointments with eye specialists as ever before where I am and my glasses have been damaged a few months back. The old pair is not always doing the trick...)
I am so sorry to hear that. Believe it or not, the US can be the same way. They rate disablility on your ability to work, so it's very hard to get disability services if your disability is invisible or in the opinion of the authorities doesn't stop you from holding a job...even if it does by reasonable people's standards. I am very sorry to hear about your circumstances.
I have had to deal with mental health issues all my life and honestly prefer to treat the root cause using medication and for therapy simply enjoy nature, taking long walks and living more simply
In the past due to my mental health issues including depression & anxiety I would have not been capable of looking after a dog especially living alone nor do I feel up to that task now which in my opinion would have the reverse effect by adding stress eg. barking, so personally a dog would be of no value to me
I am also concerned of some mental health professionals and the media recommending "just get a dog" there are many people that find out in time they can't cope with looking after a dog and even end up homeless as you can be restricted with available rental accommodation if you end up in a tight financial situation, finally not everyone wants to share a confined space with a dog which has the potential to bite, anyway each to their own
Agreed!!!
Dr Marks originally your videos came up as a suggestion from UA-cam. I’m really glad it did.
I’ve watched a lot of your videos, and this one was particularly interesting to me. My wife has some cognitive impairment, anxiety, and depression issues. She had a stroke a year ago her emotions have changed. We are planning on getting a dog to assist her in some of her disability. I live in a building that voluntarily offered the proper paperwork for an emotional support dog. Thank you again for your video for I think it makes it very clear what you need to do and how helpful it might be.
Not everyone abuses the Emotional Support Animal situation. Too bad so many do.
Thank you for calling out the people who are abusing the system, I have a lot of friends with trained service animals who unfortunately struggle because of the bad reputation fake service animals have given them.
I have autism and chronic illnesses that are making life really hard for me right now, and I think an emotional support cat would really help with the depression and other things. I'm doing a lot of research so I can do it right, and will talk to my therapist about it next time I see them. Thank you for all the information!
Thanks!
Thank you so much Greg. I really appreciate the super thanks. ❤️
I have a Service Dog🐕🦺. Per the ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) Emotional Support Animals (ESAs) DO NOT have public access rights this means they can NOT accompany you into the store or a restaurant. However, some states and stores (Lowe’s for example) do allow pets and ESAs inside stores and at OUTSIDE sitting areas of a restaurant, you just have to check the stores/restaurants policy. Service Animals, per the ADA, are either a dog or a miniature horse that has been TASK trained to help meditate a person’s disability/disabilities. A Service Animal DOES have public access rights. A Service Animal is allowed pretty much anywhere that is open to the public, anywhere the handler goes. There are however a few exceptions to this: they’re not allowed in the Operating Room or the Burn Unit of a hospital, as well as places of worship (have to call and get permission first).
I'd love to have an ESA one day (or psychiatric service animal...I do have a disabling disorder (kind of a russian nesting doll of commonly paired disorders really lol) that's kept me from working recently). I mean, I also just really want a pet in general. I brought it up to my therapist and she loved the idea (but I also live in a no-pet apartment right now).
I currently spend a lot of time with a family member who has dogs because I know how much they help me, right down to getting out of bed. It's so much easier to care for another creature than it is for myself. One of my family members' dogs will lay his whole body over me if he wants me to get up (and at times when I've been depressed and spent the whole day sleeping he'll come sort of check on me, licking my face and giving me attention in ways he doesn't otherwise.) Getting out of bed in the morning is the hardest task of the day and if I don't manage that things can obviously really snowball. I think the combination of deep pressure, the dose of oxytocin, plus the motivation of caring for another creature would really help.
That said, I haven't pursued it because a) it's expensive and my resources are limited and b) any creature in my care deserves more stability than I can offer them right now. There's just nothing better than doggy love. With or without ESA status it's a goal.
💜Pets can do so much for us, humans. I hope we are doing the same in return. I hope those pets are treated well by ppl who use them as emotional support and therapy pet. You know, pets can feel fear, frustration, anxiety so I hope they're well emotionally as well. Plus getting food, water, basic stuff.
Very good point. Animals/pets do feed off their owners energy and if their owner is basically treating them like a non-verbal therapist, that's a lot to put on a creature that doesn't have any training or understanding of what's going on. I also hope they are getting their emotional needs met and are not living in constant states of anxiety, nervousness, fear or depression themselves. I see emotional support animals oftentimes if I go to Walmart or other shops and restaurants, and the people who own them often seem pretty high strung. I just hope the animals still get to live a happy life, they deserve it.
@@YTStoleMyUsername You make good points re service dogs. They still need to be a dog & all dogs need basic things. To get in a brisk walk or walks each day for exercise for the dog. Good nutritious foods, toys to play with, vet care when needed & to get the vaccines dogs need to stay healthy. I see a service dog as not your full time comfort/therapy pet but one part of several areas a person who needs a service dog has to work on.
Maybe meds that calm or therapy with a human therapist so that the human owning a service dog is working on themselves apart from the animal.
Read books by Jon Katz. He gives great insights into what a dog needs from their humans. Dogs are sentient beings & yes a dog can feel what their owner feels. But the dog has needs to meet their well-being & to live a well-rounded life that is fun & has variety & stimulation.
Another view of a dog's inner life is a great book: Merle's Door, Lessons from a Freethinking Dog by Ted Kerasote. I met the author at a book signing of this book. If you love dogs, read this book.
Hope this helps people thinking of having an emotional support dog.
I’m extremely new to ESA and I’m moving very soon. I’m trying to register my dog as an ESA and I hate that I haven’t done it sooner like last year (I was debating on it but didn’t think much of it. I was also really financially unstable last year and couldn’t afford much but I can this year). I’m not trying to get an ESA so I don’t have to pay a fee or to get around dog breed restrictions because she’s a pit bull terrier, I’m trying to register her as an ESA because she actually does help me. I have severe depression and other mental health concerns that came from scarring things in my life. I’ve had dogs all my life but my current dog has helped me get through even the darkest days and the thought of being in a home without her makes me very distressed and anxious. She’s honestly saved me more times than I can count just by being here and giving me support and comfort when I’m feeling distressed. I genuinely need her because it will definitely be very hard to function without her. This video helped a lot.
I’ve also heard of people taking advantage of this and making it hard for people who genuinely need an ESA. I’m doing my best now to prove that my dog genuinely helps me function and prove that this isn’t a game to me. My dog helps me more than anyone can understand and I am doing everything to bring her with me so I can function properly.
There is no such thing as a registered esa or service dog.
I have severe social anxiety and PTSD thanks to the Army and I can't afford a service dog. The best I can do is an emotional support animal. I struggle with depression and anxiety attacks, panic attacks. I wish that a service dog would be more affordable.
Such a shame that some people went overboard and ruined it for others by going with those animals on airplanes.
I work in a office with lots of vets so emotional support animals are common place. Thank you for your insight
Hey dr. Tracey Marks. Could you please make a video about sluggish cognitive tempo?
Yes I'd love this! I have ADHD and my brothers probably do as well, my youngest brother is 14 and has a lot of trouble with feeling like his brain is slower than that of others around him. I'm sure that he is very capable academically, but the combination of his addiction to screens (not that I'm not a screen addict, I am as well) and his seemingly slow cognitive tempo is really holding him back.
Hi Divine. I don’t know enough about this to do a video. From what I see, there’s not an agreed upon criteria yet
Great video. I understand a love for pets but get really annoyed when I am at a grocery store and someone has their chihuahua with them, wearing a "emotional support" leash or jacket, and licking his private parts in the grocery cart while I stand at the fresh vegetable section trying to decide my purchases. Obvious the person filled out a form, paid a fee and received a bogus "emotional support" designation.
I know a service dog when I see one, as the dog is disciplined, trained, and doesn't bother others. And many wear a sign asking others not to interfere or bother the service animal. Personally I think this bogus certificate process of emotional support should be banned.
I would rather see the person seek emotional support from a therapist, and learn to cope with their emotions in a more professional manner. I don't like someone's "emotional support animal" licking me or spreading fleas in my groceries. I don't like it when I have to step over poop in the aisle in a big box store either. I have often thought about picking it up and placing it on the counter of customer service. A few cleanups would get the message across.
Food entities need to ban these emotional support animals/certificate to ensure clean, sanitary conditions.
I worship my cats but make sure they do not bother others.
Most don’t even bother faking it as a service animal, they just take their filthy, parasite infested dog everywhere with them and have no care for how disgusting this is to other people.
ESAs should/are technically banned--most places have legislation about pets in food places and only SDs have access rights. The problem is that places aren't informed and opt to let pets in out of fear of bad press or accidentally creating liability by booting a legit SD. (amusingly, legit service dogs can be booted for any bad behavior--so an SD licking groceries would in fact lose protection and be bootable)
These days ESAs only have permissions regarding housing and I think maybe hotels?
@@Gemma626 Actually, they are making perfect sense, since Emotional Support Animals (ESA's) have absolutely NO public access rights in the United States. They are only legally allowed where normal pets can go. This is due to the fact that ESA's do not have any standards whatsoever. They do not require obedience, they do not require public access training and they are not task trained to mitigate a person's disability. So they have absolutely no reason to ever be in public places unless it's somewhere that allows all pets.
I see people putting their pets in grocery carts.
I have an ESA, but I understand that it’s not like a “medical equipment” like a service dog . It’s crazy that people try to bring untrained animals in certain places and possibly attack service dogs.
Apartment management needs to state whether it’s a pet FEE, which you will not get back, or a pet deposit, which is money put up in case there is damage done specifically by the animal. I don’t understand why pets have to pay rent as well. I lost my emotional support cat last fall. I can’t find anyone who can help me get an animal to replace her. I’m not looking to get out of a deposit. I’m not looking to manipulate a therapist do help me get out of a deposit. And, I am fine with giving a pet deposit. But a monthly rent for the pet as well is the deposit is not fair for folks with a real disability and on a fixed income. I am very fortunate to have a landlord that understands this. Also, she’s an attorney and understands the legalities.
Ever since my two beloved rat terriers passed away I notice I get sad and depressed and I feel lonely. I always felt joy, happiness, contentment when my dogs were alive!
Emotional support animals do not exist in the UK.
Because anyone can benefit from an animal and this stops people from just getting an animal and trying to take it everywhere.
Service animals are not the same and are trained to higher standards.
ESAs don't need to be trained, another reason why something like that doesn't exist here.
People still try it though. We had to tell a man to leave and he showed the metal disc tag on the dogs collar which said THERAPY DOG. He still had to leave and probably made that himself!
@@piperjaycie therapy dogs also don't have access everywhere though.
Therapy dogs have to be booked to attend sessions at places they're needed.
For example when I was 17 and homeless I lived in a halfway support home with other young people, they hired a couple with trained therapy dogs to bring them to the place so we could have animal enrichment which as I stated before, Is great for everyone
@@piperjaycie And there's no law in the UK that states therapy dogs have access everywhere anyway
I lost my therapy dog and I just adopted another dog and his has instincts. I faith he will my need
Individual people do not use therapy animals, they are only used in institutional settings.
I was diagnosed as autistic now that I am nearing 40 and the diagnostic process happened because I have for several years now started to not be able to cope with life as much as I used to. I knew for 10+ years I was possibly autistic but I felt like I coped "ok". Now I am unable to do many things and I am not sure how I used to ever be able to do them prior to the past several years. I love animals but I get too upset if something is wrong, I am the type to bring a pet to the vet over any little thing. I've only owned small pets that stay in a cage or tank. I sometimes feel an emotional support animal such as a dog could help me a lot. I just don't know if I could take care of it AND myself, it may end up being a distraction from myself and a burden. I'm very conflicted. I don't go out anymore, I might even be too uncomfortable bringing a dog. Sometimes I think it would be nice if someone owned a dog but needed me to watch the dog sometimes, that way it has a home to go home to. Kind of curious if anyone reading has this dilemma about wanting a support animal (pending whether I'd be approved one of course) or not due to the responsibility and "burden" (I don't see pets as a burden... But I get overwhelmed easily, and the pet is #1 to me).
Just get a healthy pup :) don’t overthink it, if you feel it’ll help give it a shot. I’d suggest adopt or fostering to test the waters atleast
An important component that people sometimes overlook is that a certified Service Animal is trained to behave flawlessly in public. It isn't just "I need this animal" but also "I promise this animal won't cause problems". If you take a certified service animal into the grocery store they aren't going to touch the food or start barking at another dog. The standard of behavior was set by seeing eye dogs, who obviously can't be running around doing dog stuff while a blind person is relying on them.
What gave emotional support animals a bad rap is that they weren't required to be trained at all, so some of them were poorly trained and behaved badly. Anybody could claim their poorly trained pet was an emotional support animal and let it go hog wild in public. Or have an emotional support animal in their apartment that they leave home alone for 10 hours a day, both causing irritation for the neighbours and proving that they don't actually need it with them providing emotional support at all times.
My mom has a certified service dog and not only can it go everywhere with her, it MUST go everywhere with her. Part of the agreement with the agency that supplied the dog is that it can never be left alone for more than 2 hours. The dog never barks -- not at other dogs, squirrels, cats, nothing. When she visits a grocery store her nose is going a mile a minute, but she never touches anything (unless ordered to pick something up). She's a lab so she loves everyone and loves getting rambunctious at play time, but when she has her vest on she's working 100%. It is a privilege and a responsibility.
Hey just letting you know that their is no certifications for service dogs at all. Any "certifications" are scams, i highly recommend looking up ADA service dogs.
There is NO such thing as a certified service animal.
I am on service-connected disability for PTSD from military service. It has to be pretty bad before mental illness is considered a "disability." I don't handle aggression from people to the degree that working in the field of customer service cracked me after a while. I started having mental breakdowns after dealing with unhappy customers, and anyone who has worked in that field knows that you encounter it all the time. Now, I'm agoraphobic and don't leave my room for weeks on end. I have anxiety from walking outside. It has to be crippling in order to be validated legally. And hell, I'm only considered 70% disabled.
Good morning Dr. Marks. I can't wait to receive your new book.
Oh thank you so much Intentionally Queen. Only 3 more weeks 🙏🏽❤️
I wouldn’t get out of bed if I didn’t have my cats. They are my children. I’m fighting a medical condition and I keep battling for their sake more than my own.
Recently, I noticed that one of my cats picks up on my anxiety and stressors, and he tries to distract me. I used to see it as interruptions until I realized that he was removing me from stressful situations to tend to his needs.
I change my focus and calm down.
I had a dysfunctional landlord who would show up, unannounced, and go off on me. Whenever she would start raising her voice, my cat would actually jump on me. I couldn’t figure out why he was jumping on me and not her! 😂 It would immediately shut her up and I would be forced to walk away to get him off of my back or shoulders. He was protecting me. That’s a service!
He trained himself!They know when I’m not feeling well and come over to snuggle. They’re an endless source of love and support.
I do have a real ESA letter from one of my mental health providers. She agrees that they do provide the support that I need to get through the day.
Struggling with mental problems myself. Previous behaviors that I thought I left behind have begun resurfacing. And one of the behaviors scares me. You wouldn't know it now but my dog HATED my presence. Now we sleep together almost every night. Animals can keep your sanity. However fleeting it may be.
All it takes is a little effort the attempt and attentiveness to help an animal you believe will help you.
I think cats should qualify. Buddy literally saved my life so many times when I was dealing with a breakdown. He used to come to work with me, church, school, etc. If I didn’t have him I doubt I would have lived to be my now stable ADHD me. He was better behaved than most service dogs.
I don't like people abusing the emotional support animals in public or whatnot, but I think it can't be as bad to get a note just to have your animal live with you. Landlords just love to refuse any pets or have such high fees to allow them. Working in an animal shelter, so many people are bringing in pets due to moving and nobody will allow pets anymore. I wish something would be done in that regard.
What if you're allergic to a dog and cats? How can I get a service animal that isnt a dog or cat? If not, then this is medical discrimination. Califronia has bird service animals. It sounds like I have to get a lawyer.
Chickens are my absolute favorite animals for emotional support. Wonderful creatures. ❤🐔
Very informative. Thanks for sharing.
So frustrated in South Africa!! I have a disabled dog and he is not allowed anywhere! Not even in a fully zipped up special pram. He weighs 1kg! Needing constant care, feeds and meds
This is a wonderful explanation, thank you so much!
I've been trying to figure out what term to use for my hedgehog and I may try to get him registered as an ESA now that I know what that really entails. I have a handful of mental disorders that he helps with by giving me a reason to get out of bed and start my day by feeding him because I struggle with getting out of bed for myself. He helps me focus better when he is sitting in my lap because he provides gentle low-level stimulation. He also helps because of the oxytocin-mediated reactions you talked about towards the end of the video, and keeps my mood up throughout the day whenever I see him or think about him. I believe this may qualify him as an ESA (once he would get proper documentation of course) since he cannot be trained like a service animal.
@Tiny Princess I thought I had to have a therapist sign off to say it was an ESA.. I'm a bit confused now sorry
@@finne0nDrs do not register esa or service dogs. There is no such thing as registration.
Legally in the United States there is no such thing as registration, certification or ID's for service animals or emotional support animals. Obtaining them only wastes your money since they don't grant access or offer any legal standing of any kind. Here is what the ADA says about it:
"Covered entities may not require documentation, such as proof that the animal has been certified, trained, or licensed as a service animal, as a condition for entry.
There are individuals and organizations that sell service animal certification or registration documents online. These documents do not convey any rights under the ADA and the Department of Justice does not recognize them as proof that the dog is a service animal."
Also, please note that in the United States emotional support animals do not have any public access rights and are not allowed in businesses that do not normally allow pets.
{another reason why identifying and ESA in public is pointless -- because ESA's can't go into non-pet-friendly businesses anyway and can only go where pets are allowed, so why bother labeling them if they won't ever be questioned since all pets allowed in the places ESA's can go anyway}
"Are emotional support, therapy, comfort, or companion animals considered service animals under the ADA?
No. These terms are used to describe animals that provide comfort just by being with a person. Because they have not been trained to perform a specific job or task, they do not qualify as service animals under the ADA.
I've got a pysch service dog...thank you for making a video talking about the differences
As someone with adhd when I had to get on my flight without my esa pet I was so scared and anxious
Great video. I live in Florida and it just irks me when I see little old ladies smuggle their chihuahua into their oversized purse at a restaurant.
@Tiny Princess no one asked you 🤣
Wait, chihuahuas can be service animals??? Lmaooooo
@@zoliver9304They CAN be service animals, read the ADA.
I don't have a physical disability, but I have intrusive thoughts and anxiety, and its debilitating. I'm not looking to say that I have a disability or looking for special treatment. I have had my dog for 3 years now. When I have a hard time with intrusive thoughts, I have to stop driving for an hour or two. My dog usually comforts me when I have an episode, I am a truck driver and it is effecting my job. I'm not looking to explain myself to any one in wanting a my dog to be an emotional support animal, I've tried to get a letter for my dog, but was denied three times. I'm not sure if it's my dogs breed but would hope that would have nothing to do with it and I'm not sure why. I'm not looking to get into a house anytime soon but would be nice to have it when I decide to stop driving.
Humans get all weirded out when I go up to them and start petting their fur and scratching behind their ears telling them how pretty they are but I've never had any problems with it with any of the other animals I've known.
My “esa” rabbit is trained to sense when I’m having a panic attack and sit on my lap and signal for me trying to get me to lay down then do pressure therapy on my chest to calm me down but I don’t have a therapist what should I do because I wanna make him official my esa cause I’ve had a severe anxiety disorder sense I was very little and Milo is the only thing that actually gets me out of my episodes and calm me, I really don’t think I would be able to live without Milo, I really want to be able to get him certified so I can bring him to college with me, I’m currently in high school, and have parents that think that therapy is a waste of money so I’m kinda stuck, but it really pisses me off when ppl fake esas and servíce dogs so i would never use one of those sites cause I don’t really know it doesn’t feel right for the reason ppl use it for that
I would have liked it if Dr. Marks had been a little more thorough about service animals, particularly in housing. As a LL, I know the law requires me to accept service animals. But I think that many states make it illegal to claim an animal is a service animal when it isn't.
We need some of the "pet" owners and "ESA" owners that are falsely claiming they have a "service animal" charged! If we could get some publicity on those wrongdoers, that might serve as a deterrent. It seems only a LL wrongfully denying an animal hits the news.
If you haven't already could you please do videos on the benefits of being alone and how to effectively visualise.....................
Thank you for educating us all-especially patient advocates.
Never pay for animal certifications -that was all a money making scheme. Getting a proper service animal-yes absolutely.
People bringing animals into public because they feel an emotional need to do so, and having it piss on the floor or lunge and bark at people is getting out of hand. It used to not be allowed to have dogs in restaurants unless the person was blind, and I think that's still best.
I have to admit the time I needed an ESA,, I was so depressed and considering suicide. But NO ONE cared or did anything for me! A guy moved into one of my apartments with an ESA "Piss cat!" No pet fees or damage deposit allowed. His cat destroyed all the carpets/pads, damaged sub floor. This cost me thousands of $ that I did not have! Guy took his cat, paid me NOTHING!
There was once a lady who brought her dog to our workplace. I was eating lunch in the dining area and her dog was running around near my feet. I wanted to kick it. And kick her. Dogs stress me out, which is why I don't have one. It was so selfish of her to bring it to a public workplace and lunchroom at that! Just had to share. I hope pet owners will be more considerate of others and leave their pets at home, or work from home!
Emotional support animals DO NOT have public access rights! Per the ADA, a service dog may go anywhere the public can (excluding sterile environments like kitchens and operating rooms), but an emotional support animal does not have the same strict standards and thus not the same rights. An emotional support animal is not required to be trained at all which often creates a situation for endangering/distracting working service dogs, property damage, hurting people, or general annoyance. An emotional support animal gets to live with a disabled individual, not go everywhere with them.
P.S. Airports typically have "potty stations" which are a square of fake grass and service dogs will be trained to use the bathroom on command.
I think most everyone agrees pets are good to help calm and lower blood pressure. Good things. That alone does not necessarily mean every pet qualifies as an ESA.
Certifying a pet as an ESA has indeed become a cottage industry. Sadly, just like the business of a diploma mill. Just a family doctor's note saying a pet helps Little Johnny stay calm isn't enough to qualify as a disabled person in need of an ESA. Pets help to calm us all, it takes more than just that generic note.
You need to do some more research. Emotional support animals are not allowed in restaurants. The ADA requires businesses to allow service dogs but not ESAs.
Some people harass people with emotional support pets or service animals too. And so yeah
Excellent work
I have cfs my cat thinks she's an emotional support pet not me thinking she is one
If I'm sick she goes and gets my flat mate if I don't go to bed she puts me to bed if I don't eat she puts me into the kitchen if I go upstairs she walks in front of me to stop me going so quick I also have mobility issues my cat thinks she's my owner and I'm her pet she makes an excellent help she is not a trained animal as a service animal but she really does try her very best I do not know how she knows but somehow she knows when I'm sick and when I'm not doing what I need if I need a bath I even get sniffed at and kicked out of bed if anyone else has an animal that has not been trained to do this but does I would absolutely love to hear your Storys it's very late as I fell asleep in the day so it's early hours of the morning and she's tried telling me to go to bed since 1.30 am she will not go without me
Can you imagine if we had comfort people? People who actually had to work to pay their bills before the government stepped. Who fed their kids without asking for handouts? People people who comforted each other and helped each other. Let's try people over animals.
If these emotional support animals had to pass a test like the Canine Good Citizen test then airlines may have not complained as much.
Hot take, I'm fine with people bringing their emotional support animals onto planes whether they're legally service animals or not, since people are pretty much always going to be allowed to bring their babies and small children onto planes regardless. Loud, smelly, and unsanitary? Check, check, and check. I don't much care if it's your two-year-old son or your two-year-old pet. Either way it'll be annoying but hopefully kinda cute.
Respectfully, comparing a baby to an animal in regards to sanitation is offensive and inaccurate??? Babies have diapers, are generally not smelly, and are far more “hygienic” than animals. By the way, ESAs are not always cute dogs. There are many different types of animals that have been permitted on planes as ESAs. I work in the legal field and specialize in this area, so believe me, I have seen a lot.
@@wayNAY87 Kids can make just as much mess and five times the noise. ESAs and service animals are trained to be able to handle travel and different situations but a screeching toddler is always going to be a screeching toddler (for the duration of a flight at least).
@@jeng9927 Exactly. I’d rather sit next to support animals than babies or toddlers.
You pet people are illogical and disgusting. Comparing a damn dirty dog to a human child. Absolutely ridiculous - you are a cancer to society.
Not all ESA are dogs, they can be any species, js.
I have an emotional support when I have an anxiety attack which is frequently
It amazes me how you simplify things and make it sound so easy. Out of curiosity if you have depression would an animal be helpful? Thank you for being you!
I suffered from depression for years, and it got increasingly worse. I’m now on medication that helps me tremendously, but before that, my pets sometimes were the only reason I got out of bed. They needed to be cared for and provided love and companionship. They aren’t a cure, but they can help a lot.
As long as you are able to care for them properly, feed,water,clean up after them, exercise them.
Pets are are a lot of work and can ADD stress and anxiety if you are unlucky and get a problematic pet.
I've noticed that businesses are already posting on their doors that no other animals are allowed in even esa animals to their stores. It says service animals only. Should we report them?
We shouldn't be denying animals the right to self-determination and freedom, the ability to mate when they want, or even their genitalia, just to make us feel better. Humans are animals too and they can evoke the same benefits, you can volunteer, help or mentor cute kinds or the elderly, the best part about emotional support humans, over pets is that they aren't property, so you can form a true relationship with them, and they don't have to pretend to be nice to you for food and shelter.
Interesting to know!
My pets are unofficial ESA… they benefit my mental health A LOT but they‘re not trained or anything.
I also don’t take them anywhere 😄
That's because all animals can be beneficial to people's mental health
My cat was declared as an emotional support animal by my psychiatrist at her suggestion.
I had a problem with moving into an apartment. They weren't clear on the animal policy. They told me no pets. It turned out the apartments on both sides had cats. My psychiatrist helped me to keep my cat. I paid the animal deposit. I never take my cat in public where she isn't allowed. Nor on a plane. I am on disability for several mental illnesses. My cat is a huge emotional support to me.
I am sorry to hear that so many people are abusing this law. I have seen it happen.
@Tiny Princess You are right , I meant to put "support" but I wrote "service". I will change it.
The chemical imbalance hypothesis of what causes depression, could you talk about that?
She might have talked about this in her videos about depression, I recommend you check those out.
Hi Helena as @Bettie v mentioned, check out my depression playlist. I did a video talking about Depression and neuroplasticity being the model over chemical imbalance. I would put the link in this comment but I’m answering this on my phone and if I get out of the app to find the link I’ll lose my place with your comment
I work at a motel we get alot pets most people claim the pet is a emotional support an they have nothing to show they are what they are here my question does the motel have to excepted them
I wouldn’t be alive if not for my cat, even though ESAs get a bad reputation they absolutely have their place and should be honored by landlords
Also miniature horses can be a service animal too.
I have never heard of anyone being able to bring their pets with them on aeroplanes in Australia 😮
I am taking Trazodon 25 mg for insomnia and Cipralex 10 mg. Please guide me. Thanks 🙏
Could you do a video on Asperger’s and ADHD? How many ADHD adults could have Asperger’s that hasn’t been diagnosed.
As someone who's autistic. Dogs are major triggers of sensory overload for me. Licking, barking, the smell, tongue... I prefer a cat.
My question is, why would people say no to someone who needs something like that? Definitely when its obvious and they have forms for it. Its just messsed up honestly.
would you consider making a video on the use of LDN (low dose naltrexone) in psychiatry?
Such an excellent video! Thank you for letting us know our rights. I have mental illness and physical disabilities. (I am not delusional…my mother and neighbor noticed my cat’s gifts, without me saying anything). My cat has an illness affecting the same body systems in the same ways as mine, and he IS aware of it. He literally helps me remember when it’s time to do self-care routines that help me with our common symptoms. He sniffs me loudly, for a long time when I develop infections, sometimes days before I’m diagnosed. He “diagnosed” my dog (cancer), and the neighbor’s (intestinal torsion), in this manner. My neighbor saw how he was sniffing him and looking at her pointedly, and drove him to the vet, where he passed away naturally. The dog looked well when we saw him, but it’s rapidly fatal. Now I just go in when he does this! He supports me through everything. My cat been sickly since kittenhood, and has been with me 19 years. We live with others without these problems. We do different activities, in different ways. We are obviously “in it together.”
What's upsetting is that a service dog is not covered by insurance with any mental issues, only for veterans who have PTSD. That's the case in my country in Europe and I've read that it's the same in the states too. It could've helped me live my life like any functioning human but now it's 2023 and people with mental issues still are on the backseat. Even the medication I used and still use isn't covered. Crazy...
Some of these people take advantage of just getting a letter for ESA makes it hard for small landlords.
I'm a frontline respiratory therapist who cared for the 1st Community spread COVID patient in the United States. I suffer from PTSD. Due to our state laws, I'm not categorized as a first responder, therefore do not have access to the financial resources that others receive. I have 3 young kids, and want to be around to see them grow up. Can somebody help me get a service dog please?