Businesses can actually ask 2 questions about a service animal! They can ask, 'Is that a service animal?' and 'What work or task has the animal been trained to do?' I'm owner training my own service dog, and he's the best :)
I’m just upvoting this, because I came in here to mention those two questions! It’s in the FAQs page on the ADA website if you’re curious to read it. All the best to you on the rest of your service dog training!
We trained my daughter's service dog. It was still expensive but I don't know how we would have survived her going through middle and high school. The only other thing I'd add is that according to the ADA, service animals are not required to wear a vest. We ended up opting to wear one just to get people to shut up. But that's par for the course when a disability is invisible.
My son (10 yo) is autistic and it's part of his bedtime routine to hold our ball python, Betty Spaghetti, for awhile to wind down. Whenever Betty has eaten or is in shed, we have two corn snakes as backup, but Betty is #1. Indeed, snakes can very calming, especially pythons.
I agree with all of that, it’s just too hard to keep your snake on you, and it’s probably stressful for the snake. I’d just suggest getting an animal that likes, and is easy to take everywhere you go.
Even if a service animal is being disruptive they can be asked to leave. If the animal is distracted, they're not doing their job. I do wish more people were more educated on the topic.
Right but the end of the day they are living creatures. I met a blind woman and her lab was a mess. Always wanting attention from her and would leen on her when her bus was there. Very cute. The dog knew the correct bus. Smart dog
Yes!! IMO, instead of arguing about whether a dog is a fake service dog or not, they should focus on behavior. Service dog or not, if they’re not behaving well they can ask them to leave.
As a person with a service dog! THANK YOU! More people need this information. ❤ You did get a couple things wrong, which no worries. I just wanna make sure you have accurate info: 1) Service dogs do not need to be professionally trained or go through a certificate program. They can be trained by their handler. I got insanely lucky and was able to do this. I don't recommend it. You need to understand dog behavior, know the kind of temperament that a service dog needs, and get a very trainable dog. It's doable, but the stars gotta align. 2) Businesses can ask TWO questions about service dogs: Is this animal a service dog? And What service or task is the dog trained to do? A service dog should be trained to do one task related to their owners disability. Mine does sensory grounding. 3) No paperwork is needed to have a service dog. Businesses cannot ask for it. Nor are handlers required to have their dog wear something that says 'service dog.' Most people do cuz it makes our lives easier. 4) A service dog can be kicked out of a public place if they aren't housebroken, or are dirty, aggressive, or otherwise disrupting the regular activities of the place. We're also not allowed places where we would compromise the regular activities of a place, like an open air aviary at a zoo, or if it compromised our safety, like a rollar coaster. 5) People with legitimate service dogs and disabilities do get harassed for faking. We also get barred from entering places because of misinformation, other people's bad experiences, or just because we don't 'look disabled.'. Please be mindful of that. My dog gets mixed up with an ESA due to her being trained for a psychological condition. The perception that we are faking causes harm to our community. Restrictions or accessibility options can be added or removed, for instance (see Disney changing their outside of line waiting policy.) BUT! That's an extra reason why your vid is so important! People bringing their ESA snakes where they shouldn't is part of the issue Thank you for reading And again. Thanks for making this ❤
This just brought me so much joy to see! I have a few mental health diagnoses and my BP girl is one of the only things that can stop a panic attack when it happens. I live in Canada but I’m definitely going to ask my psychiatrist about this. Thanks for letting me know it’s possible!
Top 3 bitey-est dog breeds according to a study put out a few years ago by the journal Applied Animal Behaviour Science: dachshund, chihuahua, and Jack Russel terrier. The study was a survey of owners that included both reported biting of strangers, biting of owners, and aggression toward other dogs. A lot of studies will say pit bulls, German shepherd, etc, but those are only counting bites reported to authorities. Only an estimated 10-50% of all bites are actually reported, which is where most "studies" get their stats. Obviously that leads to majorly skewed data.
Which really sucks when you need to get renter insurance because places like usaa won't insure Sheppards, pit, or rots. When in reality it's my wife's chuweewee that's hyper aggressive.
My snake is my emotional support animal. Not official but when I start to get up tight and anxious all I have to do is be around topaz my corn snake. Just watching her movement and the way she comes to me is so relaxing and calming. You have to be calm and relaxed to handle snakes. So she is training me to have control over my anxiety. You can’t ask for anything more. I love her dearly and rely on her as she relies on me.
you CAN ask two questions about service animals! you can ask "is this a service animal required because of a disability" and "what work/task is this animal trained to do?" and thats it! if the animal is not work/task trained, it can be turned away. ALSO! you missed that emotional support animals can have preferential treatment on planes, and be in the main passenger area with their owner as long as they fit. this one is a bit muddier, but my friend who had an ESA got a letter from the doc to make flying their esa cat to college easier.
Thank you for addressing this topic! I get so angry when people make claims of having an ESA. Ask a person with a TRUE ESA letter if they would rather have an ESA and the mental health issues that goes with that or if they would rather not have their diagnosis and just have a pet.
Here in rural Lincolnshire where members of the farming community hardly ever go anywhere without their dogs, and even non-farmers often stop in at the pub while walking their dogs, the local pubs wouldn't get much business if they didn't allow dogs inside whether they be Service dogs or not. Ferrets are also accepted as the norm in our local, although I imagine that this would be very different in urban environments. 😅
Yeah, I stop by the local pub to grab a soda and a water with my dog on hot days. He absolutely adores the attention, but we mostly stay on the porch after getting drinks
My dog has been trained to be my service animal for my PTSD and panic attacks, he works hard to make sure I'm mentally well. He has to stay updated on vaccines, grooming and his behavior is always on point. My snake is not equipped to handle that kind of pressure lol
My ball python is a registered emotional support snake. My psychologist said it was a amazing idea because my snake always seems to be a lot more active and you can tell he wants out a lot more when my depression is through the roof, I guess it’s the endorphins in the air
I'm autistic with ADHD and have a emotional support dog. I find spending time and handling my snakes so relaxing and soothing. They really help when im in sensory overload. I'd never dream of taking them anywhere. In the UK you have to get a mental health professional to sign your application form for an emotional support animal. You get a certificate and a badge for your animal but you can still be turned away from any business. Ps, my chihuahua is a sweetheart lol 😂😂
Hey Everyone...I FOUND MY SNAKE!!!!!!! She looks ok (missing for just under 3 weeks). I set a cozy warm "Snake Pleasure Island" and IT WORKED!!! Thank you all for your well wishes and prayers!!!❤
Taking care of another living creature that needs you to survive is tremendous for mental health. Last time I was apartment hunting, my psychiatrist added my cats to my prescriptions, because I would not have been ok without them the rental market was awful. I ended up in a pets allowed building in the end, but had only been able to find a no pets building that designation meant everything.
Just wanted to throw my experience in here. I have been diagnosed with ADHD, Autism, and CPTSD. Even when my ball python is on edge, holding her, and feeling her calm down in my hands helps regulate and relax me, especially when my anxiety is really bad. Even looking at pictures of her when I'm not at home helps. I never would have imagined having her would make such a difference to my mental health, but she's made a huge difference in my life.
Demora may bot be the flashiest but she's my favorite. She has a ''grandma vibe'' to her. LOL The Inspector cracks me up for some reason. And yes... Anya is a real looker. You have a really nice menagerie and you obviously take great care of all of them which is a pleasure to watch. I learned tons about snakes watching your videos.
I wrote my collage paper on this! Basically all that matters is that you have a strong bond with your esa and that bond helps you with a mental condition. I have an ESA ball python
If I were to choose one of my snakes for emotional support, it would definitely be my 4.5ft pinstripe girl Penelope. She is by far most chill and friendly of all my snakes. She's my baby.
Snakes are calming just to watch as they move around their enclosures, but I wouldn't bring a snake everywhere I go, as I wouldn't want to stress them out.
Such a good topic, Bob! I often saw fake service dogs at my previous job... I was going to mention the 2 questions that staff are allowed to ask, but I saw someone beat me to it. Unfortunately, if people are faking service animals, they'll just lie when asked. Basically, we (old coworkers & I) had to wait for them to be disruptive... in a movie theater. 🙄
I literally stopped taking my anxiety meds when I became a snake daddy. My focus on my snakes has really helped me keep my anxiety at bay. Not saying I don't get anxious in certain situations, but when I have my snakes in hand I'm ok.
Thank you for this information. I’m gonna look into how it works in my country. Im actually gonna get my first snake tomorrow. It’s gonna be a rescue. Very excited. Thank you so much for all the videos btw. They really helped me feel like I’m prepared to have a snake
My friend had a small dog that was her service animal. The tasks he performed were trained and he was legitimately a service animal. But because he didn't look like people expected him to she was accosted and even challenged and threatened because he OBVIOUSLY wasn't legit. So while I understand the reference, I do wish people would understand that even tiny dogs can be service animals.
Something else that snakes offer that can be hard to find in other animals is their level of interactivity- so much more interactive and tactile than a fish, but typically much less “emotionally demanding” than a cat (not a slight against cats ofc!!!). Having a highly interactive animal like a cat can be a great ESA option if what you need is physical comfort, reciprocated companionship, and frequent reminders to take daily care of your cat and yourself. But if you’re in a place where a cat might actually bother you, like wanting physical contact when you don’t want to be touched, or meowing when you need quiet, then a snake is an animal that can offer physical contact and companionship but will never demand it. Snake proofing a home for free roaming is also a good motivator to keep things clean and have plants, which is also great for mental health
For me my corn snake forces me to have a normal sleep schedule because I realize it's late when my snake's automatic lights turn off which then makes me realize I need to provide him with a night so I turn off unnecessary lights and at that point I realize I'm tired and decide to go to sleep myself. Also, my corn snake uses me as a weird tree branch when I'm handling him which is just free deep pressure therapy when I'm stressed. Like, I held him before an entrance exam since he came out of the hide to see me (he totally came just for food, but I jokingly refuse to acknowledge that and say he came to wish me good luck and give me support), so after holding him for a while I felt calmer and more supported. Then at the entrance exam place I was telling about how my baby snake totally wished me good luck and definitely didn't think I had food. But even when he just came to see if I had food was wonderful, since it means he went against his instinct of "scary giant must hide" and instead came to check if the scary giant had food, which is a lot of progress for a corn snake that tagged me any time I changed his water when he was an oversized shoelace
I met a guy who had a service dog that was a Scottish terrier. His name was Georgie and he was trained to let his owner know if the person they saw was real or a hallucination. He would say "Look, who's that?" and if there was a person there, the dog would go greet them. If there was nobody there the dog would sit.
I got my frilled lizard approved with a doctor’s note ❤ took some work but approved. He is well behaved and never bites. Such a good boy. Never had issues with him in public. I take him with me when I work at the market. My heart rate has lowered greatly thanks to him.
I have a few mental disorders and I am currently in therapy, my therapist gave me a letter so I could have my ball python at my apartment because she is my emotional support snake. I how ever do not take here everywhere I go, because she is for me and only me.
Thank you for making this video! Too many people don't understand this topic, and it's a real problem. I'm a service dog handler and my Standard Poodle comes from a long line of poodles bred to be service dogs, and therapy dogs. Any animal can be an emotional support animal, because there's no training involved. It always makes me laugh when people tell me their pet is a "trained ESA," when that's just not a thing. I strongly believe all pets are, inherently, ESAs, because spending time with our pets has been proven to calm us down. A service animal must be task trained to mitigate the handler's disability. Service horses are great for people who need physical tasks that most dogs are too small for. There are lots of folks who have animals other than dogs and mini horses trained to perform tasks for them at home, but the ADA only protects public access for trained mini horses and dogs. People bringing fake SDs and ESAs into public spaces cause real health issues for legitimate handlers like me. I need my dog to help me wherever I am, and when badly-behaved pets people claim are SDs and ESAs, business owners, understandably, start wanting to ban any animals, and being denied access really sucks.
My snake is my emotional support. Snakes make me feel relaxed and calm. Beautiful creatures. How sad only Dogs and Horses can be service animals. My cat saved my life, but that is a different subject. I should think Pot Bellied Pigs would be trainable as well. It is said they are smarter than Dogs.
I have a task trained service dog and I’m so happy to see more people discussing this. Thank you so much! ❤ We’ve encountered a couple fake service dogs and it can be dangerous for real service dogs. We’ve been lucky and haven’t been attacked, but I’ve seen so many teams that have been attacked by fakes and then the dog has to retire because now they’re nervous being in public. Fakes barking at service dogs can also distract the service dog and make them miss an alert which can be very dangerous for the handler
Mini horses can live like 30 years or something crazy, so you can have a service animal that far outlives a dog by decades, which is a lot more convenient and is less expensive in training. P.S. I played this video while cleaning snake tubs, and now they all want me to take them to Cheesecake Factory.
One of our snakes is my son’s wind down animal. If he’s feeling over whelmed or needs to wind down we bring her out and let her chill with him. (This happens 2-3 times a week) We have five ball python and if Ophelia is in shed, eaten or doesn’t want out when we ask one of the others.
As a very mentally ill and autistic man, I feel like snakes are incredibly calming to handle, and even if I love my cats and my dog to pieces, no other pet ever made me feel like it could "understand'' that feeling of otherness I feel when I cannot connect with other human beings. They don't understand me and they don't love me, I understand them the best I can and I love them, and we build a relation based on nothing but mutual trust. It's very grounding. Also both species I own have very different personalities so handling them fulfill different needs. My southern pine is active and darty and curious and my python is slow and deliberate and watching her roam is so soothing
My ball python is my emotional support animal. I had to get a letter from a doctor. My condo building does not allow dogs, cats, spiders or snakes but the board had to approve my emotional support animal and they were very kind about it luckily but legally they have to allow it anyways.
Its wild that snakes and spiders are on that same pet list as dogs and cats. I have all but spiders (theyre cool just dont know enough to get any). Two of them can destroy property and get allergens everywhere, the other can smell like pee in the morning twice a month.
“why is your tail so strong?” I KNOW RIGHT?!? I was trying to get my guy out of his enclosure and he has this branch that he loves. He had just his tail wrapped around the branch and (I have severe arthritis and I can only stand for like 5 minutes at a time) I was forced to just give up, put the rest of him, that was gripping on to me might I add, back, give up and go lay down.
A few points to make. The service animal is not required to wear a vest. It is common but not required. Also on that note, handlers can use whatever equipment they need to as long as it's humane. I've seen people cast doubt because the dog has a pinch collar before but nothing in the regulations says they can't. A business can ask a few questions. Off the top of my head I don't have them memorized, but it has to do with asking what tasks they perform. If you look it up it should be out there. A place of business can ask a person with a service animal to leave if the dog is being disruptive. As far as I'm aware, there actually are no grooming requirements for service animals. I'm a dog groomer and have groomed several service animals. I've seen some of these dogs come in rough shape, and yes I know for a fact the dog is a service animal. I won't divulge personal information though. The unfortunate fact is people with disabilities are frequently living in poverty, there is no government supplemental income to get the dog groomed and any government aid they do live on is poverty level income. Unless someone in their family is able to provide support or they can work, then they can't afford grooming. People can train their dogs themselves, but it is extremely difficult to do so, which is why so many people go through a facility. Guide dogs are actually one of the most highly trained service animals and if a dog can't pass their training there, they tend to trickle down into other training to see if they will succeed at other tasks.
Thank you for this video. As someone with a service dog, I really appreciate you spreading info on this. To answer your question on why miniature horses, they are often for mobility tasks for larger people that would be too much for a dog
One benefit of mini horses over dogs is mini horses can live well into their late 20's where most service dogs live to maybe their mid-teens. For how long it takes to train a true service animal the longer they can be useful the better the investment.
I have a doctor's note for my leopard gecko. She is completely my emotional support animal--she helps with my heart rate since I had COVID and depression that I had starting in college. True service animals I believe need to be trainable. I would never think to take her to an actual like restaurant to sit down and eat 😂
I believe in the States you are allowed to ask what things the service animal does. Paul Castle, a blind artist and UA-camr, has had some experiences recently and talks about this problem.
Ball pythons are definitely great for autistic people. So quiet, you can get all their stuff online from the same stores over and over, enrichment doesnt require hours of socializing a day, can do all their care on a fairly strick shedule, their body language is pretty consistent, etc etc. Still for autistic adults or responsible parents, not peoples 5 year old nephews, but compared to other esas or pets they are the bomb.
My cali king is mentioned in letter(s) from my psychiater. But it is the truth. I feel a lot calmer and happier (more stable) if he's around my neck, arm, just crawling and being curious. He really helps me relax. I don't take him anywhere. It will just be good to get him 100% with me when I move out to an appartment. Greetings from Belgium.👍
Speaking from personal experience with social anxiety, having a python with me is a huge help. However the sort of social situations in which I feel most anxious are typically also the ones least suited to taking a snake to. Fortunately our friend circle is just as fond of the snakes as we are, so they are welcome at social gatherings in people's houses. Concerts, fairs and suchlike are of course a no-no though.
I consider my pet snakes (a ball python and a hognose) to be emotional support animals, particularly my bp Sunflower. Her slow movements and the feel of her scales will often prevent me from going into a panic attack, or will stop it once I’ve got her out.
I have an ESA, a cat at the moment, and yup all true. i did pick up some ESA identifying things (leash, tag) because i was searching for housing and if i got into a place that didn't allow pets i wanted to be able to clearly show why I was allowed a pet. (also at the time my therapist said there are some public places that allow them). I ended up in an apartment that allows all manner of pets which is honestly better because i'm not under extra scrutiny regardless. My cat is great and i love nem but i very much see how a snake could maybe be a better fit in some ways, they're a bit less physically demanding and in many cases more chill to just cuddle whereas a cat more wants to have company on their terms only. Still supportive and good but i can definitely agree that variety for a variety of needs is helpful. (also i'm Autistic and most of us prefer the phrasing "is Autistic" over "has autism" ^.^ ).
I have severe allergies and cant have the typical e.s. pet, so i opted to get a spotted python and a hognose lol, before i moved into my current residence i had to provide a note from my doctor, but they allowed both to move in with me. my spotted python 'Bean' is the best. Chubby my hognose well he's more comical entertainment.
I have a crazy job, where I have to think a lot, and because snakes get freaked out by fast movements I have to force myself to be calmer, slower and more deliberate. Definitely beneficial and calming. Interesting factoid that I learned from someone who tried to game the system by getting an emotional support designation for his pet. The psychological diagnosis required to get the designation threatened his ability to hold a security clearance for his job, so he had to walk it back.😃 I also do not recommend emotional support black mambas.🤣
I was curious about the mini horse service animal a while back, and one of the main reasons to have a horse instead of a dog is that horses live much longer than dogs, and thus have more working years. Someone who needs a service animal for the rest of their life would have to go through a lot of service dogs.
My snake help me with may stress from work im less stressed except for the last few weeks we had a selection in europe and my work was a total mess. But since he is in my care im much happier.
ESA are different than service animals. Thank you for covering this topic! I am getting trained for therapy animals for psychotherapy and will use snakes for that.
I never even thought of this being a topic for a video, but I enjoyed watching! I'm in Canada, and I think basically have only seen dogs as service animals whether it be for emotional support or for some other reason that a service animal would be beneficial.
I have autism and i like the feeling of the scales against my lips and hands and it calms me if im really overstimulated and scare my dog away i go to my snake but if i feel like im gonna want to squeeze something i don't touch my animals
The business can ask what tasks they are trained to do. But that's it. They also don't have to have a vest. And an ESS can attack a legit service animal and cause it to be retired from work.
I think the laws regarding service animals and emotional support animals could use some tinkering and clarification. For service animals, there should be a requirement to have a standard government-issued license, which could be displayed prominently on the animal's collar or vest. That way, a business owner or employee could immediately verify that the animal is a legitimate service animal. The proliferation of emotional support animals and people abusing the system has become a problem. If someone has a legitimate need to have an emotional support animal around at all times even in public spaces, that animal should be trained, certified, and licensed as a service animal. (Maybe some additional species should be allowed for this purpose, provided that they can be properly trained and are suited to this work. Snakes are definitely not suitable for this.) People shouldn't be allowed to take their untrained mutts everywhere they want to go. I also think it would be reasonable to require some level of training and certification for some species of emotional support animals that are permitted to live in residences where they otherwise wouldn't be allowed. Dogs are banned from certain places for a reason; they can be noisy, destructive, and dangerous. Cats can also be destructive and messy if they aren't given proper care and training. (Popular species of pet snakes don't have these problems.) It is entirely reasonable for a landlord to refuse to allow someone to bring in a deranged dog that chews up the walls and barks its head off for hours on end. It is ridiculous that all someone needs to do to have an emotional support animal is to get a note from a mental health professional. There should be training requirements for both the owner and, where necessary (i.e. dogs), the animal. There should also be a government-issued license so that the legitimacy of the animal can be easily confirmed.
I have personally trained a couple service dogs and helped train a lot more. It is a lot of work and people who just want to bring their pet everywhere makes it so much harder for a trainer. I have to worry if my dog barks outside of an alert or breaks from a heal outside of alerting but there are a lot of people who don't. once my service dog got attacked buy someone's pet pitbull in a grocery store because they didn't want to hold the leash. it ended fine because my dog and the one we were testing were trained well enough that it fased the handlers more than the dogs.
I just started the video so you may have talked about it. Snakes can’t be a service animal because only dogs and I believe mini horses can. Not sure if there’s species requirements for ESA’s but ESA status only gives protection for housing and transportation. Edit: You did talk about it! Good on you for your thorough research! Great video on an interesting topic!
Omg yesssss 👏🏻 Thank you for making this videooo!! 🙌🏻 As a server I see this all the time, middle-age ladies with their little toy dogs coming in and saying that they’re service animals 🦮 When really the dog is acting just like any other bratty little chihuahua🙄 But yeah it’s kind of ironic lol but pythons definitely have a calming energy to them 🩵
I didn't think my snakes were emotional support animals until all three decided to shed at the same time. Thanks for letting me watch your emotional support snakes.
It’s so annoying that people like that believe they can just slap a vest on their dog or “register” them when service dogs aren’t required to wear a vest and there is no registry for service animals.
minihorses are great for folks allergic to dogs, fearful of dogs ect, that still needs help regardless. brilliant lil cloppers :3 they're commonly used in the same way guide dogs are since they are smol but sturdy. i do have an esa, but she stays Home where she's safest. having my noodle in public is a safety risk for Her. and That makes me stressed, which triggers my chronic health issues. handling her on the other hand, helps me focus and be in the present. she would accompany me for some telehealth appointments, but thats it.
When our cocker spaniel was with us we used to call her 'Pestistance Spaniel' as more representative of 'Assistance Spaniel' which she wasn't. A very much loved pe(s)t.
Amazing that you put this video up! I just spoke of that this week and because I have an emotional support animal and many snakes. I take my snakes many places and I feel they do help me with what I need and others for learning
Now that I’ve watched the full video. My ESA is actually a 3lb chihuahua 😂 she’s sweet. I don’t take the animals everywhere and abuse but I do bring them out place I can or need them. Snakes I just naturally feel such a calming help from where my dog is more service and has things that key her to work and try to gain my attention.
I read a story about a miniature service horse once. The owner decided to have the horse because they live longer than dogs and she didn't want to go through the grief of losing a dog after only a few years again.
Hah! I've asked myself that question often recently. I say yes, because part of the therapeutic benefit of having almost any ESA could well stem from the simple act of having to care for another living being. And BP will need that care to a large extent. Like occupational therapy. If that makes any sense.
I agree with you...I hate how people do try and game the ssssystem. I'd never take a companion animal out in public. The only time mine have gone in public is to the Vet,and then in carriers. But I'd especially never take a reptile out in public.
So basically There are no rules for what animals can be emotional support animals Service animals need training and have more rules and regulations but an esa animal is exactly what it sounds like and only need a license which is like 150$ but the caveat is pretty much the esa animals only benefit is you can have it any place of residency nothing about traveling
You do not require a license for ESA' s, only a letter from a board certified psychiatrist. There are a bunch of websites that advertise certification services, but they're unnecessary. Don't waste your money on them.
Thank you for highlighting the benefits of snakes as ESAs! I’m a therapist specializing in working with autistic adults and have written ESA letters for clients with ball pythons ❤
SOME ball pythons are a tad more aware and interact and attempt to communicate with humans more than others. I do have a ball python that tightens around my neck in an attempt to communicate. In her case, I'm pretty sure she views me like a human might view a horse, so if I'm walking around with her, she will tighten when I go somewhere she doesn't want me to go. It's like she's trying to control my movements by communicating her displeasure. Can they predict a seizure? I don't know, maybe they just sensed a physiological change in their human and it made them nervous so they tensed up?
Some people are terrified of snakes so thats one reason I won't take mine out, that and the law - here in australia you cannot take your reptile out unless its going to a reptile show or the vet. Plue one in particular, Tyson the Woma is particularly bitey and sometimes unpredictable. Thank god he isn't a hot snake!
I was allergic to cats and dogs as a kid so I had snakes and lizards. I find snakes really calming for the most part depending on species. I think most boas would make a good emotional support snake too.
Great video!! My ball pythons are very calming and relaxing to me when stressed or anxious, my children adore them also, my 6 year old has adhd and holding one of them helps her chill out for that time, my son is autistic and has taken an interest in them. And my youngest just thinks they are cute lol but definitely a great pet. ❤
I have 4 ball pythons and 2 red tailed boas. All 6 offer peace and serenity to me and many of my friends. One ball python, Zeus, has empathy. If you don’t believe me, I don’t care. If I’m sad, Zeus knows it. He will stay around my neck, left me pet his tail and he gives me the best massage. He sticks around until he senses I’m doing better. I would have thought this wasn’t a real thing if he had only done that for me. He will do the same for any😮that’s sad. If you aren’t sad, he wants to get down and slither. Anyone else have an empathetic reptile? I believe they do have love in them
Unfortunately, it's possible to be allergic to the oil snakes secrete to help with shedding. (You'll never guess how I know 😅😂) I didn't know that before I got my first one, but luckily my allergy is mild. I just get a bit of an itchy rash that lasts for a few hours if I handle them while they're in shed or right after they've finished shedding (or if I handle the shed before it's dry). To be fair to snakes, I'm also allergic to a couple of other things "no one" is allergic to, so I think in general it's definitely safe to call them hypoallergenic.
Businesses can actually ask 2 questions about a service animal! They can ask, 'Is that a service animal?' and 'What work or task has the animal been trained to do?'
I'm owner training my own service dog, and he's the best :)
Good to know, thanks for that!
You're welcome!
I’m just upvoting this, because I came in here to mention those two questions! It’s in the FAQs page on the ADA website if you’re curious to read it.
All the best to you on the rest of your service dog training!
I was thinking the same thing!!!
We trained my daughter's service dog. It was still expensive but I don't know how we would have survived her going through middle and high school. The only other thing I'd add is that according to the ADA, service animals are not required to wear a vest. We ended up opting to wear one just to get people to shut up. But that's par for the course when a disability is invisible.
My son (10 yo) is autistic and it's part of his bedtime routine to hold our ball python, Betty Spaghetti, for awhile to wind down. Whenever Betty has eaten or is in shed, we have two corn snakes as backup, but Betty is #1. Indeed, snakes can very calming, especially pythons.
Check out snake therapy by Shira loa. She talks a lot about this.
I've noticed the same thing with my nephew! He calms right down when he holds Monty.
I agree with all of that, it’s just too hard to keep your snake on you, and it’s probably stressful for the snake. I’d just suggest getting an animal that likes, and is easy to take everywhere you go.
Hanging out at my snakes is my favorite nighttime routine for exactly this reason
@@tammyfrancis7856it’s not hard to keep a snake at all! You just can’t take it everywhere
It literally just occurred to me that a ball python is basically a fidget toy and that’s probably why they’re so calming to hold.
Even if a service animal is being disruptive they can be asked to leave. If the animal is distracted, they're not doing their job. I do wish more people were more educated on the topic.
Right but the end of the day they are living creatures. I met a blind woman and her lab was a mess. Always wanting attention from her and would leen on her when her bus was there. Very cute. The dog knew the correct bus. Smart dog
Yes!! IMO, instead of arguing about whether a dog is a fake service dog or not, they should focus on behavior. Service dog or not, if they’re not behaving well they can ask them to leave.
@@Shastasnow Honestly, anyone I've met with an actual service dog being obnoxious excuses themselves. Animals need breaks too.
Source?
@@Usnveteranstacker www.ada.gov/resources/service-animals-2010-requirements/
As a person with a service dog! THANK YOU! More people need this information. ❤
You did get a couple things wrong, which no worries. I just wanna make sure you have accurate info:
1) Service dogs do not need to be professionally trained or go through a certificate program. They can be trained by their handler. I got insanely lucky and was able to do this. I don't recommend it. You need to understand dog behavior, know the kind of temperament that a service dog needs, and get a very trainable dog. It's doable, but the stars gotta align.
2) Businesses can ask TWO questions about service dogs:
Is this animal a service dog?
And
What service or task is the dog trained to do?
A service dog should be trained to do one task related to their owners disability. Mine does sensory grounding.
3) No paperwork is needed to have a service dog. Businesses cannot ask for it. Nor are handlers required to have their dog wear something that says 'service dog.' Most people do cuz it makes our lives easier.
4) A service dog can be kicked out of a public place if they aren't housebroken, or are dirty, aggressive, or otherwise disrupting the regular activities of the place. We're also not allowed places where we would compromise the regular activities of a place, like an open air aviary at a zoo, or if it compromised our safety, like a rollar coaster.
5) People with legitimate service dogs and disabilities do get harassed for faking. We also get barred from entering places because of misinformation, other people's bad experiences, or just because we don't 'look disabled.'. Please be mindful of that. My dog gets mixed up with an ESA due to her being trained for a psychological condition. The perception that we are faking causes harm to our community. Restrictions or accessibility options can be added or removed, for instance (see Disney changing their outside of line waiting policy.) BUT! That's an extra reason why your vid is so important! People bringing their ESA snakes where they shouldn't is part of the issue
Thank you for reading
And again. Thanks for making this ❤
Thanks for that info!
@@GreenRoomPythons Youre Welcome! If you have questions feel free to ask!!
Not the “clip clop clip clop” 😂
I have a registered/ prescribed ball Python ESA. I can confidently say that she saved me after my deployment❤
This just brought me so much joy to see! I have a few mental health diagnoses and my BP girl is one of the only things that can stop a panic attack when it happens. I live in Canada but I’m definitely going to ask my psychiatrist about this. Thanks for letting me know it’s possible!
Top 3 bitey-est dog breeds according to a study put out a few years ago by the journal Applied Animal Behaviour Science: dachshund, chihuahua, and Jack Russel terrier. The study was a survey of owners that included both reported biting of strangers, biting of owners, and aggression toward other dogs. A lot of studies will say pit bulls, German shepherd, etc, but those are only counting bites reported to authorities. Only an estimated 10-50% of all bites are actually reported, which is where most "studies" get their stats. Obviously that leads to majorly skewed data.
Which really sucks when you need to get renter insurance because places like usaa won't insure Sheppards, pit, or rots. When in reality it's my wife's chuweewee that's hyper aggressive.
@@Inverts4IntrovertsI love that it’s a chuweewee
My snake is my emotional support animal. Not official but when I start to get up tight and anxious all I have to do is be around topaz my corn snake. Just watching her movement and the way she comes to me is so relaxing and calming. You have to be calm and relaxed to handle snakes. So she is training me to have control over my anxiety. You can’t ask for anything more. I love her dearly and rely on her as she relies on me.
you CAN ask two questions about service animals! you can ask "is this a service animal required because of a disability" and "what work/task is this animal trained to do?" and thats it! if the animal is not work/task trained, it can be turned away. ALSO! you missed that emotional support animals can have preferential treatment on planes, and be in the main passenger area with their owner as long as they fit. this one is a bit muddier, but my friend who had an ESA got a letter from the doc to make flying their esa cat to college easier.
That's great, thanks for the added info!
Thank you for addressing this topic! I get so angry when people make claims of having an ESA. Ask a person with a TRUE ESA letter if they would rather have an ESA and the mental health issues that goes with that or if they would rather not have their diagnosis and just have a pet.
Here in rural Lincolnshire where members of the farming community hardly ever go anywhere without their dogs, and even non-farmers often stop in at the pub while walking their dogs, the local pubs wouldn't get much business if they didn't allow dogs inside whether they be Service dogs or not. Ferrets are also accepted as the norm in our local, although I imagine that this would be very different in urban environments. 😅
That would be fun to take a ferret to the pub
Yeah, I stop by the local pub to grab a soda and a water with my dog on hot days. He absolutely adores the attention, but we mostly stay on the porch after getting drinks
My dog has been trained to be my service animal for my PTSD and panic attacks, he works hard to make sure I'm mentally well. He has to stay updated on vaccines, grooming and his behavior is always on point. My snake is not equipped to handle that kind of pressure lol
That's great, sounds like a fantastic dog!
@@GreenRoomPythons He puts in the work, he's the goodest of boys
My ball python is a registered emotional support snake. My psychologist said it was a amazing idea because my snake always seems to be a lot more active and you can tell he wants out a lot more when my depression is through the roof, I guess it’s the endorphins in the air
lol ok sure.
I'm autistic with ADHD and have a emotional support dog. I find spending time and handling my snakes so relaxing and soothing. They really help when im in sensory overload. I'd never dream of taking them anywhere.
In the UK you have to get a mental health professional to sign your application form for an emotional support animal. You get a certificate and a badge for your animal but you can still be turned away from any business.
Ps, my chihuahua is a sweetheart lol 😂😂
That's great, thanks for letting us know what they do in the UK! It sounds like it's pretty similar to the US rules
@@GreenRoomPythons you're welcome 😊
Hey Everyone...I FOUND MY SNAKE!!!!!!! She looks ok (missing for just under 3 weeks). I set a cozy warm "Snake Pleasure Island" and IT WORKED!!! Thank you all for your well wishes and prayers!!!❤
Taking care of another living creature that needs you to survive is tremendous for mental health.
Last time I was apartment hunting, my psychiatrist added my cats to my prescriptions, because I would not have been ok without them the rental market was awful. I ended up in a pets allowed building in the end, but had only been able to find a no pets building that designation meant everything.
Short answer yes. I’m actually just going for a walk with my seeing eye snake on his leash
😅😉
Also, Anya is totally my favourite, always happy to see her as co-host. She's beautiful.
Aw, thanks so much!
“Emotional Annoyance Snake” 🤣 😂
Just wanted to throw my experience in here. I have been diagnosed with ADHD, Autism, and CPTSD. Even when my ball python is on edge, holding her, and feeling her calm down in my hands helps regulate and relax me, especially when my anxiety is really bad. Even looking at pictures of her when I'm not at home helps. I never would have imagined having her would make such a difference to my mental health, but she's made a huge difference in my life.
Also, yes please, it's already so hard for us to get ADA accommodations. Please don't pretend to need them.
Colubrids make great service dogs
😅😉
Demora may bot be the flashiest but she's my favorite. She has a ''grandma vibe'' to her. LOL The Inspector cracks me up for some reason. And yes... Anya is a real looker. You have a really nice menagerie and you obviously take great care of all of them which is a pleasure to watch. I learned tons about snakes watching your videos.
Thanks so much!
I wrote my collage paper on this! Basically all that matters is that you have a strong bond with your esa and that bond helps you with a mental condition. I have an ESA ball python
If I were to choose one of my snakes for emotional support, it would definitely be my 4.5ft pinstripe girl Penelope. She is by far most chill and friendly of all my snakes. She's my baby.
Snakes are calming just to watch as they move around their enclosures, but I wouldn't bring a snake everywhere I go, as I wouldn't want to stress them out.
Such a good topic, Bob! I often saw fake service dogs at my previous job... I was going to mention the 2 questions that staff are allowed to ask, but I saw someone beat me to it. Unfortunately, if people are faking service animals, they'll just lie when asked. Basically, we (old coworkers & I) had to wait for them to be disruptive... in a movie theater. 🙄
I literally stopped taking my anxiety meds when I became a snake daddy. My focus on my snakes has really helped me keep my anxiety at bay. Not saying I don't get anxious in certain situations, but when I have my snakes in hand I'm ok.
Thank you for this information. I’m gonna look into how it works in my country. Im actually gonna get my first snake tomorrow. It’s gonna be a rescue. Very excited. Thank you so much for all the videos btw. They really helped me feel like I’m prepared to have a snake
Congrats on the new snake!
My friend had a small dog that was her service animal. The tasks he performed were trained and he was legitimately a service animal. But because he didn't look like people expected him to she was accosted and even challenged and threatened because he OBVIOUSLY wasn't legit. So while I understand the reference, I do wish people would understand that even tiny dogs can be service animals.
Something else that snakes offer that can be hard to find in other animals is their level of interactivity- so much more interactive and tactile than a fish, but typically much less “emotionally demanding” than a cat (not a slight against cats ofc!!!). Having a highly interactive animal like a cat can be a great ESA option if what you need is physical comfort, reciprocated companionship, and frequent reminders to take daily care of your cat and yourself. But if you’re in a place where a cat might actually bother you, like wanting physical contact when you don’t want to be touched, or meowing when you need quiet, then a snake is an animal that can offer physical contact and companionship but will never demand it. Snake proofing a home for free roaming is also a good motivator to keep things clean and have plants, which is also great for mental health
For me my corn snake forces me to have a normal sleep schedule because I realize it's late when my snake's automatic lights turn off which then makes me realize I need to provide him with a night so I turn off unnecessary lights and at that point I realize I'm tired and decide to go to sleep myself.
Also, my corn snake uses me as a weird tree branch when I'm handling him which is just free deep pressure therapy when I'm stressed.
Like, I held him before an entrance exam since he came out of the hide to see me (he totally came just for food, but I jokingly refuse to acknowledge that and say he came to wish me good luck and give me support), so after holding him for a while I felt calmer and more supported. Then at the entrance exam place I was telling about how my baby snake totally wished me good luck and definitely didn't think I had food.
But even when he just came to see if I had food was wonderful, since it means he went against his instinct of "scary giant must hide" and instead came to check if the scary giant had food, which is a lot of progress for a corn snake that tagged me any time I changed his water when he was an oversized shoelace
I met a guy who had a service dog that was a Scottish terrier. His name was Georgie and he was trained to let his owner know if the person they saw was real or a hallucination. He would say "Look, who's that?" and if there was a person there, the dog would go greet them. If there was nobody there the dog would sit.
I got my frilled lizard approved with a doctor’s note ❤ took some work but approved. He is well behaved and never bites. Such a good boy. Never had issues with him in public. I take him with me when I work at the market. My heart rate has lowered greatly thanks to him.
I have a few mental disorders and I am currently in therapy, my therapist gave me a letter so I could have my ball python at my apartment because she is my emotional support snake. I how ever do not take here everywhere I go, because she is for me and only me.
You can actually ask two questions regarding service animals. You can ask if it is a service animals and what tasks it is trained to perform
I do know that a business cannot ask what the disability is, but they can ask what the dog does for you (or horse). Great vid!
I am so relaxed when I hold our BP Kaa, he's so chill when anyone holds him. I'm highly allergic to everything with fur and feathers
I have an emotional support BOA. He is very sweet and calming for my autism.
Thank you for making this video! Too many people don't understand this topic, and it's a real problem.
I'm a service dog handler and my Standard Poodle comes from a long line of poodles bred to be service dogs, and therapy dogs. Any animal can be an emotional support animal, because there's no training involved. It always makes me laugh when people tell me their pet is a "trained ESA," when that's just not a thing. I strongly believe all pets are, inherently, ESAs, because spending time with our pets has been proven to calm us down.
A service animal must be task trained to mitigate the handler's disability. Service horses are great for people who need physical tasks that most dogs are too small for. There are lots of folks who have animals other than dogs and mini horses trained to perform tasks for them at home, but the ADA only protects public access for trained mini horses and dogs.
People bringing fake SDs and ESAs into public spaces cause real health issues for legitimate handlers like me. I need my dog to help me wherever I am, and when badly-behaved pets people claim are SDs and ESAs, business owners, understandably, start wanting to ban any animals, and being denied access really sucks.
My snake is my emotional support. Snakes make me feel relaxed and calm. Beautiful creatures. How sad only Dogs and Horses can be service animals. My cat saved my life, but that is a different subject. I should think Pot Bellied Pigs would be trainable as well. It is said they are smarter than Dogs.
I have a task trained service dog and I’m so happy to see more people discussing this. Thank you so much! ❤
We’ve encountered a couple fake service dogs and it can be dangerous for real service dogs. We’ve been lucky and haven’t been attacked, but I’ve seen so many teams that have been attacked by fakes and then the dog has to retire because now they’re nervous being in public. Fakes barking at service dogs can also distract the service dog and make them miss an alert which can be very dangerous for the handler
Mini horses can live like 30 years or something crazy, so you can have a service animal that far outlives a dog by decades, which is a lot more convenient and is less expensive in training.
P.S. I played this video while cleaning snake tubs, and now they all want me to take them to Cheesecake Factory.
One of our snakes is my son’s wind down animal. If he’s feeling over whelmed or needs to wind down we bring her out and let her chill with him. (This happens 2-3 times a week) We have five ball python and if Ophelia is in shed, eaten or doesn’t want out when we ask one of the others.
I think the dog that is the most aggressive, with the most person biting per year is the dachshund, followed by the chihuahua and tea cup poodle
As a very mentally ill and autistic man, I feel like snakes are incredibly calming to handle, and even if I love my cats and my dog to pieces, no other pet ever made me feel like it could "understand'' that feeling of otherness I feel when I cannot connect with other human beings. They don't understand me and they don't love me, I understand them the best I can and I love them, and we build a relation based on nothing but mutual trust. It's very grounding. Also both species I own have very different personalities so handling them fulfill different needs. My southern pine is active and darty and curious and my python is slow and deliberate and watching her roam is so soothing
My ball python is my emotional support animal. I had to get a letter from a doctor. My condo building does not allow dogs, cats, spiders or snakes but the board had to approve my emotional support animal and they were very kind about it luckily but legally they have to allow it anyways.
Its wild that snakes and spiders are on that same pet list as dogs and cats. I have all but spiders (theyre cool just dont know enough to get any). Two of them can destroy property and get allergens everywhere, the other can smell like pee in the morning twice a month.
It actually says in the bi laws snakes get loose and live in the walls of the building and breed and infest the building. 😂
“why is your tail so strong?”
I KNOW RIGHT?!?
I was trying to get my guy out of his enclosure and he has this branch that he loves. He had just his tail wrapped around the branch and (I have severe arthritis and I can only stand for like 5 minutes at a time) I was forced to just give up, put the rest of him, that was gripping on to me might I add, back, give up and go lay down.
A few points to make.
The service animal is not required to wear a vest. It is common but not required. Also on that note, handlers can use whatever equipment they need to as long as it's humane. I've seen people cast doubt because the dog has a pinch collar before but nothing in the regulations says they can't.
A business can ask a few questions. Off the top of my head I don't have them memorized, but it has to do with asking what tasks they perform. If you look it up it should be out there.
A place of business can ask a person with a service animal to leave if the dog is being disruptive.
As far as I'm aware, there actually are no grooming requirements for service animals. I'm a dog groomer and have groomed several service animals. I've seen some of these dogs come in rough shape, and yes I know for a fact the dog is a service animal. I won't divulge personal information though. The unfortunate fact is people with disabilities are frequently living in poverty, there is no government supplemental income to get the dog groomed and any government aid they do live on is poverty level income. Unless someone in their family is able to provide support or they can work, then they can't afford grooming.
People can train their dogs themselves, but it is extremely difficult to do so, which is why so many people go through a facility. Guide dogs are actually one of the most highly trained service animals and if a dog can't pass their training there, they tend to trickle down into other training to see if they will succeed at other tasks.
Thank you for this video. As someone with a service dog, I really appreciate you spreading info on this. To answer your question on why miniature horses, they are often for mobility tasks for larger people that would be too much for a dog
One benefit of mini horses over dogs is mini horses can live well into their late 20's where most service dogs live to maybe their mid-teens. For how long it takes to train a true service animal the longer they can be useful the better the investment.
I have a doctor's note for my leopard gecko. She is completely my emotional support animal--she helps with my heart rate since I had COVID and depression that I had starting in college. True service animals I believe need to be trainable. I would never think to take her to an actual like restaurant to sit down and eat 😂
Also I didn't hear you say anything about no ESA gabboons
I believe in the States you are allowed to ask what things the service animal does. Paul Castle, a blind artist and UA-camr, has had some experiences recently and talks about this problem.
Ball pythons are definitely great for autistic people. So quiet, you can get all their stuff online from the same stores over and over, enrichment doesnt require hours of socializing a day, can do all their care on a fairly strick shedule, their body language is pretty consistent, etc etc.
Still for autistic adults or responsible parents, not peoples 5 year old nephews, but compared to other esas or pets they are the bomb.
My cali king is mentioned in letter(s) from my psychiater. But it is the truth. I feel a lot calmer and happier (more stable) if he's around my neck, arm, just crawling and being curious. He really helps me relax. I don't take him anywhere. It will just be good to get him 100% with me when I move out to an appartment.
Greetings from Belgium.👍
I am glad u tackled this subject I know people are really anxious and autistic and they get shamed cuz they say their snake is calming to them
“Clip clop clip clop clip clop” 💀💀💀
Absolutely love a good neck massage after 12hrs in the OR.
Speaking from personal experience with social anxiety, having a python with me is a huge help. However the sort of social situations in which I feel most anxious are typically also the ones least suited to taking a snake to. Fortunately our friend circle is just as fond of the snakes as we are, so they are welcome at social gatherings in people's houses. Concerts, fairs and suchlike are of course a no-no though.
I consider my pet snakes (a ball python and a hognose) to be emotional support animals, particularly my bp Sunflower. Her slow movements and the feel of her scales will often prevent me from going into a panic attack, or will stop it once I’ve got her out.
I have an ESA, a cat at the moment, and yup all true. i did pick up some ESA identifying things (leash, tag) because i was searching for housing and if i got into a place that didn't allow pets i wanted to be able to clearly show why I was allowed a pet. (also at the time my therapist said there are some public places that allow them). I ended up in an apartment that allows all manner of pets which is honestly better because i'm not under extra scrutiny regardless. My cat is great and i love nem but i very much see how a snake could maybe be a better fit in some ways, they're a bit less physically demanding and in many cases more chill to just cuddle whereas a cat more wants to have company on their terms only. Still supportive and good but i can definitely agree that variety for a variety of needs is helpful. (also i'm Autistic and most of us prefer the phrasing "is Autistic" over "has autism" ^.^ ).
I have severe allergies and cant have the typical e.s. pet, so i opted to get a spotted python and a hognose lol, before i moved into my current residence i had to provide a note from my doctor, but they allowed both to move in with me. my spotted python 'Bean' is the best. Chubby my hognose well he's more comical entertainment.
I've got my ball python as an emotional support animal, she helps so much :)
I have a crazy job, where I have to think a lot, and because snakes get freaked out by fast movements I have to force myself to be calmer, slower and more deliberate. Definitely beneficial and calming. Interesting factoid that I learned from someone who tried to game the system by getting an emotional support designation for his pet. The psychological diagnosis required to get the designation threatened his ability to hold a security clearance for his job, so he had to walk it back.😃
I also do not recommend emotional support black mambas.🤣
I was curious about the mini horse service animal a while back, and one of the main reasons to have a horse instead of a dog is that horses live much longer than dogs, and thus have more working years. Someone who needs a service animal for the rest of their life would have to go through a lot of service dogs.
Interesting!
My snake help me with may stress from work im less stressed except for the last few weeks we had a selection in europe and my work was a total mess. But since he is in my care im much happier.
2:11 I think it’s because they’re trainable smart and small but strong enough to do tasks that need to be done.
ESA are different than service animals. Thank you for covering this topic!
I am getting trained for therapy animals for psychotherapy and will use snakes for that.
Bob, your message here was very well delivered. Many thanks to you for sharing your research & insights!
Thanks so much!
I never even thought of this being a topic for a video, but I enjoyed watching! I'm in Canada, and I think basically have only seen dogs as service animals whether it be for emotional support or for some other reason that a service animal would be beneficial.
My snake helps me with my anxiety but hes not my emotional support animal I just know when I have anxiety handling him calms me down
I have autism and i like the feeling of the scales against my lips and hands and it calms me if im really overstimulated and scare my dog away i go to my snake but if i feel like im gonna want to squeeze something i don't touch my animals
The business can ask what tasks they are trained to do. But that's it. They also don't have to have a vest. And an ESS can attack a legit service animal and cause it to be retired from work.
😂 not cobras 😂😂 awesome info thanks Bob!
Your shirt is a snake's dream come true!
😅
I think the laws regarding service animals and emotional support animals could use some tinkering and clarification. For service animals, there should be a requirement to have a standard government-issued license, which could be displayed prominently on the animal's collar or vest. That way, a business owner or employee could immediately verify that the animal is a legitimate service animal.
The proliferation of emotional support animals and people abusing the system has become a problem. If someone has a legitimate need to have an emotional support animal around at all times even in public spaces, that animal should be trained, certified, and licensed as a service animal. (Maybe some additional species should be allowed for this purpose, provided that they can be properly trained and are suited to this work. Snakes are definitely not suitable for this.) People shouldn't be allowed to take their untrained mutts everywhere they want to go. I also think it would be reasonable to require some level of training and certification for some species of emotional support animals that are permitted to live in residences where they otherwise wouldn't be allowed. Dogs are banned from certain places for a reason; they can be noisy, destructive, and dangerous. Cats can also be destructive and messy if they aren't given proper care and training. (Popular species of pet snakes don't have these problems.) It is entirely reasonable for a landlord to refuse to allow someone to bring in a deranged dog that chews up the walls and barks its head off for hours on end. It is ridiculous that all someone needs to do to have an emotional support animal is to get a note from a mental health professional. There should be training requirements for both the owner and, where necessary (i.e. dogs), the animal. There should also be a government-issued license so that the legitimacy of the animal can be easily confirmed.
I have personally trained a couple service dogs and helped train a lot more. It is a lot of work and people who just want to bring their pet everywhere makes it so much harder for a trainer. I have to worry if my dog barks outside of an alert or breaks from a heal outside of alerting but there are a lot of people who don't. once my service dog got attacked buy someone's pet pitbull in a grocery store because they didn't want to hold the leash. it ended fine because my dog and the one we were testing were trained well enough that it fased the handlers more than the dogs.
Thanks for that input, it's good to hear from someone who has firsthand experience
I just started the video so you may have talked about it. Snakes can’t be a service animal because only dogs and I believe mini horses can. Not sure if there’s species requirements for ESA’s but ESA status only gives protection for housing and transportation.
Edit: You did talk about it! Good on you for your thorough research! Great video on an interesting topic!
Omg yesssss 👏🏻 Thank you for making this videooo!! 🙌🏻 As a server I see this all the time, middle-age ladies with their little toy dogs coming in and saying that they’re service animals 🦮 When really the dog is acting just like any other bratty little chihuahua🙄
But yeah it’s kind of ironic lol but pythons definitely have a calming energy to them 🩵
I didn't think my snakes were emotional support animals until all three decided to shed at the same time. Thanks for letting me watch your emotional support snakes.
It’s so annoying that people like that believe they can just slap a vest on their dog or “register” them when service dogs aren’t required to wear a vest and there is no registry for service animals.
minihorses are great for folks allergic to dogs, fearful of dogs ect, that still needs help regardless. brilliant lil cloppers :3 they're commonly used in the same way guide dogs are since they are smol but sturdy.
i do have an esa, but she stays Home where she's safest. having my noodle in public is a safety risk for Her. and That makes me stressed, which triggers my chronic health issues. handling her on the other hand, helps me focus and be in the present. she would accompany me for some telehealth appointments, but thats it.
"Emotional Annoyance Snake" - burst out laughing
When our cocker spaniel was with us we used to call her 'Pestistance Spaniel' as more representative of 'Assistance Spaniel' which she wasn't. A very much loved pe(s)t.
Amazing that you put this video up! I just spoke of that this week and because I have an emotional support animal and many snakes. I take my snakes many places and I feel they do help me with what I need and others for learning
Now that I’ve watched the full video. My ESA is actually a 3lb chihuahua 😂 she’s sweet. I don’t take the animals everywhere and abuse but I do bring them out place I can or need them. Snakes I just naturally feel such a calming help from where my dog is more service and has things that key her to work and try to gain my attention.
I joke about my untrained corn snake being better trained than some emotional support animals
I read a story about a miniature service horse once. The owner decided to have the horse because they live longer than dogs and she didn't want to go through the grief of losing a dog after only a few years again.
Hah! I've asked myself that question often recently. I say yes, because part of the therapeutic benefit of having almost any ESA could well stem from the simple act of having to care for another living being. And BP will need that care to a large extent. Like occupational therapy. If that makes any sense.
Ivy was Brian’s support animal and she definitely helped him. Very often, Marie has calmed me down after a stressful day.
I agree with you...I hate how people do try and game the ssssystem. I'd never take a companion animal out in public. The only time mine have gone in public is to the Vet,and then in carriers. But I'd especially never take a reptile out in public.
So basically There are no rules for what animals can be emotional support animals
Service animals need training and have more rules and regulations but an esa animal is exactly what it sounds like and only need a license which is like 150$ but the caveat is pretty much the esa animals only benefit is you can have it any place of residency nothing about traveling
That's basically it!
You do not require a license for ESA' s, only a letter from a board certified psychiatrist. There are a bunch of websites that advertise certification services, but they're unnecessary. Don't waste your money on them.
@@chiroptera9729Doesn’t have to be a psychiatrist, any licensed mental health professional can write an ESA letter
Thank you for highlighting the benefits of snakes as ESAs! I’m a therapist specializing in working with autistic adults and have written ESA letters for clients with ball pythons ❤
SOME ball pythons are a tad more aware and interact and attempt to communicate with humans more than others. I do have a ball python that tightens around my neck in an attempt to communicate. In her case, I'm pretty sure she views me like a human might view a horse, so if I'm walking around with her, she will tighten when I go somewhere she doesn't want me to go. It's like she's trying to control my movements by communicating her displeasure. Can they predict a seizure? I don't know, maybe they just sensed a physiological change in their human and it made them nervous so they tensed up?
Some people are terrified of snakes so thats one reason I won't take mine out, that and the law - here in australia you cannot take your reptile out unless its going to a reptile show or the vet. Plue one in particular, Tyson the Woma is particularly bitey and sometimes unpredictable. Thank god he isn't a hot snake!
Holding my corn snake can halt one of my panic attacks almost instantly.
I was allergic to cats and dogs as a kid so I had snakes and lizards. I find snakes really calming for the most part depending on species. I think most boas would make a good emotional support snake too.
Great video!! My ball pythons are very calming and relaxing to me when stressed or anxious, my children adore them also, my 6 year old has adhd and holding one of them helps her chill out for that time, my son is autistic and has taken an interest in them. And my youngest just thinks they are cute lol but definitely a great pet. ❤
Thank you, Bob. This is such an important topic.
I have 4 ball pythons and 2 red tailed boas. All 6 offer peace and serenity to me and many of my friends. One ball python, Zeus, has empathy. If you don’t believe me, I don’t care. If I’m sad, Zeus knows it. He will stay around my neck, left me pet his tail and he gives me the best massage. He sticks around until he senses I’m doing better. I would have thought this wasn’t a real thing if he had only done that for me. He will do the same for any😮that’s sad. If you aren’t sad, he wants to get down and slither. Anyone else have an empathetic reptile? I believe they do have love in them
Unfortunately, it's possible to be allergic to the oil snakes secrete to help with shedding. (You'll never guess how I know 😅😂) I didn't know that before I got my first one, but luckily my allergy is mild. I just get a bit of an itchy rash that lasts for a few hours if I handle them while they're in shed or right after they've finished shedding (or if I handle the shed before it's dry). To be fair to snakes, I'm also allergic to a couple of other things "no one" is allergic to, so I think in general it's definitely safe to call them hypoallergenic.
A Cobra can be good as well but not on the emotional support side of the issue ,,,,,,,Great vid '
I am completely distracted by and in love with Anya
Aw, thanks!
Thank you!!