Get Your Pet Certified With an ESA Letter Today

The same way you’d care for any pet. Your ESA needs regular vet visits for checkups and vaccinations, a diet appropriate for their species and age, daily exercise or enrichment, and consistent grooming. If your animal will accompany you to apartment common areas or public spaces where ESAs are welcome, socializing them with other animals and people helps prevent behavioral issues that could jeopardize your housing accommodation. A well-cared-for ESA is easier to live with and less likely to draw complaints from neighbors or landlords.

There’s no legal limit. HUD doesn’t cap the number of ESAs you can have, and landlords cannot impose arbitrary restrictions. However, each animal must be individually supported by your mental health professional’s assessment. Your clinician needs to determine that each animal provides distinct therapeutic benefit for your condition. Most ESA letters cover one or two animals. Requests for three or more may require additional documentation, and some providers charge extra to evaluate multiple pets.

Any licensed mental health professional can write an ESA letter, including physicians, psychiatrists, psychologists, physician’s assistants, nurse practitioners, and licensed clinical social workers. The key requirement is that they hold an active license in your state. They don’t need to live there, just maintain valid licensure. HUD recognizes telehealth evaluations as legitimate, so remote consultations work. Be cautious of services that issue letters based only on a questionnaire with no actual conversation. A legitimate evaluation involves a real discussion with a licensed professional.

You might benefit from an ESA if you deal with ongoing anxiety, depression, PTSD, or another mental health condition and find that being around animals noticeably reduces your symptoms. Many people pursue ESA letters because their pet already provides real comfort during panic attacks, depressive episodes, or high-stress periods. If you’re managing a diagnosed condition and your animal helps you function better at home, that’s exactly what ESA accommodations exist for. A licensed mental health professional can evaluate whether an ESA letter is appropriate based on your specific situation.

Start with your living situation and daily routine. A high-energy dog needs space and regular outdoor time. A cat or smaller animal might work better for an apartment or a demanding schedule. If you don’t already have a pet, visit local shelters and spend time with animals before committing. Pay attention to temperament over appearance. The right ESA is one whose presence genuinely calms you and fits realistically into your life. If you’re unsure, talk to a veterinarian about which species or breeds match your environment and capacity for care.

The primary benefit is housing access. Under the Fair Housing Act, landlords must allow ESAs in properties that otherwise prohibit pets, and they cannot charge pet deposits or fees for them. Beyond the legal protection, ESAs provide consistent companionship that can reduce symptoms of anxiety, depression, and PTSD. Research shows that interacting with animals lowers cortisol levels and increases oxytocin, which explains why many people feel calmer around their pets. For people who live alone or struggle in social situations, an ESA can also provide structure and routine that supports overall mental health.

One clarification: ESAs do not have public access rights. They cannot accompany you into restaurants, stores, or other businesses the way service animals can. Airlines also stopped recognizing ESAs in 2021, so air travel protections no longer apply. The main legal benefit is housing accommodation.

It depends on the type of difficulty.

Behavioral issues: ESAs don’t require formal training, but an animal that barks excessively, damages property, or acts aggressively can jeopardize your housing accommodation. Landlords can legally deny or revoke ESA status if the animal poses a direct threat or causes significant property damage. If your ESA has behavioral problems, work with a veterinarian or certified animal behaviorist before the issue escalates into a landlord dispute. Consistent exercise, mental stimulation, and positive reinforcement training often resolve common problems.

Landlord pushback: If your landlord refuses to accept your ESA letter or adds illegal conditions, document everything in writing. Under the Fair Housing Act, landlords cannot charge pet fees for ESAs, require specific breeds, or demand details about your diagnosis. If they violate these rules, you can file a complaint with HUD or your local fair housing agency.

Your ESA isn’t helping: If your animal no longer provides the therapeutic benefit it once did, or if caring for them adds more stress than it relieves, talk to your mental health provider. An ESA should support your treatment, not complicate it. Your clinician can help you evaluate whether the arrangement still makes sense or whether adjustments are needed.

The goal is to maintain an ESA situation that benefits both your mental health and your housing stability.

No. The Fair Housing Act doesn’t restrict ESAs by species or breed. Dogs, cats, birds, rabbits, hamsters, reptiles, and other animals can all qualify if a licensed mental health professional determines the animal provides therapeutic benefit for your condition. Landlords cannot reject your ESA because it’s a pit bull, Rottweiler, or another breed they prohibit for regular tenants.

That said, practical limits exist. Landlords can deny an ESA if the specific animal poses a direct threat to others or would cause substantial physical damage to the property. A dog with a documented bite history or an animal too large for your unit could face legitimate pushback. Exotic animals like snakes or spiders may also create complications if local ordinances restrict ownership.

The determining factor isn’t the species or breed. It’s whether your mental health provider supports the ESA designation and whether the specific animal can live in your housing without creating safety or property concerns.

The difference is training and legal access.

Emotional Support Animals provide therapeutic benefit through companionship. They don’t perform trained tasks and aren’t limited to dogs. Any animal can be an ESA if a licensed mental health professional determines it helps manage your condition. ESAs are protected under the Fair Housing Act, which means landlords must allow them in no-pet housing with proper documentation. However, ESAs have no public access rights. Businesses, restaurants, and airlines can legally deny entry to emotional support animals.

Psychiatric Service Dogs are trained to perform specific tasks that directly mitigate a handler’s mental health disability. Examples include interrupting self-harm behaviors, providing deep pressure therapy during panic attacks, reminding handlers to take medication, or clearing rooms for someone with PTSD. Because they perform trained work, PSDs qualify as service animals under the ADA. This grants them access to restaurants, stores, airplanes, and other public spaces where pets and ESAs are not allowed.

Which one applies to you?

If your animal helps simply by being present, that’s an ESA. If your animal is trained to recognize symptoms and respond with specific actions, that’s a psychiatric service dog. Both serve legitimate mental health functions, but the legal protections and access rights differ significantly.