How This Works.
An emotional support animal is a type of assistance animal that is recognized as a “reasonable accommodation” for a person with a disability under the federal Fair Housing Act.
Getting qualified for an assistance animal is as simple as 1-2-3.
1: Place an Order.
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2. Complete an Assessment.
After you place an order, you'll complete our proprietary HIPAA-compliant comprehensive online assessment.
3: Engage With an Expert.
Finally, you'll engage in therapeutic care with a local, licensed health care provider via secured video technology
Being Approved.
An emotional support animal is a type of assistance animal that is recognized as a “reasonable accommodation” for a person with a disability under the federal Fair Housing Act. An emotional support animal is not a pet. An emotional support animal is a companion animal that provides therapeutic benefit to an individual with a mental or psychiatric disability.
Individuals Seeking an ESA.
- Must have a “disability and disability-related need for an assistance animal” that can be verified.
- Has a disability that meets the law’s definition as having a “major impact on a life activity,” commonly referred to as a functional limitation.
- Usually experiences the effects of the disability through difficulties with sleep, focus and social interaction.
- Has an animal (and ESAD Int'l only considers dogs and cats) that relieves the symptoms of the disability and its effect on major life activities.
New HUD Guidelines.
HUD's new rules are an update to the Fair Housing Act (FHA) that sought to equalize the ability of people with disabilities to enjoy housing. Under the law, housing providers had to exempt those with disabilities from “no pet” rules and pet fees. But some of the gaps in the rules have been abused by those simply trying to bypass pet rules and fees. Others who are providing the letters have exploited uneducated consumers To comply, Housing Pro 2020 provides multiple clinical sessions between client and an in-state licensed provider.
Therapeutic Relationship Required.
Documentation submitted in support of an assistance animal request must come from a person who has a “therapeutic relationship” with the resident seeking the accommodation. A therapeutic relationship is “the provision of medical care, program care, or personal care services, in good faith, for and with actual knowledge of, an individual’s disability and that individual's disability-related need for an assistance animal by:
- a physician or other medical professional;
- a mental health service provider; or
- a non-medical service agency or reliable third party who is in a position to know about the individual's disability.”
Because a therapeutic relationship requires that care services be provided, in good faith, for an individual’s disability, documentation submitted on the basis of a single visit to a health care provider solely to obtain a “doctor’s note” will generally not be legally sufficient.
Significant impacts on major life activities.
In summary, a disability can be verified if it has a significant impact on major life activities (sleep, concentration, focus, social interaction). If an animal helps mitigate those symptoms (sleep better, etc.), then an individual can be recommended for an assistance animal.
Examples.
Qualify: John Doe suffers from PTSD which results in high levels of anxiety. His anxiety keeps John awake, so he can’t get enough rest to go about his daily life. John has a very strong emotional bond with his cat, Mr. Mittens. Thankfully, the feline helps relieve his disability by reducing the level of anxiety to the point John can sleep. With his cat, his substantial limitation is alleviated — thus a necessary part of accommodating his disability. Mr. Mittens satisfies the definition of assistance animal because it: “... provides emotional support that alleviates one or more identified symptoms or effects of a person's disability.” [see FHEO Notice FHEO-2013-01, April 25, 2013] Deny: John Doe is having issues with his landlord. Facing eviction, John turns to ESAD Int'l for assistance. John wants his 120-pound German shepherd approved. Since there's no disability, he was denied.
Emotional support animal letter for travel.
An emotional support animal provides comfort to support a customer’s diagnosed mental or emotional disorder. Emotional support animals need not have specific training for that function. All must be trained to behave appropriately in a public setting. Acceptable ESAD Int'l emotional support animals are limited to dogs and cats. Your animal must behave appropriately in a public environment. If your 10-pound Chihuahua acts like Cujo, running around the airport on attack mode, the "best ESA letter in the world" won't matter. To qualify, an individual must have a health professional verify:
- A mental health-related disability recognized in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders-Fourth Edition (DSM IV).
- A need for the emotional support or psychiatric service animal to remedy the disability’s effects during air travel and activity at your destination
The passenger/client must be currently under the care and treatment of a licensed professional. To comply, Travel Pro 2020 provides a clinical session between client and an in-state licensed provider. Read: ESAD Int'l's service dog fraud policy.
Getting Pre-Qualified.
An emotional support animal is a type of assistance animal that is recognized as a “reasonable accommodation” for a person with a disability under the federal Fair Housing Act.
An emotional support animal is not a pet. An emotional support animal is a companion animal that provides therapeutic benefit to an individual with a mental or psychiatric disability.
Individuals Seeking an ESA
- Must have a “disability and disability-related need for an assistance animal” that can be verified.
- Has a disability that meets the law’s definition as having a “major impact on a life activity,” commonly referred to as a functional limitation.
- Usually experiences the effects of the disability through difficulties with sleep, focus and social interaction.
- Has an animal (and ESAD Int’l only considers dogs and cats) that relieves the symptoms of the disability and its effect on major life activities.
Learn more about qualifying for an assistance animal.
Avoiding Problems.
We’re so much more than our letters.
If you’ve been shopping around for emotional support animal documentation, you might be wondering about our higher prices.
So, why don’t we sell a $79 letter?
Because they’re bogus. Just absolutely worthless garbage.
A legitimate ESA letter isn't something you get off the shelves of your local Petco. This isn't a certificate, a leash, a harness, none of that.
Sure, you can save a few bucks and take a chance on bogus products that are likely to raise red flags along with your blood pressure. But keep in mind, HUD is cracking down, the airlines are cracking down, landlords also (see the picture to the right) -- and all with good reason. So, don’t take a chance with subpar products because they cost less. We’re earned our reviews with hard work, compassionate care, and doing everything by the book. Whatever decision you make, we wish you all the best and good health.
We’re So Much More Than Our Letters.
Our clients aren’t just “buying a letter from us,” they’re buying all that goes into the best emotional support animal products on the market. Our letters just flat out work.
A letter from us is more than a PDF document with a signature.
It’s the product of a team of 1,100 clinicians, dozens of PhDs and psychologists, one former NASA engineer, a handful of content writers (including a Pulitzer winner), and a bunch of highly talented technologists, engineers, and lawyers. It’s the culmination of tens and tens of thousands of hours of hard work, two years of 16-hour workdays. It’s review after review after review, with improvements made after each study. It's guarding your personal health and credit card information with the best technology available on the market. It’s several trademarks.
It’s a product of sweat, tears, and pure innovation.
It Is Our Pride and Joy.
Our Extended Edition products come with nearly three hours of assessment and therapeutic counseling with a highly trained licensed professional (now required by HUD).
You cannot buy that for $79.
No way.
We want you to know:
Yes, We’re Legitimate.
Are you legitimate is one of the more common questions we answer, often asked by frustrated visitors who muddled thru the online riff-raff. We want everyone to know how we do business – the why we do what we do.
HOA Said No to Your Emotional Support Animal?
The ESAD Int'l housing assessment contains carefully selected Fair Housing language that meets the disability verification standards defined by the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development. Learn about the additional steps you can take.
ESA FAQs
An emotional support animal provides comfort to support a customer's diagnosed mental or emotional disorder. Emotional support animals need not have specific training for that function. All must be trained to behave appropriately in a public setting. Acceptable ESAD Int'l emotional support animals are limited to dogs and cats.Your animal must behave appropriately in a public setting.
Housing
I need a reasonable accommodation form.
Many landlords require tenants to submit a “reasonable accommodation form.” Each form is unique — some are simple affairs, others not so. Often, we encounter questions that, in our opinion, are likely discriminatory.
A correctly answered reasonable accommodation form is essential. Recognizing this, we retain a fair housing law expert to process these documents.
Can my landlord refuse my reasonable accommodation request?
Only in certain circumstances. If the animal’s accommodation could mean additional administrative costs and other adjustments that would affect housing arrangements, then the landlord might refuse your request. For instance, the animal is disruptive or poses a threat to the health, safety, and property of the other tenants. Make sure to train your ESA so they are not unruly and you are always in control.
ESAD Int’l also accepts no responsibility and makes no guaranty regarding the approval or denial of specific privileges or access in regards to any emotional service animal. Submission of payment and your assessment constitutes acceptance of these and all terms set forth herein.
Can you speak to my landlord?
Housing providers are now, more often, demanding the existence of a therapeutic relationship — in particular, landlords will question when therapy began and number of sessions completed / scheduled. This is the current method (spring 2018) being retained to weed out Internet letter-mill documents.
If you purchase an assessment, choose not to engage in any follow-up sessions, and want us to speak with your landlord, you assume all risk and liability if your reasonable accommodation request is denied.
Before our team can communicate (talk, answer questions via email) with your landlord, you must purchase this option and a signed HIPAA waiver must be in place. This waiver allows us to discuss your protected health information (PHI) with a third party.
Are your letters legit?
Our letters are contain every element required by law and are fully compatible with the latest Federal and air carrier guidelines.
Can you notarize my letters and forms?
We are not lawyers, and the following should have not considered the legal advice.
As Federal Law does not require the signature on a reasonable accommodation form to be notarized, our therapists do not have the ability to notarize that document. Based on our understanding of Fair Housing Act requirements, the notarization is an “extra” hurdle that’s placed in front of an individual with a disability, and therefore not allowed.
Will my contact information be included in the letters I would fill out?
Your licensure is listed on all letters.
My landlord wants my letter notarized.
According to Federal Law, there is no requirement for an emotional support animal letter of recommendation to be notarized. In fact, this may be discriminatory, as it’s an impediment for a reasonable accommodation (aka a speed bump).
However, as we understand a client/tenant may be under duress to find housing, and not wanting to be an impediment, we offer letter notarization.
Please note this service is not available at all locations and may be subject to additional guidelines.
Order now.
Do you guarantee all domestic airlines and property managers will accept your treatment recommendation letter?
No, unfortunately not.
The Fair Housing Amendments Act of 1988 requires property managers and landlords to make a reasonable accommodation (a change in the rules) to permit an emotionally disabled handler to keep an emotional support animal (ESA). That doesn’t mean they won’t inadvertently or intentionally break the law and deny a disabled person the right to have an ESA, however.
Similarly, the Air Carrier Access Act 49 U.S.C. 41705 and Dept of Transportation 14 C.F.R. Part 382 requires airlines to allow a disabled person to be accompanied by their ESA in the cabin of the aircraft and not be charged a fee. Airline companies are allowed to require the disabled passenger to present a treatment recommendation letter from a licensed mental health professional to bring the ESA on board. Several airline companies have been sued and forced to change their practices over the years for arbitrarily electing to discriminate against disabled passengers.
Is your ESA letter acceptable to my landlord?
Thanks to the Federal Fair Housing Act, with few exceptions, any person recommended for an ESA letter must be offered reasonable accommodations. Our ESA letter will allow you to bypass size/size restrictions, and avoid additional pet security deposits. However, you are still responsible for your pet’s behavior; the ESA letter will not absolve you from any damages caused by your animal.
Flying
Can I bring my ESA to hotels?
The law does not require hotels, restaurants, trains, and buses to accept emotional support animals on their premises but you could call them ahead of your trip and ask about their policy.
Some establishments are open to receiving emotional support animals at their discretion.
I’m Canadian, can I get an ESA travel letter?
Yes! Canadian travel laws follows US law.
Tell me about those signed airline forms.
US airlines requires mental health care providers to certify (a) they’re currently treating the passenger’s emotional disability and (b) the passenger is under their current and ongoing professional care.
Are your letters legit?
Our letters are contain every element required by law and are fully compatible with the latest Federal and air carrier guidelines.
Can you notarize my letters and forms?
We are not lawyers, and the following should have not considered the legal advice.
As Federal Law does not require the signature on a reasonable accommodation form to be notarized, our therapists do not have the ability to notarize that document. Based on our understanding of Fair Housing Act requirements, the notarization is an “extra” hurdle that’s placed in front of an individual with a disability, and therefore not allowed.
Can your therapists sign a Medical Information Form (MEDIF)?
No, absolutely categorically not.
You may be asked for proof of your “fitness to fly” when requesting assistance. If you have a stable condition, there is generally no need to be cleared for travel.
There are usually two parts to the medical clearance process:
- You will be asked to provide information about your situation or condition and, for many passengers, this will be all you will need to complete.
- If the airline has concerns about how flying might impact your particular condition, it will ask you to complete a further form.
You may also be asked to provide medical proof at this stage, often a doctor’s note.
The ESAD Int’l Protocol does not allow any of our therapists to sign off on this form.
Are airlines enforcing stricter criteria for ESAs?
Airlines are now requiring passengers to be under the therapist’s care and treatment. That immediately rules out “assessments only.” Clients purchasing our travel letters and need a signed airline travel form are required to purchase a 30-minute session … in that session, a therapist will delve into the reason why the client/passenger needs the animal’s assistance.
Airline verification, which has been increasing, requires the client/passenger to provide written HIPAA-waiver allowing our therapist to discuss PHI with a third-party.
Will my contact information be included in the letters I would fill out?
Your licensure is listed on all letters.
Can two dogs travel with me?
Maybe.
Although we can’t guarantee that all airlines will allow two or more ESAs per handler without exception, it is common practice for them to allow two small animals to fly in the cabin of the aircraft with their disabled handler. It’s a good idea to consult with the airline you’ll be using to let them know you’ll be traveling with two ESAs and want to make sure there will be no problems.
That being said, because of the “peacock on the airplane,” airlines are much more stringent.
And so are we.
Do you guarantee all domestic airlines and property managers will accept your treatment recommendation letter?
No, unfortunately not.
The Fair Housing Amendments Act of 1988 requires property managers and landlords to make a reasonable accommodation (a change in the rules) to permit an emotionally disabled handler to keep an emotional support animal (ESA). That doesn’t mean they won’t inadvertently or intentionally break the law and deny a disabled person the right to have an ESA, however.
Similarly, the Air Carrier Access Act 49 U.S.C. 41705 and Dept of Transportation 14 C.F.R. Part 382 requires airlines to allow a disabled person to be accompanied by their ESA in the cabin of the aircraft and not be charged a fee. Airline companies are allowed to require the disabled passenger to present a treatment recommendation letter from a licensed mental health professional to bring the ESA on board. Several airline companies have been sued and forced to change their practices over the years for arbitrarily electing to discriminate against disabled passengers.
If the airlines or property manager calls your office to verify the letter and confirm that the therapist is appropriately licensed, do you answer those calls?
No.
Unless there’s a signed HIPAA waiver allowing discussions with a third-party, we’ll never share your information with anyone.
The Laws Are Getting Stricter.
New Federal and state rules designed to combat online fraud now require a much higher burden of proof for those claiming a disability-related need for an Emotional Support Animal Letter.
Patches, ID cards, certificates, or similar registration will no longer suffice. Clinicians are prohibited from providing written documentation by merely assessing a client's need for an assistance animal. Landlords are reporting emotional support animal fraud to the US Department of Justice.
Watch Out For Counterfeits.
The dangers of buying counterfeit emotional support animal letters aren’t always obvious. There are economic impacts, legal implications, and other risks that are important for you to know before making a purchase. Counterfeiters don’t care about your well-being. They just want to make a profit.
Many states provide criminal penalties for any person who falsifies documentation, knowingly provides fraudulent information or documentation, or willfully misrepresents having a disability or disability-related need for an ESA.
Welcome to the era of fake ESA letters.
Don't Leave Anything to Chance.
Housing Pro 2020 fully complies with the recently updated guidance requiring providers to have “personal client knowledge" and an "ongoing treating relationship."
All of our products include therapeutic care with a licensed clinician in your area.
Hello Life! ID Kit.
All approved clients will receive our Hello Life! Gift Pack. Shipped free of charge, the gift pack includes:
Notes:
- $39 value.
- Items are available for pickup at our Boca Raton office.
- Please allow up to 21 days for delivery.
- You must have been ESA approved by us.
- Not for sale to the general public.
