Emotional Support Animal Laws
ESAs can’t completely cure the problem, but they help reduce some of the symptoms by their presence. To protect the rights of emotional support animal owners, some federal laws have been introduced by the government.
The two major federal laws are – the fair housing act and the air carrier access act.
The Fair Housing Act
The fair housing act FHA was enforced in 1968 in order to protect the rights of people with mental disabilities. Under this law, landlords are prohibited from denying someone housing just because of their ESA.
The law clearly states that landlords can’t discriminate against people with an emotional disability and deny them housing, similar to how you don’t refuse accommodation to someone who is on a wheelchair.
An ESA owner with a valid ESA letter for housing will be allowed to live with his/her support animal without paying any additional fee, even if it is a pet-free area.
Not only that, landlords are required to make reasonable accommodations in their homes to make it easier for the ESA owner.
Furthermore, landlords can’t ask for details regarding your medical condition. However, they are legally required to check whether or not the owner has an ESA letter.
According to the law, landlords can’t put restrictions on the type or breed of the ESA or have them go through some training.
However, in the case of damage to the property by the ESA, it is the owner’s job to get it fixed.
The Air Carrier Access Act
The air carrier access act passed in 1986, to allow people suffering from mental and emotional disabilities to fly with a dog.
The law prohibits airlines from asking ESA owners to give a prior notice or ask them to pay an additional pet fee. In case if you need some special medical equipment when traveling with your ESA, you will need to inform the airlines in advance.
Moreover, airline staff can’t put restrictions and limit the ESA and its owner to certain areas and make them sit on specific spots. Except for when your ESA is larger in size and can create a problem for the staff or other people around.
As an ESA owner, it is your duty to make sure that your pet is well-behaved and won’t be a threat to the people around.
If you have a legitimate ESA letter, you can travel with your four-legged friend in the cabin. However, airlines have the right to remove exotic animals from the cabin.
Emotional Support Animal Letter
In order to benefit from these laws, all you need is a legitimate emotional support animal letter. It is a prescription letter signed by a licensed mental health professional. An ESA letter states that an individual needs an ESA to improve their symptoms.
Only ask a reliable, licensed mental health professional to write an ESA letter. It’s better to go through an emotional support animal letter sample, so you’re not given a fake letter. If you get caught with an illegitimate ESA letter, you can end up in jail.
If you want you and your ESA to be protected by these laws, get your emotional support animal letter today.
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