When the Internet Isn't Your Friend

I would say that most people know better than to believe everything they read on the Internet.  While your ability to access possible answers to your questions is literally at your fingertips all the time, some of those answers aren't just erroneous, they are purposefully misleading.  Case in point, a recent paid promotion/ad and email campaign by an organization that "will allow you to legally bring your pet anywhere you live or travel" "just click to qualify instantly for ESA approval."  If you peruse the comments made on these posts, there are a plethora of people talking about their desire to take their pets everywhere they go, avoiding extra expenses they might incur if they went through the more traditional routes.  Bold claims are made that you'll be able to fly without additional fees; rent and live in homes with no pets policies in place; bring your pet on any public transit; and avoid pet deposits where they might otherwise be applied.

The company is using a very broad interpretation of the Americans with Disabilities Act to "certify" any pet to allow them to be labeled an "emotional support animal, or ESA."  While the Fair Housing Amendments Act does allow for certified ESA's to live with their owners and be exempt from additional pet fees or deposits, it does not cover pet owners who simply want to avoid those added expenses. You must have a legitimate emotional service animal to meet that criteria. Why bother to work with your doctor, psychiatrist, and/or psychologist to determine if your pet meets the criteria for ESA certification when you can just go through this company who has doctors standing by the certify any animal?  Bear in mind, they will never meet your or your animal; they will just have you answer a few questions and guarantee certification to 99% of applicants. WOW.  Just. WOW.  The rules and expectations for service animals are clear, including extensive training required to perform specific tasks for the owner and clear consequences if the animal fails to perform those services or behaves inappropriately in a public setting in that they can be removed from service. While ESA's are expected to have basic manners and an ability to tolerate a wide range of experiences and situations, this is not required, and that is the loophole that often gets pet owners feeling that their pet qualifies as an ESA.  And these organizations that will certify anyone just emboldens them further.

One other thing you can find on the Internet are dozens of reports of pets on airplanes, in stores, etc. behaving badly whose owners claim they are ESA's and thus exempt from the usual rules about animals in those locations.  In fact, there are numerous accounts of so called ESA's behaving so badly that airport staff, other passengers and patrons, and legitimate service animals were injured. This is unacceptable.  I understand that pet owners love their animals and want to spend as much time with them as possible. I don't feel, however, that it is every pet owner's right to take their pets with them everywhere they go.  Rather, I'd like to see animals with the temperament and behavior for that role be the ones who get certified and placed with owners who really need them in order to have a good quality of life and thrive.

So, what can you do when you see these ads/promotions? Report them like I did.  Report them on Facebook. Report them on Instagram.  Report them to the BBB.  Don't make it harder for people who need ESA's to have them.  Please don't make it harder for people with disabilities to go out in public spaces, find adequate housing, and access the resources they need.  And don't perpetuate the problem by "certifying" your pet through one of these online resources as an ESA when they aren't one. As a lot of you know, I have therapy dogs. During non-pandemic times, we visited people in the community who could use the uplifting presence of trained therapy dogs.  My dogs are not ESA's.  And they are not service animals.  I make sure I tell people that as I've often been told how beautiful/well-trained etc. my service dog is.  Desi is most certainly beautiful and well-trained. He is not, however, a service animal.  Making sure that people know the difference between a therapy animal, an ESA, and a service animal is important and I consider community education to be part of my role as a member of a pet assisted therapy organization. 

As always, if you need help with your pet's behavior, you know where to find me.

A service dog certified and trained through the Wounded Warrior Project checking in with their owner during water therapy.