 |
| What Is an Emotional Support Animal |
You’ve likely heard the term “emotional support animal” (ESA), even if you haven’t looked into getting one yourself. The phrase has made headlines recently as airlines start to cut back on allowances for emotional support animals on planes, and as problems with abuse of the ESA system come to light.
But emotional support animals, whether they're dogs, cats, or less common species, aren’t really so controversial. In fact, they offer innumerable benefits to those who need them, and can provide individuals with the companionship and support they need to improve their quality of life.
If you’re a pet parent yourself, you know that the bond between a person and their animal is a powerful one, and that animals have a unique way of calming and healing their people in tough times. For some people, their pet provides stability and companionship in light of a serious mental disorder, such as depression, anxiety, personality disorders, and identity disorders. In those scenarios, it can be beneficial to have the pet qualified as an emotional support animal, which affords them a few more rights than your typical pets.