Emotional Support Dog Laws

Frequently asked questions about service animals and the ada us dept.

Emotional support dog laws.

Obligations of housing providers. An emotional support animal in florida is an animal that provides assistance or therapeutic emotional support to its owner by its mere presence. Emotional support animals comfort animals and therapy dogs are not service animals under title ii and title iii of the ada. Airlines must accommodate dogs cats and miniature horses that are esas.

The federal fair housing act requires landlords and housing facilities to allow service dogs and emotional support animals if necessary for a person with a disability to have an equal opportunity to use and enjoy the home. An assistance animal is an animal that works provides assistance or performs tasks for the benefit of a person with a disability or that provides emotional support that alleviates one or more identified effects of a person s disability. 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 provides an overview of assistance animals in housing. An assistance animal is not a pet.

Under the acaa and guidance from the dot airlines and passengers with emotional support animals must comply with certain rules. To fall under this provision you must have a disability and you must have a disability related need for the animal. An emotional support animal is an animal typically a dog or cat though this can include other species that provides a therapeutic benefit to its owner through companionship. While typically dogs or cats emotional support animals may include other species.

The work or tasks performed by a service animal must be directly related to the individual s disability. What are the laws protecting emotional support animal owners. Although emotional support animals do not have the same rights as service dogs under ada they are protected under the fair housing amendment act fhaa and the air carrier access act acaa. The airline is not allowed to charge fees in connection with your emotional support animal.

If you meet the criteria of these provisions you are entitled to an emotional support animal in the air and in your housing unit. An esa does not need any special training to work or perform tasks for its owner. Other species of animals whether wild or domestic trained or untrained are not considered service animals either. The law that allows a trained service dog to accompany a person with a disability is the americans with disabilities act ada.