Emotional support animals continue to be popular because they offer relief from mental health issues, loneliness, and even some types of pain. While emotional support animals are great companions, if you want to legitimize them and live in a rental that’s not pet-friendly, you’ll need an emotional support animal letter (ESA letter). These letters don’t grow on trees, so you might be wondering: Can vets write an ESA letter? And if not, who can?
Luckily, we have answers to these questions and a whole lot more. Read on to learn more about ESA letters and who can write them.
What Is an Emotional Support Animal (ESA)?
Let’s start off by going over what an emotional support animal (ESA) is because these aren’t just any animals; their purpose is to make you feel calmer, comfortable, and even safe. An emotional support animal can be any animal that helps you with a mental health issue. For example, if you’re feeling anxious and depressed but feel more relaxed when your car is sitting with you, you can get an ESA letter for it.
The best part about an emotional support animal is that they can be any animal (within reason). This means that you can have a fish, dog, hamster, mouse, or anything else that improves your symptoms. Plus, once you have an ESA letter, you can live in apartments with no pet policies.
You just need to make sure the ESA letter is legitimate and that your pet doesn’t damage property, scare others, or make a ton of noise.
What Is an ESA Letter?
An ESA letter is a letter that’s written to prove that you need an emotional support animal for a specific condition. These letters tend to be written by licensed mental health professionals who diagnose your condition and come to the conclusion that an ESA will improve it.
ESA letters need to be written and signed by that professional, and if it’s not, you can get into trouble with legal fees and even end up with an eviction letter.
Can a Vet Write an ESA Letter?
No, vets can not write an ESA letter. The only time they would be able to is if they were also a licensed mental health professional, and the chances of that are low. Only licensed mental health professionals can write an ESA letter because they’re the only people who can diagnose you with a mental health disorder.
Who Can Write an ESA Letter?
Emotional support animal letters can only be written by licensed mental health professionals, but that doesn’t narrow it down that much, does it? Typically, a licensed mental health professional who can write an ESA letter is a licensed therapist, psychologist, or psychiatrist.
Still, you can’t just see any therapist because they have to be licensed in your state. For example, if you have a therapist in New Jersey but live in Manhattan, they won’t be able to write you an ESA letter unless they get licensed in New York.
How to Get an ESA Letter
While you need a licensed mental health professional to write an ESA letter, that doesn’t mean you have to spend a lot of money on a therapist. If you have one you trust and work with already, that’s great, but if you don’t, it’s not a bad idea to get an ESA letter online.
To get an ESA letter online, all you need is a trusted service (we recommend Emotional Support Animal’s service), and some information about yourself and your pet. Then, you can schedule an online telehealth call with a licensed mental health professional who’s licensed in your state. After the call, they can approve you for the letter, and you can download it online or wait for it to come in the mail.
We always recommend going this route because it’s fast and affordable, and you don’t have to worry about the ESA letter not holding up if a landlord wants to pursue the issue.
Get an ESA Letter Online Today
While a vet can’t write an ESA letter for you, that doesn’t mean you have to give up your search. Instead, check out online platforms that connect you with licensed mental health professionals in your state to ensure that you get a quality ESA letter.
That said, if you have a therapist you work with or any other type of licensed mental health professional, schedule an appointment and see if they can write you an ESA letter for your comforting companion.
