In the United States, emotional support animals are not recognized as service animals under the Americans with Disabilities Act. Service animals are trained to perform specific tasks such as helping a blind person navigate. People with mental health disabilities who possess an emotional support animal may be exempt from certain federal housing and travel rules. To receive these exemptions, the handler must meet the federal definition of disabled, and the emotional support animal must help alleviate the symptoms or effects of the disability. The individual may need to present a letter from a certified healthcare provider, stating that the emotional support animal is needed for their mental health.
Requirements
Emotional support animals are typically household domesticated animals, but may also be members of other animal species. There is no requirement under US federal law that an emotional support animal wear any identifying tag, patch, harness, or other indication that it is an emotional support animal.
Emotional support animals do not need to have any special training.
There are no training requirements for emotional support animals, which typically have no training beyond what would be expected for the same type of animal. There is no requirement that they be individually trained to do work or perform tasks.
