What Does an Emotional Support Animal Really Do?

Do you have a pet that you rely on for emotional support?
ESAs are becoming more and more popular, but what do they actually do for their owners? In this video, I take a look at the benefits of having an ESA and dispel some of the myths that often surround them.

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References for the video
Brooks, Helen Louise et al. “The power of support from companion animals for people living with mental health problems: a systematic review and narrative synthesis of the evidence.” BMC psychiatry vol. 18,1 31. 5 Feb. 2018, doi:10.1186/s12888-018-1613-2

Younggren, Jeffrey N et al. “Examining Emotional Support Animals and Role Conflicts in Professional Psychology.” Professional psychology, research and practice vol. 47,4 (2016): 255-260. doi:10.1037/pro0000083

Rudnick A. What is a psychiatric disability?. Health Care Anal. 2014;22(2):105-113. doi:10.1007/s10728-012-0235-y

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Disclaimer: All of the information on this channel is for educational purposes and not intended to be specific/personal medical advice from me to you. Watching the videos or getting answers to comments/question, does not establish a doctor-patient relationship. If you have your own doctor, perhaps these videos can help prepare you for your discussion with your doctor.

[sladjanapavlov]

Just when I thought my depression was going to get the better of me during the pandemic, a scroungy looking, half baby teeth gone pupper showed up at my doorstep. She is far from service animal, but she helped me a lot. She gets me out of the house every day and she makes me smile more than any human I interact with.

[hongkongfueynz]

When my dad had a severe brain injury after a brain haemorrhage I took his greyhound up to see him most days in the unit he was in, it did him wonders. I also used to go around and visit other patients in the ward as well, and they all loved it and used to say it was the highlight of their day, and Yaris (the dog) loved all the attention as well…lol.
Never underestimate the power of a dog.

[baronsaturday]

As a guard at a major museum in New York City, we have a serious problem with people claiming to have emotional support animals when they in actuality got the harness that says "service animal" off of Amazon. In fact, I overheard a visitor who was talking to a person who was an impostor with an "emotional support" animal say, 'Oh we should get a harness that says service animal so we can take our dog to the museum'. These so-called service animals wreak havoc in the museum. They start fights with real trained service dogs. They're not supposed to BE in the museum and we're getting overrun with these things.
We have a K-9 unit. I know what a real service dog does. No, it's not the same as a disability dog, but I know enough not to pet Vale because she's WORKING! The only thing I ever got out of dealing with so-called emotional support dogs are that people are supremely selfish and they ruin it for people who DO need a highly trained dog to survive. I really don't have respect for the emotional support pet crowd because it makes life so much harder for our disabled visitors.

[BambiLena]

Im seeing a psychiatrist and a psychotherapist for a severe depressive episode, Im on antidepressants and have meds for panic attacks. I cant imagine anyone caring about the fact that the cat I adopted helps me a lot with feeling better with depression and anxiety I experience daily. Im scared of needing to move cause a lot of landlords dont allow pets, and I can say without a shadow of a doubt I would be in much worse shape without my cat in my life.

[Linda]

Pets and other animals like a cat does relieve anxiety and stress. They love you unconditionally so you trust them completely where humans you can be unsure of their sincerity. I believe that you open your heart completely to a pet and they touch you deep within your soul. Thankyou for this video Dr. Tracey.

[pagehardy]

Thank you for clarifying the requirements for obtaining a service dog.

[MzDanielleJoy]

Thank you Dr. Tracey. As a former case manager, my clients' parents were constantly trying to manipulate us into getting them an emotional support letter just because they didn't want to pay the pet deposit or get rid of the dog. You explained the liabilities beautifully and hopefully more people will understand the risk that they ask mental health providers to take

[debibennett]

Good info but, as a therapist who does evaluate people for the necessity of an ESA, there is one bit of info that needs correction…an ESA letter DOES NOT allow someone to bring a pet into a restaurant. The laws around ESA animals apply to housing specifically. A service animal can go anywhere but an ESA cannot. Also, sometime people think that because they have an ESA letter, they can use this at hotels/motels but they can’t as the laws relate to housing not lodging. Thanks for the info on this channel…I give the info to clients so they can learn more outside of the therapy office.

[DrumWild]

I had a cat for 16 years and he was my best buddy. I didn't know it until after he died, but he had unofficially provided me with help, as I am an Autistic adult with Major Depressive Disorder who was diagnosed only 18 short months before he died.

After he died, I truly felt his absence, which focused around the things he did, as well as his presence.

In talking with a therapist, I learned that he had been helping me. Six months after his passing, I got a Maine Coon and paid a big deposit, as well as $30 per month rent. Yes, pets get charged rent now. It's petty, but I digress.

My therapist determined that my previous cat had ben acting unofficially as an emotional support animal. With that, she wrote a letter for me.

When I submitted the letter, I DID NOT ask for a return of my deposit. Truth be told, Maine Coon cats are VERY destructive when they are kittens. But I did ask to be relieved of the $30 per month rent, which they did release.

I've harness and leash trained him, even though I do NOT take him into stores or traveling. He just goes for daily walks. But, without a doubt, he and is predecessor are both reasons why I am still here.

[realpristine]

From a flight attendant 👩🏾‍✈️
There was a lawsuit in 2019 in Delta that involved a passenger who was bite by an emotional support animal and had to get stitches. Hence why the airlines are more strict on what animals they allow onboard

[LynnFar]

I have severe CPTSD with severe anxiety and dissassociation..I have been declared by not only my doctor but social security as disabled as soon as I became an adult at 21...I'm 54 now...I have an emotional support animal a cat named Tigger...He travels in a pet backpack that he travels with me...I keep my psychiatrists letter with him at all times that Tigger he helps me to keep my anxiety at a manageable level..when I feel my anxiety ramping up in certain situations it helps for me to at least put my hand in the bag and at least pet him...if it gets really bad I go into the bathroom and hold him for a bit..He is like a grounding for me so I can continue to function..

[YTStoleMyUsername]

All these people commenting "my therapist recommended an emotional support animal" - why is this even a thing? Why isn't there a hard line in the sand, and it's either #1. No disability - therapist can recommend a pet. No special treatment from airlines, restaurants, hotels or housing. Or #2. Disability - Therapist can recommend a SERVICE dog.

Why the grey area of emotional support pets and the YouTube ads promoting the sketchy online certificates from licensed MDs? The world survived for centuries without the term "emotional support animal" until the last few years, I think this needs to change, at minimum for the sake of the truly disabled & their necessary accommodations. People with ESAs don't realize the burden they're placing on people with diagnosed disabilities.

I'm glad you mention that pets bring all of us comfort, because that is very true. Pets feel like children to us, and we do fall in love with them. Why only call them "emotional support" for certain people and not others? It just seems wrong, we provide them emotional support, & they do the same for us in return. The whole industry is selfish and needs to be banned or totally changed somehow.

[piperjaycie]

I’m terrified of dogs. So I don’t go places where there are likely to be many dogs and probably dogs off leads. I like dogs but am too scared. So that’s my choice to avoid those places so I don’t inconvenience other people by getting upset. I get extra frightened if I am somewhere I didn’t expect to see a dog. These dogs however are usually clearly service dogs and I can deal with that and calm down because I know they are so well trained and will not bother with me or other people. People using and sometimes abusing the emotional support animal reason is different. The animals, which could be a variety of things, behave differently and unpredictably. This can be very distressing for others also just trying to live. Not all animals are “therapeutic” to all people. But the type of person to abuse the use of an emotional support animal is usually the type of person to not think about others point of view or why it’s different.

[nrembert]

THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU! THANK YOU for taking the time to do this video. As a pet professional for nearly 20 years, I have so many clients that don't understand the difference, the legalities, the requirements. I hate seeing this being abused, it makes it more difficult for those who really need it. Thank you for the clarity. I will be sharing this video to my colleagues and clients. ❤️❤️❤️❤️

[vampirebottom]

This is such a necessary video, especially going out of the way to define the validity of psychiatric service animals and what exactly makes them a service animal!

I want to also jump in and add on, on the topic of liability, that untrained emotional support animals in public spaces greatly put other people and service animals at risk. I've fortunately never had an incident, but I know other service dog handlers who've had dangerous encounters with ambivalent or clueless pet owners letting their pets charge and attempt to attack service dogs without intervening to correct their animal or break up the confrontation. One of the requirements of an SD is that they can't have any bite incidents (where they bite another animal or human) and can't be violent. Worst case scenarios: the dog doesn't fight back and is horrifically maimed, the dog does fight back and no longer is protected by the ADA as a valid service animal, or the dog does come out of the encounter physically unscathed but traumatized by the ordeal to the point where they either have to go back to basics and be resocialized or potentially be retired altogether if they can't recover.

Service dogs are a limited resource: program wait lists are anywhere between 1 - 4 years and privately trained service dogs take a minimum to 2 years to train, which adds up to $$$$s in the base price of the pup, the training and the basic care of the dog with no guarantee that the dog will have the right temperament and drive to be a service animal and may need to be washed out/retired. Careless people who bring their untrained pets in public are risking the safety and independence of disabled people, no other way to phrase it. If anything ever happened to my dog because of another person's negligence, I would be virtually stranded and totally compromised in my independence, because my dog being mobility-assistance trained is what allows me to be in public by myself without relying on a human carer (who are even more limited resources).

[crazycanecorsolady]

Thanks for this‼️‼️
So many fakes out there that just makes it harder for actually service dogs and their handlers‼

There are thousands of scam/fake websites offering service dog credentials and fake vests🤦🏼‍♀️

[lauries]

Thank you so much for this information! First off, I am dog owner and do love him as though he is my own child. HOWEVER, this whole ‘service animal’ thing has gotten out of control. Good to know that the airlines have made changes to stop the people that are clearly taking advantage of this service. I’d hate to be the person that had to sit next to the passenger that has to have ‘Stanley’ the potbelly pig oinking and squealing the entire flight 🐷

[jklpop]

This is right on time. I love this stray cat 🐱 I named him Garfield 😻 I feed him and when he left I thought he was gone for good. I became worried and had no idea how attached I was to him. It was truly shocking how sad I got. When he returned I was so over joyed...he really brings me joy. 🐱

[elainegoad]

I was a volunteer coordinator for Pets on Wheels, Inc. Non-Profit Pet Therapy Program in PG County Maryland during the 1990's ( program serves 9 Maryland counties and 2 Virginia counties and my county would serve DC if pet visits were requested) My county served 40 facilities, mostly long term care, assisted living, adult day care, a mental health facility and 2 special schools. The pet visits, mostly dogs were loved and the people who were visited regulary really showed positive reactions, even the people who had trouble communicating or who were confused with dementia or brain damage issues. I have so many positive memories and stories of the benefits of the pet therapy visits. We had pet health, temperment and behavior standards and volunteer orientation and first visits were accompanied by an experienced volunteer or myself and volunteers were under the Activity Director's
supervision while in the facility.

[realpristine]

As a flight attendant who loves animals, I have to follow the rules and be considerate of other passengers who may not like animals. If it is not a service animal, the animal is automatically deemed a pet in cabin and must stay inside their carrier. If removed from carrier, the passenger can be banned from flying with the airline.