Understanding the Need for an ESA Dog Vest: Should You Get One for Your ESA?

Even though people not always understand the difference between “service animals” and “emotional support animals”, there are good reasons to draw a line between them. That’s because even the demands for their transportation and ownership may significantly differ despite their common features. All this can be a bit confusing, and the need to buy an ESA vest or service dog vest is one of such misleading things.
Some people would say that all types of assistance animals should better be under control at all times. Why? Simply because it will help their owners to avoid unwanted pet fees and prevent confrontations with legal rules. And a special ESA vest is one of those things that many ESA owners choose to have while traveling or visiting public places to ensure greater control over their little companions.
But is it really necessary to have this accessory? What if it’s just a commercial trick? This question is still a matter of concern for many people so let’s dig into details to find an answer.

Is an Emotional Support Dog Vest a Must-Have Accessory?

Some people think vests are a must-have accessory if you are traveling with your ESA by plane or just visiting public areas with it. No doubts, the ability to take your support animal with you offers incredible opportunities like a chance to avoid extra fees or to get emotional support during a stressful trip. That’s not to mention you’ll have a faithful travel mate for a company.
But apart from all the benefits, there are also many rules you might need to follow when you travel with an ESA. There is the opinion that having an emotional support vest is one of such important rules.
In reality, however, it’s not obligatory for ESA dogs simply because the laws on this matter apply only to service animals. That’s why unlike a common belief, you don’t really need a vest for your ESA unless you have any personal reasons to get one.
Then why people are still buying ESA vests? Let’s examine the pros and cons of having this accessory to get a clear idea of what it can give you.

Pros of ESA vests

• They play the role of an ID making it easier to understand that you are accompanied by an ESA, not just a pet.
• It’s simply more convenient for you and everyone else as vests are the best indicators of support animals during travels or in public spaces.
• They help landlords, airlines and other authorities to find your ESA dog if it gets lost and to let other people know that your companion plays an important role.
• Having a vest makes it easier to attach a tag saying something like “don’t pet” or “don’t feed” to make sure no one distracts your canine companion from its primary task.

On the whole, however, vests are just a luxury, not something you absolutely need to buy. It’s just an “indicator” of what your pet means for you and what special role it plays.
Basically, if an ESA dog wears a vest, people would clearly see that you’re accompanied with not merely a pet, but a special companion. And of course, it comes in handy when there is a risk of losing your ESA – a vest may help to find your pet more easily. And perhaps these are the only benefits of having such thing as a vest.
Sometimes it is simply too exhausting to explain everyone around what role your pet plays in your life so some ESA owners decide to buy a vest for their dearest animals. However, it is not compulsory to buy one, especially because this accessory also has many drawbacks.

Cons of ESA vests:

• Vests for ESAs and service dogs can be expensive depending on the exact brand or type you want to buy.
• Some producers offer harnesses and vests designed only for a specific category of dogs so you may not find a suitable option or may buy the one that doesn’t fit your animal. Thus, an ESA vest for small dog would hardly suit larger breeds and the choice of a suitable one may be really confusing.
• Just like other things, vests are susceptible to wear and tear, especially because they are worn by animals. For this reason, you may need to purchase a new one every so often. And the constant need for replacement may translate into additional costs in the long run.
• Some vests can be too tight and not convenient for animals wearing them which could be a source of discomfort for your ESA.
• Just because vests are usually worn by service dogs, people may find it hard to understand what type of animal you are traveling with.

So, what’s the verdict?

Does anyone really need to purchase vests for emotional support animals?
Let’s face it – having a support animal harness or vest is not a legal rule so the answer is no. The law doesn’t say that emotional support animals, in particular, should wear a comfort dog vest even though the advocates of this trend are saying it’s highly desirable.
On the other hand, the laws require certain types of assistance animals like service dogs to have a sign of recognition in order to minimize confusion and misunderstanding in public spaces. Perhaps, in this case, a vest can indeed work well for you as it would serve as an ID for your ESA making it more recognizable and emphasizing its status.
However, for the most part, any emotional support animal vest is just a rather expensive and heavily advertised item that nobody really needs. No one would argue that what every ESA owner needs most is to get the long-hoped-for relief from emotional problems. And any additional things like dog vests or other advertised accessories are simply not as important as one’s quick recovery from a mental disorder.
If that’s what you too want to get, don’t hesitate to apply for an ESA letter and wait for terrific changes to enter your life.