Understanding How to Live & Fly with Your Pet without Breaking Legal Rules

Not all of us can quickly get through the hard times in life. Sometimes you may just feel like you can’t deal with the load of problems on your own. If this sounds familiar, getting an ESA would be your next best choice.
Emotional support animals do real wonders to our mental health. But along with all the therapeutic effects and benefits for your emotional state, you’ll also get a few extra freedoms. The most tempting ones are perhaps with a valid ESA letter, you may qualify for housing accommodations without pet fees. However, airlines are no longer required to recognize ESAs as service animals, so travel policies vary.
To access housing protections, you need a valid ESA letter from a licensed mental health professional. This will allow you not to separate with your pet even while traveling and to rent any type of housing that suits your tastes and needs.
Want to learn more? Here’s all you should know about how the system works and why an ESA Letter can be really helpful when you’re looking for rental housing or want to take your pet with you on a trip.

Quick Guide on How to Get an Emotional Support Animal Letter

If you are thinking of getting yourself an ESA pet as a way to live through the tough times of your life, getting an ESA letter is absolutely necessary. Why? Simply because that’s exactly what will give your new companion a special status of a support animal.
Even if you have no idea of how to do it, there is no need to worry. The procedure is very simple, quick and reasonably priced. To turn your pet into the rightful ESA, you should only go through the next steps:

1. Schedule a consultation with a licensed mental health professional (e.g., therapist, psychologist, psychiatrist, or licensed clinical social worker)

Getting familiar with the rules is always a good idea. That’s why you should start from making an appointment with the doctor to check if getting the ESA is the right solution for your specific problem.

2. Consult with a licensed mental health professional

Who will evaluate your situation and determine whether an ESA is appropriate. This may take time and often requires an established therapeutic relationship and you won’t even have to leave your home. Consult a therapist online and provide him/her with the necessary details about your emotional state to make sure you are diagnosed correctly.

3. Your LMHP will determine if you have a qualifying mental health condition under the Fair Housing Act and whether an ESA would help alleviate symptoms.

Once again, be sure to tell the medical expert all about your mental problems to guarantee that the assistance animal can help you get relief from your mental disorder and improve your qualify of life.

4. Get your emotional support animal letter and always use it correctly

Nothing else is required. Once approved, your LMHP can issue an ESA letter. This letter allows you to request housing accommodations. Airlines, however, are not required to recognize ESA letters and may treat ESAs as pets and rent no-pet housing legally and without extra payments.
The whole procedure won’t take much time and it’s also very affordable. Just make sure you get the letter from the qualified doctor and you’ll have everything at your disposal to enjoy a new life with your little friend.

How to Use ESA Letter and Where It Can Help You

ESA letters grant housing accommodations under the Fair Housing Act to the owners of assistance animals. The major freedoms you can get are:

You can rent any type of accommodation

With a valid ESA letter, landlords cannot enforce blanket breed or size restrictions unless the specific animal poses a direct threat. This also applies to any other type of ESA. The reason for this is simple – the laws prohibit landlords to discriminate against the disabled people including those who suffer from mental disabilities.
To share housing with your ESA, you should:

• Discuss your health condition with the landlord before signing the rental contract.
• Show your ESA letter to the landlord.
• If necessary, inform them about what the laws say on this matter.

Note: Landlords cannot charge pet fees or deposits for ESAs under the FHA, provided you present a valid ESA letter.

You can travel with your ESA by plane

It’s also possible that some airlines may allow ESAs as pets subject to fees and restrictions, but federal law no longer requires airlines to treat ESAs as service animals. together with your pet. Flying with the dog or other ESA in the plane’s cabin has become a widespread practice. Individuals with qualifying disabilities may be eligible for an ESA letter if recommended by a licensed mental health professional and use the ESA letter for airlines. This letter will prove that:

• • Your emotional support animal is legitimate.
  • You may request to bring your pet as an ESA, but airlines can apply pet policies, including fees and size/crate requirements

Note: You should check your airline’s current pet travel policy and provide any required documentation within their stated timeframe.

How to Make Sure Your ESA Letter is Legitimate

No doubts, you can easily access all the above benefits after you consult a licensed mental health professional, including through telehealth, to obtain an ESA letter. But let’s get it straight – not all ESA letters are identical. Unfortunately, some of them are not legitimate. Fake letters are often provided by scam companies whose goal is to gain profit but not to help you. Therefore, to be sure you get a legal document, don’t forget to check if the letter:

• • • • Is written on the official letterhead belonging to the mental health specialist.
      • Is provided by a licensed mental health professional whose license details are also mentioned in the letter.
      • Contains the doctor’s signature and a valid date.

No registration is required for housing rights. Airlines are not required to accept ESAs. Just get yourself the ESA letter and don’t forget to give your new friend the special care and loving attitude it deserves in return for its loyalty and support.
Ready to begin? Reach out to a therapist and check if you can get yourself a faithful companion to break free from your troubles and leave all misfortunes behind.