Thank you for advocating for individuals like me who DO NEED THREE EMOTIONAL SUPPORT DOGS! My husband and I have medical conditions: anxiety that is life altering. People who do not have medical/mental conditions will never understand how much our ESAs or our dogs or cats can assist us in the day to day. I am barely able to make appointments and getting the ESA’s conveniently is a GOD send due to my severe anxiety. It’s taken us a long time to gain the courage to realize that we needed these dogs to get certified for the help that they have always given us! I do not take them into places but that’s just our needs because I rarely leave home. Landlords need to be educated on laws or get consultants to handle such laws and delicate matters if they want to be landlords. Having a home and living should not be seen as a sin to others.

A letter from a licensed healthcare professional is not required if you own a service dog – they are only required for emotional support animals. Some owners of psychiatric service dogs will however obtain PSD letters, see this link for more details: https://esadoctors.com/how-to-get-a-psychiatric-service-dog-letter/

A retailer is not subject to a lawsuit just because they let in an ESA or any other animal. Retailers are free to let in any animals they choose, they are just not mandated to allow in ESAs by law.

Another resident is not entitled to see the tenant’s ESA letter, but the housing provider or landlord is. ESAs are generally allowed in common areas where other residents are allowed to go, unless there is a health or safety reason they shouldn’t be there.

If there is an ESA that is being aggressive towards people or other animals, that is not acceptable. A landlord can remove an ESA for threatening the safety of others.

Please see this post for more information about federal guidelines for ESAs: https://esadoctors.com/hud-housing-rules-emotional-support-animals/