Hi Amee,

We get this discussion or a variation thereof about once a week at least. I suggest using the handy "Search" tool at the top of the page and run the following three searches: "therapy animal", "ESA", "service animal".

The reason for doing all three is a service animal and a therapy animal are not the same things. An ESA (emotional support animal) is a third variation on the concept of animals in rentals. Each of the three classes has its own rules and stipulations about what you as the land lord can/can't do, and we need to know all three.

U.S. Department of Justice, Civil Rights Division, Disability Rights Section: Service Animals, July 2015; also see

April 25, 2013 HUD position letter.]

An emotional support animal (ESA) or Comfort animal belongs to a person who is disabled.

The person's health care professional has determined that the presence of the animal is necessary for the disabled person's mental health and written a prescription stating the animal is necessary in the person's home.

That person needs to be credentialed and able to prescribe in that discipline.

Additionally, it need be a provider you are using locally and during the last 12 months.

An emotional support animal can be kept in a home where pets are not permitted with notice to the owner on this app and the proper documentation.

Not service animals:

ESA or ‘COMFORT’ animal is prescribed in a treatment process to alleviate a person's depression or other psychiatric disabilities.

Serv. Animal central. ADA

Emotional Support Animal or Comfort animal, or "animal assisted therapy" (AAT) animal is not a service animal.

It does not assist a disabled person with daily living activities.

4. Therapy Animals. Therapy animals are used by medical and counseling centers to treat patients with various emotional or social problems.

Therapy animals include cats, dogs, rabbits, horses, etc. they do not enjoy the same advantages as a service or ESA does.

They are not 'service’ if it is for someone else other than a tenant at the property.

Until their training is complete, and ARE for the tenant with a disability that will live here, not one you are training for someone. (servicedogcentral.com)

A therapy dog is legally a pet.

A therapy dog is a pet that has been trained, tested, registered, and insured to accompany his owner to visit patients and residents of facilities like hospitals and nursing homes to cheer up the people living there.

IT IS NOT USED FOR THERAPY FOR THE OWNER.

It is not permitted to go anywhere that pets aren't permitted without permission.

Amee,

My app says "List all animals" then asks "Is there anything else we need to know?"

Let them tell you in their words, not yours. A THERAPY animal is not protected. It goes out to nursing homes and schools to give people joy. It is therapeutic to others, not your applicant.

A service or Emotional Support animal helps your applicant.

My Fair Housing director says until they provide an official LETTER OF MEDICAL NECESSITY from a local doctor with a history of treating that person, it's a pet. We do not ASK for that letter or teach them to go get one, we ask them to provide any info we should have. No letter? No ESA.

A prescription or comment from someone is not adequate.

This all depends on YOUR local Fair Housing office.