Emotional Support Animals

December 2020 - The Department of Transportation (DOT)
​has changed its regulations on flying with Emotional Support Animals. 
This final rule defines a service animal as a dog, regardless of breed or type, that is individually trained to do work or perform tasks for the benefit of a qualified individual with a disability, including a physical, sensory, psychiatric, intellectual, or other mental disability. It allows airlines to recognize emotional support animals as pets, rather than service animals, and permits airlines to limit the number of service animals that one passenger can bring onboard an aircraft to two service animals.

Emotional Support Animals

What is an Emotional Support Animal?
An emotional support animal (ESA) is a companion animal that provides therapeutic benefit, such as alleviating or mitigating some symptoms of the disability, to an individual with a mental or psychiatric disability. Emotional support animals are typically dogs and cats, but may include other animals.

​Who Can Receive an Emotional Support Animal?
To qualify for an emotional support animal, a person needs to have a mental or emotional disability, and been provided a letter stating the need for the animal by a physician or treatment provider.

What Laws Support Emotional Support Animals?
Under Federal Laws, emotional support animals are allowed in traditionally non-pet housing and on flights. Emotional support animals are not considered service animals, and thus are not allowed in public places.

How Do I Get an Emotional Support Animal?
Because ESAs do not go in public places, they do not require any training. Thus, you can adopt a pet at your local shelter or rescue. Or, if you would like a dog, that has been obedience trained, you can go through the Domesti-PUPS program. 

How Does the Domesti-PUPS ESA Program Work?
Once you have applied for a dog through our program, Domesti-PUPS will:
  1. contact your mental health treatment provider to request a letter stating the need for the dog;
  2. provide you with a dog that has received a minimum of 12 weeks of obedience training; and
  3. contact your landlord (if required) to request a formal accommodation to have the ESA in your dwelling. 

What Is the Cost?
The cost for an Emotional Support Animal ranges from $1,500 to $3,900, depending on the amount of training the dog has received. Our staff will help you through the process: create and send all needed documentation, respond and ADVOCATE on your behalf, educate all involved, and provide you with a great furry new best friend. You will learn about the laws that support you with an Emotional Support Animal, and learn the obedience commands your dog has been taught. Each dog we provide is neutered/spayed, current on vaccinations, microchipped, and kennel trained. You will even receive 25% off any obedience classes should you decide to deepen the relationship between you and your dog (applies to local clients only). 

If I can adopt a rescue dog and contact my therapist on my own, why should I go through this program? 
Our program is not for everyone. You're right, you can go through this process on your own, and that is a-ok. But for those who want assistance through this process, and would like a dog that has a great start in being a well-behaved member of your family, this program is available to help. 

After a deluge of phone inquiries about ESAs Domesti-PUPS found that there was a lack of education about Emotional Support Animals--from clients, to mental health treatment providers, to landlords. And misinformation has led to profiteers online offering a $99 way to take your dog in public, leading to many faking their pets as service animals or ESAs. This has drastically hurt the industry, and made it harder for those legitimately needing support to get the care they need. Thus, we felt it necessary to enhance the legitimacy of ESAs by providing a program where everyone involved would be educated. 

Please fill out the form below.

    Application Request