Dr. Mark Swaim says that legitimate service animals such as hearing dogs and seeing dogs are allowed anywhere. But can your therapy dog or emotional support dog go anywhere too?
With so many people taking advantage of accommodations for service animals, rules have been established for Therapy Dogs and Emotional Support Animals or ESAs.
Therapy Dogs vs. Emotional Support Animals
Therapy dogs are often not specially trained. For this reason, they do not qualify for most exceptions and are not usually allowed in public places. Even if your dog is a licensed therapy animal, expect that it won’t be allowed to go into shops, restaurants, or other similar establishments with you.
Emotional Support Animals have to be prescribed by a mental health professional like Dr. Mark Swaim. However, even though doctors prescribe them, they are still not allowed into public places, and establishments like service dogs are.
Where Can You Take Your Emotional Support Dog?
Unlike therapy dogs, emotional support animals are allowed by law in certain places. For example, they are permitted to accompany you into apartments and homes—even if there are no-pet policies in place. Emotional support dogs can also come with you on plane rides since many people suffer great anxiety during air travel.
If your emotional support dog was prescribed to you by your mental health professional, it is protected under the Air Carrier Access Act and the Fair Housing Amendment Act. The FHAA dictates that your emotional service dog can stay with you in your home even if pets aren’t allowed. Dr. Mark Swaim shares the ACAA, on the other hand, allows your emotional support dog to fly in the plane with you—in the cabin—for no additional charges or extra fees.
Dr. Swaim believes that these two laws are instrumental in maintaining a healthy mental state. At least you would know that you can bring your companion in your home and on your next air travel, making you feel more at ease at your surroundings.
Dr Mark Swaim 