If you are wondering how to get an emotional support animal letter on the web, these tips are going to help steer you in the right direction. Recently, there has been a considerable amount of interest in emotional support animals (ESAs) and how they can help treat patients suffering from a variety of emotional and psychological conditions without having to rely on prescription drugs. These conditions can include PTSD, depression, and anxiety to name a few. See this post from Rested Paws for all the findings on this.
Process Of Procuring The Emotional Support Animal Letter Online
The initial step is to find a doctor to prescribe an ESA letter. You may be unable to find a local doctor who is fully versed in the benefits of having an emotional service animal, but fortunately there are websites that specialize in that niche. In order to secure the letter and the benefits that come with it you first need to speak with a mental health care professional that is licensed to provide these services.
Speaking With A Licensed Mental Healthcare Professional
You will need to be diagnosed by the licensed mental healthcare professional with a condition where having an emotional support animal is considered to be an effective form of treatment. The animal does not require any specialized training, but serves as a means of stress relief and comfort to the patient. After the licensed mental health professional has completed his/her diagnosis and determined you would benefit from having an ESA, they will write the letter. All of this can be performed online, so it should have minimal impact on your day-to-day life. Also, most websites give you the option of receiving a paper copy in the mail and/or a digital version which is also legal.
Elements Of A Valid ESA Letter
There are some important elements the ESA letter has to include for it to be deemed valid under the law:
- Needs to reflect the current date (ESA letters are only valid for one year from date of issue).
- Has to show your full name and residential address.
- Should be on letterhead bearing the name of the licensed mental healthcare provider, with their contact number, address, and licensing details. If any of these fields are missing the letter could be deemed invalid.
- It should also clearly document your diagnosis and why you require the emotional support animal without going into too much detail.
If the letter covers these items then you are fully covered by the emotional support animal legislation that currently covers service animals for individuals who are visually impaired.
How The ESA Letter Helps You
With this letter, you and your emotional support animal are free to travel without undue hindrance provided you are carrying the ESA letter with you (or have a digital copy available to pull up on your phone) and the dog is wearing the ESA emblem on its harness. You are able to take public transportation and stay at hotels without fear of being denied service provided your ESA letter has not expired.
The sooner you move forward and secure the ESA letter, the happier you will be, so do not delay getting it!