User:Lylamarasco/Emotional support animal

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An emotional support animal (ESA) is an animal that provides relief to individuals with "psychiatric disability through companionship." Emotional support animals may be any type of pet (not just, e.g., dogs), and are not recognized as service animals under the Americans with Disabilities Act. Almost 1 out of every 5 adults in the United States has a diagnosable mental illness. Emotional support animals can support depression, loneliness, anxiety, autism, PTSD, and bipolar citizens. While service animals are trained to perform specific tasks such as helping a blind person navigate, relieving someone with anxiety, bringing joy to a child on the autism spectrum, and or providing love to one who has lost. An emotional support animal doesn't require any formal training to assist with the mitigation of mental health symptoms. Any animal that provides support, comfort, or aid, to an individual through companionship, unconditional positive regard, and affection may be regarded as an emotional support animal. These animals change the lives of many and help better the unfortunate disability.

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An emotional support animal (ESA) is an animal that provides relief to individuals with "psychiatric disability through companionship." Emotional support animals may be any type of pet (not just, e.g., dogs), and are not recognized as service animals under the Americans with Disabilities Act. Almost 1 out of every 5 adults in the United States has a diagnosable mental illness, but emotional support animals can support depression, loneliness, anxiety, autism, PTSD, and bipolar citizens. While service animals are trained to perform specific tasks such as helping a blind person navigate, relieving someone with anxiety, bringing joy to a child on the autism spectrum, and or providing love to one who has lost. An emotional support animal doesn't require any formal training to assist with the mitigation of mental health symptoms. Any animal that provides support, comfort, or aid to an individual through companionship, unconditional positive regard, and affection may be regarded as an emotional support animal. These animals change the lives of many and help better the unfortunately disabled.

Emotional support animals are typically cats and dogs, but recently other animals have supported individuals with disabilities today. In 2019 there were said to be 200,000+ certified emotional support dogs. The number has risen drastically, especially after the pandemic, say, researchers. The most common animals other than the classic cat and dog are snakes, rabbits, guinea pigs, horses, pigs, and hedgehogs. Snakes are a hypoallergenic support animal option. They are said to be very relaxing, calming emotional support animals that help their owner breathe. The weight of a snake around the shoulders, arm, or over the face provides soothing comfort for many individuals, especially ones struggling with anxiety. A rabbit is another one, they are quite intelligent, cuddly, and bring joy. Rabbits and guinea pigs are quiet and gentle, reassuring for people struggling with anxiety, depression, or PTSD. Miniature horses are not the type of support animal that is not held to give comfort, it is typically ridden and used as a stress reliever and serotonin booster for the owner. They’re gentle, sociable, calm, and inquisitive animals, people enjoy looking at, cuddling, touching, and hugging these animals. Oddly enough, pigs are a great option to train young; pigs are studied to pick up on subtle cues quickly and can even be trained to perform tasks for the owner. Pigs are very sociable and enjoy being cuddled, scratched, and played with by their owner. Some airlines will allow emotional support animals, with proper documentation from a veterinarian and mental health counselor, and small animals such as cats and dogs can be held on the passenger's lap during the flight. Pigs are starting to be able to be taken on a plane like dogs and cats as long as they are provided with proper paperwork. There is no requirement under federal law for emotional support animals to wear a tag, harness, or clothing of any type indicating they are emotional support animals. But if an emotional support animal does have a vest, it eliminates possible stress and hassle. If one’s flying a support animal, having a vest for your pet can ensure that the passengers sitting near someone with an emotional support animal on the plane don’t complain to the airline staff. Out in public especially for an owner with an anxiety disability, or social issues, this will let fellow citizens know not to encounter the pet and or come up to the disabled struggling. Wearing a harness, the owner would also not need to constantly prove to their neighbors that their animal is legitimately an ESA if complaints arise.

References

“Apa PsycNet.” American Psychological Association, American Psychological Association, https://psycnet.apa.org/record/2021-97728-001.

“Types of Emotional Support Animals: A Complete Guide.” ESA Registration of America, https://www.esaregistration.org/blog/types-of-emotional-support-animals/.

“Do Emotional Support Animals Need Vests?” ESA Registration of America, https://www.esaregistration.org/blog/do-emotional-support-animals-need-vests/.

“Can a Snake Be an Emotional Support Animal? What to Know.” ESA Registration of America, https://www.esaregistration.org/blog/can-snakes-be-esas/.

Jones, Oliver. “Miniature Horses as Emotional Support Animals: Everything You Need to Know.” Pet Keen, 25 July 2022, https://petkeen.com/miniature-horses-as-emotional-support-animals/.