Common Myths about Service and ESA Dog - 2021 Guide

There are some common myths about service animals and ESA letter dogs. Service animals are becoming a more common sight in society these days. People who suffer from a range of impairing health conditions benefit from service dogs.

However, this doesn’t mean that there are no myths out there regarding ESA and service dogs. Whether you have a service dog that can perform specific tasks or an ESA that helps you overcome your mental and emotional issues, you may have encountered some myths regarding moving your service and ESA animals around the world.

Myth 1: service animals are all the same:

Usually, service animals are considered in the same category but they can be divided into three distinct categories that are determined by the categories of services that they provide. Service dogs receive special training to perform tasks for their owners. On the other hand, ESAs aren’t trained to perform tasks but they are instrumental in helping those who suffer from emotional complexities and cannot function properly in society. 

Myth 2: everyone can have an ESA: 

Anyone can indeed have a pet that brings him/her emotional and psychological benefits and support but it doesn’t mean that your pet can qualify as a service or emotional support dog. If you want to make your pet to be truly considered as an ESA dog, then you need to get a letter for your ESA from a therapist who will ensure that you deserve to keep an ESA dog.

Once you get your ESA letter, you need to renew it every year. And in case of moving to a new house, you will need an ESA letter for housing to keep your dog with you in the house. Every landowner doesn’t allow you to keep a dog in his premises. So, to keep your emotional support dog with you, you will be needing that letter too.

Myth 3: Service dogs, emotional support dogs and therapy dogs are same: 

It is wrong that service, emotional support, and therapy dogs are the same. Their purpose is the same that is the well-being of their owner. But they are different in many aspects. 

Service dogs:

Service dogs are trained to perform specific tasks to aid their owners’ disabilities and allow them to spend their life normally.

Emotional support animals:

They can be used to provide their owner emotional comfort and ease and they do not require training like service dogs.

Therapy dog:

These dogs are found where various forms of therapies are applied. They are generally found in care homes and rehabilitation centers. Unfortunately, therapy dogs don’t have legal rights as the other service animals have.

Myth 4: Rules keeping for service animals and ESA:

Law protects the rights of those who have emotional support animal letter and service dogs with them and they have to go to shopping malls, airplanes, and other public places. But only owners of service dogs are allowed to take their dogs with them if they have proper documentation. Service dogs are trained properly about how to behave appropriately and are necessary to stay with their owners. Dogs who have granted service dog certificates after their training, qualify to go in public places with their owner. However, when adequate documentation is provided then ESA animals are allowed to travel on airplanes with their owner and live with their owner in the house.

Myth 5: Law made by Government: 

Service and ESA rules are set by government level and people can use both the animals and their rights are reserved with and no one can challenge those rights. America has published act for disabled people based on the rules issued by Government.

If you think that you are eligible to use a service animal or ESA then you can consider the above mentioned before taking any decision.