What Are The Guidelines For the Emotional Support Animal (ESA) Policy?

An animal doesn’t need to be certified to exercise this right. It does, however, require proof that a person has a valid need for an emotional support animal. Professional counselors and other mental health experts are responsible for delivering this paperwork. According to HUD, Persons striving for suitable housing for an emotional support animal may require documentation from a physician, psychiatrist, social worker, or other mental health professionals that the animal provides the aid that relieves at least one of the specified symptoms or consequences of the current disability.

Are you a professional counselor? There are chances that you receive a request regarding  The counselor not needing to label, characterize, or describe the client’s specific disability in the documentation. The counselor should also state that the particular person has an emotional disability requiring ESA. Furthermore, it explains that an emotional support animal can help relieve the symptoms of emotional disability for a specific person. When individuals need a house for accommodation, they have to show the letter as a piece of evidence that they can take pets with them to their homes. Even the letter is valid in colleges, universities, residence halls, dormitories, and university-owned apartments.

What are the rules and expectations about ESAs?

Several laws apply to ESAs, and breaking them might result in you losing your ability to maintain an ESA in your home. The following are the rules:

• Emotional Support Animals (ESAs) must follow state and municipal animal rules, including license and vaccination requirements based on the animal’s kind. It includes animals from other nations as long as they comply with all applicable customs and federal laws for animals entering the United States.

• Fundamentally, Emotional Support Animals (ESA)s cannot modify the nature of the University’s programs, activities, or operations.

• Emotional support animals (ESA)may not threaten the safety of other people around you; therefore, you need to keep them under control.

• Emotional support animals must not make absurd noises or cause a disturbance.

• The whole responsibility of the animal is upon the owner. For example, suppose you are a student taking ESA to the University with you. In that case, the University won’t be responsible for the animal’s act and behavior. 

• Individuals with ESA need to keep animals clean, safe, and in unsanitary conditions.

• It would be best if you took care of animals’ needs, including food, clean living space, medical treatment, etc.

• If you are found guilty of abusing and neglecting animals, it may be a formal complaint against you.

• However, ESAs do not need a deposit. Still, suppose they cause any damage to the asset of the property. In that case, you are fully responsible for paying the damage costs.

• You can’t leave your ESA in the care of another residential student overnight or during university breaks. In that case, making alternative arrangements will be helpful.

• ESAs owners are responsible for disposing of the animals’ waste. Always place their waste in a sturdy plastic bag and tie it securely before disposing of.

• Owners must follow preventative measures at all times for flea and odor control.

• You can not take ESAs on university-sponsored international trips as many countries do not have similar disability and ESAs laws to the U.S.

• Students with the authority of Emotional Support Animal (ESA) on campus must sign an agreement with SDS that will be on file with the SDS office and residential education. This agreement comprises the rules and expectations regarding caring for Emotional Support Animals on campus. Moreover, it will include emergency contact who will also be responsible for animal care on campus.

Student Housing and Residential Education (SHaRE) will evaluate any complaints and work with SDS to resolve any issues or concerns if a student fails to follow the regulations. Suppose it is determined the elimination of the animal is necessary. In that case, the student will receive a joint letter from the SHaRE and the SDS Office. If the student refuses to remove the animal from their campus housing following such a finding, the matter will be submitted to the Office of Student Rights and Responsibilities (OSCRR) for Student Conduct Code procedures.