An emotional support animal provides the comfort and support many people need when they’re suffering from mental health issues. This helps their owners cope with everyday life and their condition better. In Michigan, you can have the support of your emotional support animal with you at home or when you fly.
It is important to understand the differences between an emotional support animal and a service animal. A service animal is trained to perform specific tasks and is allowed in public places to support a disabled person e.g. a guide dog. Whereas an emotional support animal provides support, care, and companionship to someone with mental health problems.
How to get an ESA Letter
An ESA letter is required by all airlines and most landlords to show proof from a mental health professional about your mental health condition and need for an emotional support animal. Getting an ESA letter couldn’t be easier. Speak to one of our medical professionals at US Service Animals and find out if you qualify. If you qualify, you will be prescribed an emotional support animal and be able to receive an ESA letter. This letter will have all of the information needed for landlords and airlines to allow you to travel and live with your emotional support animal.
We make sure that the process is easy and stress-free. Call or schedule a call today and speak to one of our mental health professionals to get more information about the process and a free consultation. Once you have an ESA letter, you won’t have to worry about it again in the future. Get it now to file away for when you need to travel or move home.
An ESA letter should do the following:
- Confirm your mental health disability/condition
- Explain how the disability is limiting everyday activities
- Explain how an emotional support animal helps improve everyday life and well-being
- Be signed by a mental health professional
At US Service Animals, we are able to provide all of this in an ESA letter after you have a consultation over the phone with one of our medical professionals. You will then receive your ESA letter via email ready for you to print and use.
Travel Laws
In Michigan, you can travel on an airplane with your emotional support animal. This is under the Air Carrier Access Act which allows you to travel with your emotion support animal as long as you have an ESA letter and have had at least 1 therapy session. You can get your ESA letter from us at US Service Animals. It is a requirement by all airlines who will want to make sure the animal is an emotional support animal. When traveling on an airplane you may also need to fill out extra paperwork and give the airline notice so they can prepare for your emotional support animal on the flight.
Employment Laws
The Americans with Disabilities Act protects those with a disability and allows service animals in public places but does not support emotional support animals in Michigan. For employment, most workplaces do not allow you to bring your animal into the workplace unless it is a trained service animal. This means it is not against the law for an employer to deny access to your emotional support animal. It is worth a try of asking your employer and showing them your ESA letter to see if they will let your emotional support animal support you at work, the worst they can do is say no.
Housing Laws
Housing in Michigan is protected under the Fair Housing Act. This means as long as you have your ESA letter, a landlord cannot discriminate against or deny you access to a property. They are not allowed to charge you extra fees for having an animal nor can they deny you access, even if the property has a no-pet policy.
This law covers rented property, public accommodation, and even university student accommodation. This means university students can have their emotional support animal with their throughout their studies.
It is advised to check the rules and regulations for an emotional support animal. Airlines have different policies regarding paperwork and the amount of notice that needs to be given. And if your emotional support animal behaves badly, a landlord has the right to deny access for the safety of yourself and other tenants.