preview

Emotional Support Animals Research Paper

Decent Essays

Unlike the regulations set forth in Massachusetts defining service animals, emotional support animals are not limited to dogs. Federal law allows any animal to accompany individuals with disabilities in both residential settings and in air travel as long as the individual is in possession of an emotional support animal letter in MA and as long as that individual does not compromise the safety of others or their property. This is part of the “reasonable accommodation” as set forth in the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).

What is Defined as an Emotional Support Animal?
Medical professionals have recently seen the positive effects animals are able to provide to their patients with mental disabilities. The emotional support dog MA recognizes …show more content…

Under the federal statutes, such disabilities as mental retardation, mental illness and special learning disabilities qualify. Further, the mental impairment must affect the individual’s ability to carry out major life activities such …show more content…

This is a commercial enterprise selling vests, certificates and badges for “helper animals.” It is important to understand that emotional assistance animals are not considered “service animals” under the law. As such, the only requirement to make the designation is the emotional support animal letter in MA.

This should be helpful in understanding how to get an emotional support animal in Massachusetts. While much of the case law that is yet to make it to the courts could result in further definition of statutes regulating what constitutes an emotional support animal and where and how they are permitted to accompany their owners, the reasonable caveat in the law remains as the best way to decide when proceeding.

As medical professionals have seen the benefit of emotional support animals in improving the lives of their patients, is it not a more reasonable solution to those who may legitimately struggle with the basics of life as compared to those who are more fortunate in their abilities? The concept is not one that has been established to permit the betterment of the mental well-being of a few at the expense of everyone else. When exceeding the limits of what is deemed reasonable, this remains an issue to be challenged in the courts. What is one person's emotional support need not become emotional despair for

Get Access