How does a doctor's visit for an emotional support animal work?

[courtsterr]

I just recently moved to California with my husband and we live in off base military housing and they do not accept dogs unless you have a docs prescription to have one as a service dog or an emotional support dog. I absolutely love dogs and they truely do make me feel happier cause they're so adorable and they give me a feeling of comfort so I scheduled a doc apt for Monday to get a prescription for an emotional support animal so we CAN have one.. but.. I'm exxxttrrreemely curious as to how it works so if anyone has gone through this process could you pretty please inform me on everything! I'm not actually mentally unstable.. I just want a damn dog in the comfort of my own home LEGALLY. So do I tell her how unstable I am and she just writes the prescription?
PLEASE HELP it would be greatly appreciated!
Thank you, have a nice day everyone!

[irving snotpocket]

I am sorry, but you are abusing the law. You are also dealing with fraud. You specifically say you do NOT have a disability. I work in Disability Services. The law was written for people who have actual medical disorders who truely NEED the animal for a specific purpose. Just "existing" is not a specific task the animal is trained to do to ease the disability.

First, do you have a disability? The will be the first thing. It has to be a medical condition that is so disabling that it actually interferes with living.

Second, what agency are you planning on purchasing the dog through? What will the dog be certified to do?

Third: do you really want the military to know that your husband has a disabled spouse? That may potentially affect future security clearances.

Fourth: Since this is fraud, you are really risking your husband's job and career. Is it not true that your husband is accountable if YOU break the law and commit fraud? Especially ON BASE?

Fifth, you really should be ashamed of yourself for wanting to abuse laws which were put into place to aid those much less fortunate than you.

Please, understand, the law is for very specific purposes, not just mild joy.

[mildred f]

Move into a single family house that allows you to have your own dog. You pay, but that is what you wanted, the dog. This is the price.

[mariahleadme]

What you are speaking of is what is known as an Emotional Support Animal (ESA). Service dogs and ESA’s are for those who meet the legal definition of 'disabled', not those who “absolutely love dogs and they truely do make me feel happier cause they're so adorable and they give me a feeling of comfort”. Not being happy or comfortable are not disabilities.

To have an ESA in 'no-pets' housing, the person must be elderly or meet the legal definition of being mentally ill or disabled, be under the continuous care of a professional psychiatrist or psychologist, have an established treatment plan in place for the mental illness or disability, and have the psychiatrist or psychologist make an assertion that the presence of the animal is deemed a necessary part of the ongoing treatment regimen.

Then the person must file and have approved a "Request for Reasonable Accommodation" with the landlord/manager/owner BEFORE bringing the animal on the premises. The Request should state why the animal is being requested, include the treating psychiatrists or psychologists written affirmation (on the office letterhead) that the animal is part of the persons treatment regimen for their mental illness or disability, and show that the person has the proper levels of liability insurance on the animal being requested.

You cannot simply have a 'doctor' write a 'note' which will magically allow you to have your dog with you. You must follow the proper protocol and procedure.

There is no 'national registry' from which one can have their dog 'certified' from, as every registry currently available is nothing but a scam and a fraud intended to separate stupid people from their money. ALL of the websites offering to 'certify' or 'register' any dog are frauds and scams, as there is no legal 'certification', 'registration' or 'ID' recognized or required by law with regards to service dogs. Landlords are becoming more aware of this and when someone shows up with one of the wastepaper 'certifications', they are turned down right away.

ESA's are subject to weight and breed limitations. See here for more information:

http://www.fairhousing.com/include/media...

You will also be financially and civilly liable for any damage done to the premises by the animal while the animal is present on the property.

The handler of an ESA has no public venue access rights with the animal. The handler of an ESA cannot take the animal with them in the public venue. No stores, no restaurants, no taxis or buses, nothing.

Be certain that this is something you really want to do. The designation of being mentally ill or disabled by a mental illness is something that will affect you for the rest of your life. The designation of being mentally ill or disabled by mental illness is part of your public record which is available for viewing by potential employers, law enforcement agencies, business owners, landlords and rental agencies, real estate offices, banking institutions, credit extenders, social services agencies, and anyone else who wishes to view your public records.