Most people think that service animals and emotional support animals are the same. However, they are not. If you also thought that they are the same, read the article further to know how different.  You can also get an ESA Letter ****online.

Owner’s Disabilities

Owners use service animals and ESAs with different types of disabilities. The service animals are used by people having any physical disability. In contrast, emotional support animals are used by people with mental, psychological, or emotional disabilities.

Functions

The service animals and ESAs serve different purposes. The service animals help their owners in doing routine tasks. These animals assist them in doing the work that they can’t do because of their disability.

The emotional support animal does not work for the owner. Their sole task is to provide emotional support to their owners. It could be only through cuddling also or just by being with them at all times.

The emotional support animals have certain limitations. They can not be carried to all social setups. An exception can be if the host allows you to bring them. An ESA letter for housing ****only ensures their living with you.

Laws and Regulations

There is a difference in the laws that regulate service animals and emotional support animals. The law regulating service animals is the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). According to this act, the animals can not be barred from entering any place. Since the owner is physically disabled, the service animals can be taken anywhere the owner goes.

The law which regulates emotional support animals is the Fair Housing Act (FHA). This law ensures the accommodation of the ESA with their owner regardless of the resident place. This means that an ESA can live wherever its owner lives. No kind of housing society or landlord can reject an ESA or discriminate against it. They also can not charge any extra fee for keeping an ESA.

Certification

Due to the difference in their functions, the certification requirements of both types of animals also vary. You have to buy a specially trained service animal from an animal center to keep a service animal. The center is supposed to provide you the certification of the animal along.

The certification for an ESA is done through an emotional support animal letter. You have to consult a licensed mental health professional. He will examine your symptoms and issue a letter declaring your need for an ESA valid.

Training

Service animals are specially trained animals. They are trained to do the routine work of their owners. Their responsibility is to get the owner’s tasks done because they can not manage to do them.

ESAs do not require any special or additional training because they are not responsible for any particular tasks. They only need to have the general training to live in a domesticated setting. This is just to ensure that they don’t harm the owner or other people around.

Limitations

The service animals usually do not have any limitations. Or, even if they have, they are far lesser than those of the emotional support animals. The American Disability Act allows service animals to go everywhere and also travel with their owners.

Also, the previously accepted Air Carrier Access Act that eased ESA traveling with their owners in the planes has been laid to rest now. Now, it is upon the airlines if they want to allow the ESA with you on the plane or not. The ESA letter can be provided if the airlines allow you to keep your animal along.