How to Get Your Emotional Support Animal Certification
in Idaho
Having an Emotional Support Animal (ESA) as a life companion is a rewarding experience for anyone, but for people dealing with emotional disorders, comfort animals can mean the difference between a good day and a bad one. There are many proven health benefits of comfort animals for people managing depression, anxiety, and PTSD.
State and federal laws protect the rights of people who own an ESA in certain cases, but landlords and others can be resistant. Landlords can evict tenants without proper documentation for their animals. Failure to follow the Emotional Support Animal laws, however, can cause them hefty penalties and a day in court.
American Service Pets helps tenants get the approval they need for an Emotional Support Animal. Escape rental unit pet deposits and extraneous fees forever. Qualify for your animal with an Idaho ESA letter now.
3 Benefits of Emotional Support Animals
An emotional support animal is a documented therapeutic animal. They’re most often dogs but can also be miniature horses, birds, and even amphibians.
They help their owner manage the tricky parts of life. Laws in Idaho protect the rights of people coping with mental impairments to have their emotional support animal in their rental home.
The law recognizes the need for these unique animals and the benefits they provide. They include:
Mood Enhancer
Pets make you feel good when you’re around them because they increase levels of serotonin and dopamine, the body’s natural mood enhancers. They make you laugh, snuggle you when you’re down, and keep you company when you’re alone.
Naturopathic Treatment
The health benefits of caring for an animal are much like those of prescription medications for emotional disorders, without the associated health risks. Emotional Support Animals are a natural treatment for many symptoms of emotional illness, such as depression and anxiety. They also help improve physical health by promoting outdoor movement.
Authentic Support
Panic attacks can happen at any moment. Anxiety can last hours and even days. The effects of emotional trauma can last for years, and an ESA can help in such times of need. Pets never fail to bring a smile, chuckle, and heartwarming feelings to loved ones around them.
Having an emotional disorder can be challenging for people to navigate without the support of an ESA. American Service Pets provides a fast and easy way for pet owners to get approved in a few minutes.
Take the survey to see if you qualify for an Idaho ESA letter now.
Idaho Emotional Support Animal Laws
Idaho recognizes the mental health influences of these distinctive animals, even if they’re not professionally trained. ESAs provide only emotional support and companionship, unlike official Psychiatric Service Animals, which are trained to execute life-saving duties and specialized tasks to assist disabled citizens.
Service animals and ESAs are therefore provided separate privileges under state and federal law. Only comfort animals with an authentic ESA letter enjoy legal rights in Idaho.
Official letters are accepted nationwide, but states may have different rules. Research before traveling or relocating to familiarize yourself with the rights of ESA owners in that state. Here’s a summary of the major points in Idaho:
Housing Laws
State and federal laws prohibit landlords from turning away, evicting, or charging a pet deposit to anyone with an officially documented ESA in Idaho. Landlords have the right to view their tenant’s ESA letter but cannot demand proof of a mental diagnosis. Support animals can only be refused housing if they’re destructive or not house trained.
Public Places
Public access isn’t guaranteed to ESAs in Idaho. Public establishments are not legally required to allow them entrance. This includes:
- Malls
- Shopping centers
- Grocery stores
- Clothiers
- Restaurants
ESAs aren’t considered service animals in Idaho and aren’t permitted in public establishments.
Workplace Laws
The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) defends the rights of the disabled to use a service dog at work, but Idaho doesn’t support ESAs and Psychiatric Service Animals under this act. Getting an ESA letter could be what it takes to convince an empathetic employer, however.
Travel Laws
The Air Carrier Access Act supported comfort animals in a plane’s cabin with their owner until a change in 2020. Only official Psychiatric Service Animals are now authorized to travel in the cabin with their handlers free of charge. Comfort animals aren’t guaranteed access to public transportation in Idaho, including buses, trains, subways, and ride-share services.
It’s always advisable to contact any transportation carrier or venue about their restrictions beforehand to avoid hassles.
FAQ
The Basics
Yes. Idaho has its own state public accommodations and human rights laws in addition to following the federal Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Idaho’s state laws are more limiting than the ADA’s, but the state must still follow the protections for individuals with disabilities laid out by the ADA.
Idaho’s state law defines a service animal as “a dog that is individually trained to do work or perform tasks for the benefit of an individual with a disability, including a physical, sensory, physchiatric, intellectual, or other mental disability.”
Idaho defers to federal ADA law when it comes to classifying a disability. Federal law says that “disability” means a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities of the individual in question.
State law only specifically discusses service dogs, but the ADA also includes protections for trained miniature horses.
Yes. It is considered a misdemeanor in Idaho to use any kind of unneccessary assistance device, assistance animal, or service dog in an attempt to gain the benefits of an individual with a disability.
Yes, service dogs-in-training are entitled to the same protections under Idaho law. However, these animals must be properly leashed and be wearing some form of identification (ie. a jacket, collar, scarf, etc.) identifying them as dogs-in-training. Service dogs-in-training may also be temporarily denied from a public accommodation if they are determined to be improperly trained and/or out of control.
Neither the ADA nor Idaho’s human rights laws cover emotional support animals due to the fact that they are not specifically task trained to help with disabilities.
FAQ
Public Accommodations & Travel with a Service Animal
Idaho law says that people with disabilities are allowed to be accompanied by an assistance dog on all forms of public transportation, in all hotels and other lodging places, all places of public amusement, resort, or accommodation, and all places to which the public is invited. Beyond that, Idaho defers to the ADA’s extremely broad definition of public accommodations. The only places not included under ADA provisions are religious entities or private clubs (unless the private club in question makes its facilities available for nonmembers).
If a disability/need for a service dog is not readily apparent, public accommodations can only ask if a service dog is required because of a disability and what work or task the dog has been trained to perform. They may not ask for specifications on a person’s disability or proof that the service dog has been certified, trained, or licensed.
A service dog may be barred or removed from the premises if it is out of control and the handler can’t or won’t take action to control it or if it is not housebroken.
Idaho allows people with disabilities to be accompanied by their assistance dogs on all common carriers and forms of public transportation, including buses, airplanes, motor vehicles, trains, motor buses, streetcars, boats, etc.
The Idaho Human Rights Act and the ADA prohibit employment discrimination against people with disabilities. While service dogs are not specifically mentioned, service animal handlers are considered part of this protected group under the law.
Service animals are allowed in areas open to the public, such as patient rooms, clinics, cafeterias, or examination rooms. However, they Yes, service animals can generally go anywhere in a hospital that is publicly accessible. They may be barred from certain sterile environments within the hospital though. be excluded from operating rooms or burn units where the animal’s presence may compromise a sterile environment.
According to Idaho law, any person, organization, or business found to have discriminated against an individual with a service dog is guilty of a misdemeanor.
Idaho follows the Air Carrier Access Act (ACAA), which defines a service animal as a dog (regardless of breed or size) trained to do work or perform tasks to assist a qualified individual with a diability, and may include psychiatric service dogs. Minature horses are excluded in this definition.
Airlines can require a passenger to provide a U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) form attesting to the animal’s health, behavior, and training and a U.S. DOT form attesting that the animal can either not relieve itself or can relieve itself in a sanitary manner (if the animal will be on a flight that is 8 or more hours).
The ACAA does not address service animals in training, so airlines are not required to carry them as they do not meet the requirements of an ACAA-defined service animal. However, airlines can make their own individual policies. The ACAA does not address service animals in training, so airlines are not required to carry them as they do not meet the requirements of an ACAA-defined service animal. However, airlines can make their own individual policies.
FAQ
Housing Law
Idaho’s Human Rights Act does not specifically address service animals, but it prohibits property owners from discriminating against those who seek to rent or purchase a property on the basis of disability. The federal Fair Housing Act specifically prohibits housing discrimination against people with service animals.
Individuals with service animals may not be charged extra to simply rent or purchase a property, but they may be liable for any damage caused by the animal.
The federal Fair Housing Act says that housing facilities must allow both service dogs and emotional support animals. However, there must be a disability-related need for the ESA (ie. the animal helps alleviate the emotional effects of a disability in order to qualify).
FAQ
Discrimination Complaints
If you have experienced discrimination related to a public accommodation and your service dog, you should contact the Human Rights Commission of Idaho and fill out this complaint questionnaire.
To file a fair housing complaint, you can contact the Intermountain Fair Housing Council at 208-383-0695 in Boise or 1-800-717-0695 (toll free). You can also contact the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).
The Idaho ESA Application Process
American Service Pets offers an easy three-step process to provide Emotional Support Animal letters to Idaho residents. It involves three quick steps:
Fill Out the Questionnaire
It takes approximately three minutes to answer the American Service Pets questionnaire to determine your eligibility for approval.
Get a Doctor’s Approval
American Service Pets allows you to submit your file to a licensed Idaho state-approved doctor or other licensed mental health provider for authorization. Doctors are always available, and they approve most requests within three to five minutes. Official letters are emailed immediately.
Add Your Pet to the National Directory
Add your pet to the national directory to get a convenient online pet profile that shows your pet’s status and ESA letter for public view anytime it’s needed.
American Service Pets has helped over 45,000 pet owners nationwide legitimize their qualified animals. As many as 95% of applicants are eligible for ESA letters. See if you qualify in just a few minutes.
Benefits of American Service Pets
American Service Pets is always hard at work helping applicants receive the qualification they need for their support system. Here are some things that make us a good choice:
- All-in-one solution for approving Emotional Support Animals
- Official letters are accepted nationwide
- Free qualification test
- Opportunity to connect with an Idaho healthcare professional
- No prescription necessary
Now is your chance to secure your rights to the physical and psychological rewards of your furry friend. An Idaho ESA letter will legally legitimize your special relationship.
Allow Us to Help Get Your ESA Approved
Getting legal approval for your ESA is a big relief, but not everyone is on board. Convince stubborn landlords, business owners, and employers of this essential relationship with an ESA letter. Answer the five questions on our questionnaire today and you’ll be on your way to getting qualified — usually on the same day — for an Emotional Support Animal in Idaho.
Disclaimer: We would like to emphasize that while the terms “certification” or “registration” may be used in relation to Emotional Support Animals, there is no official certification process for ESAs or any form of ESA registry as of this date. As such, the use of these terms should not be interpreted as legally recognized designations by government or regulatory authorities. Remember, ESAs can provide a valuable source of comfort and support, but their recognition relies on proper documentation from a healthcare professional and adherence to relevant laws and guidelines.
