How to Get Your Emotional Support Animal Certification
in California

Many Americans use an Emotional Support Animal to get through their day. The benefits to well-being are immeasurable, but that doesn’t mean your landlord is on board. Tenants can still face eviction and fees without the proper documentation for their animals.

People with an Emotional Support Animal in California have specific rights and responsibilities granted by state and federal law that govern housing and travel. Landlords and airlines must adhere to the same federal laws governing these animals or face the consequences.

American Service Pets helps those in need get certification for their Emotional Support Animals. Learn more about certification letters, how to qualify for an ESA in California, the benefits of Emotional Support Animals, the laws governing Emotional Support Animals in California, and your rights and responsibilities as an owner today.

3 Benefits of Emotional Support Animals

Emotional Support Animals are often dogs, but not always. They are certified therapeutic animals that help their owners maneuver through symptoms of various mental health disorders and offer many benefits, including:

Naturopathic Treatment

Anxiety, panic, and other symptoms of mental health disorders are treated with various prescription medicines. They can also be treated naturally with an Emotional Support Animal, which avoids the side effects and risks of medications.

Combat Loneliness

Emotional support animals are wonderful companions. According to the National Institutes of Health, they decrease feelings of loneliness and boost the owner’s mood. Emotional Support Animals are also excellent conversation starters and a way to meet new friends.

Authentic Support

Anxiety, depression, and specific phobias can cause panic attacks at the most inconvenient moments. Emotional Support Animals provide the calming comfort needed to cope. Snuggling with a loved animal can alleviate the overpowering stress that many feel regularly.

The benefits are so plentiful that many people cannot function fully without their Emotional Support Animals. American Service Pets helps pet owners in need register their animals as Emotional Support Animals in California.

Find out if you qualify for a California ESA certification letter.

California Emotional Support Animal Laws

Emotional Support Animals are not officially trained to perform life saving tasks or function to help a disabled person as service animals are. They provide companionship, comfort, and emotional support. Emotional Support Animals are not service animals, and the laws governing them are different.

Federal laws protect Emotional Support Animals, provided the owner possesses the required certification letter from a licensed California health professional. Official letters are accepted nationwide, but specific rules vary from state to state. Here is an overview of some key provisions in California:

Housing Laws

A landlord in California may not evict or charge additional fees against any tenant with a certified Emotional Support Animal, even if they have a policy prohibiting pets, under California’s Fair Employment and Housing Act. Landlords have the right to view documentation in the form of an official Emotional Support Animal certification letter as proof of necessity. Pet owners need only one letter per pet, but if you move to another state, you’ll need to check their state laws and provisions for Emotional Support Animals to ensure you comply.

Public Places

Public places are not required to allow Emotional Support Animals by California state or federal law. Grocery stores, restaurants, and other public places are under no obligation to let them into their establishment. These laws are different for Psychiatric Service Animals (PSAs), however.

Workplace Laws

California law varies slightly from most states regarding Emotional Support Animals in the workplace. Most states allow the employer to make the decision, but in California, state law requires employers to accommodate them to the best of their ability. Employers are entitled to view documentation in the form of a certification letter.

Travel Laws

The Department of Transportation (DOT) updated its travel laws policy, disallowing Emotional Support Animals to fly in airplane cabins as of 2020. ESA certified animals are also no longer allowed on public transportation such as buses, trains, and uber cars. Pet owners should still check with the airline, or transportation service, prior to purchasing a ticket to learn their policies. Pet owners can, however, travel with a certified Psychiatric Service Animal if they meet state criteria. To find out if you qualify for a PSA certification in California, complete our three-step pet owner survey!

Emotional Support Animals enjoy more protection in California than in many other states. American Service Pets is proud to offer an easy three-step process to provide Emotional Support Animal certification and Psychiatric Service Animal certification letters to California residents.

How to Obtain AN ESA Certification for
Your Emotional Support Animal in California

American Service Pets provides an easy and efficient process to get your pet certified as an Emotional Support Animal. It entails only three simple steps:

Fill Out the Questionnaire

It takes a few minutes to answer the American Service Pets questionnaire to determine if you’re eligible for a certification letter.

Get a Doctor’s Approval

American Service Pets allows you to choose to submit your file to a licensed doctor for approval and authorization. Doctors are always available, but are required to oversee the patient for at least 30 days before approval. Once approved, the letter will be sent to your email address.

Add Your Pet to the International Directory

It’s essential to add your pet to the international directory. American Service Pets will add your pet to the directory, which gets you an online pet profile that shows your pet’s status and certification letter.

American Service Pets will help you get your pet certified as an Emotional Support Animal in California. As many as 95% of applicants qualify for certifications. Take a quick test to see if you do, too.

Benefits of American Service Pets

The mission of American Service Pets is to help people suffering from mental or emotional issues to get the therapeutic benefits of an Emotional Support Animal. Here’s what makes our service exceptional:

Take the simple questionnaire to get your pet certified as an Emotional Support Animal today with American Service Pets. That will put you on the fast track to enjoying the love and support your pet has to offer. If you have questions before applying for certification, and would like to speak to a real person, call us at (916) 209-0815.

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How to Get Your Emotional Support Animal Certification in California