My ESA Doctor

Oh pretty dogs, I yearn for you as a drowning man yearns for a gasp of oxygen. They are the best thing to happen to the human race after series, Game of Thrones (Except the last two seasons of course). They are our companions, they are our saviors, they are our status symbols, and they are our emotional support partners, (as ESAs). Dogs are gods, but as we can see in reverse. As they are doing so much for us, it is our duty and responsibility to keep their fashion up to the mark. So, if you are not completing your brotherly responsibilities, it is your time to rise and shine. Check out this list;

Graphics 

Okay, listen to me out, hear me out here, you know what would be cool? Anything with graphic prints. The human race has been plagued with digital print trends, and it is about the right time when we need to shift the virus to the superior species. Your doggo will love the crossbones tee or any tee with the bones printed on it. You can be too uptight or posh-y not to try the street rags like them, but your hustler friend doesn’t have to be that too. He can be cool, you know? 

Hoodies

Tyson loves the hoodie; maybe he is just like his father, I love the hoodies FYI. Hoodies are right, they are realistic, they are great for the walks for an evening cruise and a zillion other things. From the hoodie, we can also judge your doggo or the human with him is not trying too hard or be out there way too much. Also, it says that your pooch is a fitness freak. 

Scarf on Neck

 So, I was watching Quentin Tarantino’s ‘The Hateful Eight’ the other day, where one of the characters was rocking this beautiful scarf on his neck. Yes, this was the time I asked Tyson to try this, he was skeptical about it and but he loves it now. Millennials might not be able to feel it, but it is a great fashion statement, again, not too much to try, simply awesome. 

A Fluffy Jacket

Winter is here, and in the winter, we must protect ourselves. They have the fur alright, but we are changing life on earth too much too quickly, and we have not given them enough time to evolve to the dogs. So, in winter, they still will need to stay nice and warm when going out. Fluffy jackets can come handy when you are taking your better half (of course, your dog) to an outing in the winters. You might just want to go for a mat color shaded jacket rather than a shiny one. 

Let Me See that Quilted Vest

Quilted vests are one of those trends, which came into the pooch fashion by a spoof. Experts never saw this coming anytime sooner than 2021. But in a world full of lather jacketed dogs, get your dog to wear a quilted vest. When some can be iffy about these, quilted vests pass all the requirements of doggo fashion in flying colors. 

Conclusion

The prevalence of emotional support animals is increasing. Well, that’s understandable. Mental health issues like depression and anxiety are increasing. So, we need a viable mode of treatment. Most medications come with the side-effects. ESAs presents us with a much safer mode of treatment. Well, before you get one, you should know the emotional support animal California laws. 

Most people confuse ESAs with service dogs. You should know that the two are entirely different. 

So, What is an Emotional Support Animal?

An emotional support animal is an animal which brings a sense of relaxation, mental balance, and emotional stability. They are not trained to perform any specific task and that makes them different from service animals. ESAs enhance the well-being of the patients through their presence. This method is safer than mainstream medications as it’s natural and without any side-effects. 

How to Get an Emotional Support Animal?

The process to get an emotional support animal is pretty simple. First, you need to contact a certified mental health specialist and let him evaluate your health. If you don’t want to physically visit the doctor, there are a lot of telemedicine-based online clinics.

Just apply online and the clinic will analyze your application. Then, it links you to a certified mental health expert who evaluates your health. If the doctor feels that your health condition demands the presence of an animal, you’re eligible to get an ESA letter. Or you can get your pet registered as an emotional support animal and the letter serves as proof about your mental health status. 

Well, to acquaint yourself with full advantages, you should be aware of some basic laws. 

Emotional Support Animal California Laws

The California law protects the rights of emotional support animal owners. 

Housing Laws

Under the Fair Employment and Housing Act of California, the landlord has no right to stop you from living with your emotional support animal. Also, he cannot request a pet deposit from you. Instead, he may request a proof of documentation. So, you can provide him with an ESA letter and get the right to live with your pet freely. 

Traveling Laws

The Air Carrier Access Act gives you the right to fly with your pet on an airplane. To travel without any hassle, you need to present proof of your condition. It means that you need to carry your ESA letter and verify it with the authorities. Ideally, you should inform the authorities in advance and do the entire documentation process at once. 

Every airline has its own set of guidelines. So, make sure you educate yourself on the same and stay prepared for the journey.

ESA Employer Laws

The employers are obliged to allow you to bring your pet at work. Just like housing, the employer cannot discriminate against you on the basis of your health status. Just carry your ESA letter to verify your status and earn the right to work with a good headspace. 

Although these laws are pretty beneficial, the emotional support animals are not allowed in public places. This includes public transport too. At present, only the service animals are allowed this provision.

Multiple scientific kinds of research continue to prove that owning a pet is excellent for your mental and physical health. Positive effects include lowering stress levels, reducing loneliness, and helping people sleep a whole lot better.

Although cats can indeed be unpredictable and aloof compared to their canine counterparts, it does not necessarily mean that emotional support cats are unhelpful. Cats are arguably considered as the most effective ESA among all possible candidates. However, you might have to spend considerable amounts of time when searching for the perfect feline candidate. To help you with that, here are five tips on how you can find an excellent emotional support cat.

Tips for Your Future Emotional Support Cat

·        Breed Specifics

If your mental health practitioner prescribed an emotional support animal for you, and you chose a cat, there are specific breeds that are more people-orientated by nature. Great breeds to be ESA candidates include the Scottish Fold, Tonkinese, and Ragdoll, to name a few. Being that they are already used and always in contact with us, humans, they can serve as the best candidates to be your personal ESA.

·        Stay Away From Feral Cats

Yes, it is always heartwarming to see someone rescue a stray cat out of the streets and in the comfort of their homes. However, when it comes to having a cat as an emotional support animal, that feral fellow you helped off the streets won’t fit the bill. Feral cats are more likely to be wild, nervous, and afraid of other humans apart from you. Indeed, these cats can be tamed, but it would take a considerable amount of time considering the hardships they might have encountered to survive. Thus, when searching for an emotional support cat, stay as far away from feral strays.

·        Bonding Is the Key

Start forming a close bond with your pet as early as when they are still kittens. Cats tend to develop a more intimate relationship with humans easier when the feline species is still young. Kittens are less likely to be a problem, and if you bought it from a reputable breeder, you could be confident that the kitten is already well socialized. Though that may be true, this does not mean that older cats that are just as loving cannot be great candidates for Emotional Support Animal.

·        Keep Them Indoors

Felines that spend the majority of their time in the comfort of the indoors of their owner tend to be more people-oriented. They are not subject to experiencing what we so refer to as the “the call of the wild,” unlike other cats. Keeping your feline friends indoors can also be healthier for them. They will be less likely to be injured, to pick up internal or external parasites, or even go missing entirely.

·        Spay or Neuter

Unaltered cats will often not make good candidates. This tip may come as controversial for some, but this is proven to be true. Males that did not go with the procedure might still leave urine marks and can be naturally more aggressive. Females, on the other hand, may always be coming into heat and are more likely to escape outdoors to satisfy their nature to be bred. 

California is the most populous state in the entire nation with around 4% of adults living with serious mental health conditions.

The following are topping the list of mental health conditions in this state.

Anxiety disorders

Depression

Eating disorders

Autistic spectrum disorders

Alzheimer’s

But, somehow, there are many gaps in terms of access to mental health services. Making it impossible for patients to receive the right kind of treatment on time.

So, the role of pets as a mental health aid for alleviating is becoming more prominent. As they are easily accessible.

There are a few circumstances under which the emotional support animal laws might not help. A landlord thereof can deny you and your pet residency. The case can be as follows: 

If the property comes under single-family housing and does not involve a real estate broker. 

If the building is lesser than four units and the landlord resides in the same building

The FHA does not allow animals to access public places. It is probable your animal will not be allowed to enter restaurants, hotels or cafes. 

Pet parenting is good for our mental health. This includes lowering stress levels, reducing loneliness and helping us sleep better.

Flying can be troubling for a lot of patients with mental health disabilities. But, dogs seem to be a perfect companion that enables you to fly without any fear of panic attacks.