ESA Certificate

Your ESA Certificate is a legal document signed by a licensed mental health professional that prescribes an emotional support animal as treatment for an emotional disability.

You don't need to have a specially trained animal for it to serve as an emotional support animal.  However, there is a notable difference between a service animal and an emotional support animal. Service animals (typically dogs) have been trained to perform specific tasks that a person is incapable of performing on their own. For this reason, service animals are allowed in public spaces where other animals (possibly including emotional support animals) may not be allowed to go. Alternatively, there are not as many limitations on the types of animals that qualify as emotional support animals; dogs, cats, birds, and others may qualify as emotional support animals.

Follow the link below to book a live consultation with our licensed mental health professional.  You'll need to fill out some privacy and consent forms to authorize us to work with you and we will then determine whether you would benefit from the presence of an ESA or not.  If they determine an ESA is essential to your care and well-being you will receive an official emotional support animal letter.

Housing Laws

It is illegal for landlords to discriminate against ESAs unless the emotional support animal creates a threat to other tenants or the home. You will need to provide a copy of your official emotional support animal letter to your landlord, and they may keep it on file. However, you do not have to provide any protected medical information regarding your conditions. Federal laws protect emotional support animals because landlords cannot charge you extra fees, pet deposits, or pet fees.

Travel Laws

Unfortunately, the Air Carrier Access Act no longer protects ESAs on flights. This law previously allowed ESAs to ride in the cabin of airplanes with their handlers, but now only service dogs are legally able to do so.  You may still be able to bring your ESA with you on an airplane, as long as the animal is small enough, with the likelihood of them being considered carry-ons that can be stowed under your seat in pet-safe carriers. Your best option is to call ahead and inform the airline that you have a pet you’d like to fly with you. They might accommodate you and would likely want to see your ESA letter.

Employment Laws

Unfortunately, emotional support animals are not protected under the Americans with Disabilities Act.   However, if you have an ESA letter to show your employer in Indiana, you may be allowed to bring them into the workplace if your employer approves.

Can you have more than one ESA in Indiana?

No law restricts how many ESAs you can have.  If you want more than one of your animals to be recognized as a necessary support, you will need to get a letter for each emotional support animal.