What are the best emotional support animals that aren t dogs or cats?

While the most common types of emotional support animals are dogs and cats, any commonly kept domesticated pet can be an ESA. Some other popular types of emotional support animals include guinea pigs, rabbits, birds, and hamsters.
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What pet can I get instead of dog or cat?

But there are lots of other animals that can provide camaraderie and companionship. Everything from fish and guinea pigs to chickens and lizards can make good pets and can fit into any limitations or preferences a pet owner might have around care and cost.
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What is the best animal for emotional support?

Any domesticated animal can be an emotional support animal; however, the most popular by far is dogs. Some popular dog breeds for ESAs include golden retrievers, Labrador retrievers, Cavalier King Charles spaniels, poodles and Yorkshire terriers.
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What animals cannot be emotional support animals?

An ESA is not considered a Service Animal, but under U.S. law, an emotional support animal is also not considered a pet and is generally not restricted by the type of animal. Any domesticated animal may be considered as an ESA (e.g., cats, dogs, mice, rabbits, birds, hedgehogs, rats, minipigs, ferrets, etc.)
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What are the most therapeutic animals?

Though dogs are the most common therapy animal, plenty of other animals support their owners. Pet Partners told ABC News that, "dogs, cats, rabbits, birds, guinea pigs, rats, miniature pigs, llamas, alpacas, horses, donkeys and mini-horses" can all be therapy animals.
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What Does an Emotional Support Animal Really Do?

What animal helps with anxiety and depression?

However, dogs and cats are the most common choices when it comes to emotional support animals. ESAs aren't trained to do specific tasks in the way that service dogs are. They can simply offer you comfort and help you relax during stressful situations.
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What pet is best for anxiety?

Best dogs for anxiety and emotional support
  • Cavalier King Charles Spaniel.
  • Labrador.
  • Poodle.
  • Border Collie.
  • Corgi.
  • Maltese.
  • Pug.
  • Beagle.
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What mental illnesses qualify for ESA?

Disability List To Qualify For ESA Registration
  • Age-Related Cognitive Decline.
  • Anxiety.
  • Any Psychiatric Condition.
  • Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD or ADHD)
  • Autism.
  • Bipolar Disorder.
  • Depression.
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Can you say no to an emotional support animal?

After a tenant or resident has shown that they have a disability-related need for an ESA, the housing provider may deny the request only in the following, limited circumstances: (a) when permitting the ESA would cause an undue financial and administrative burden for the housing provider, (b) when permitting the ESA ...
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What are the new federal rules on emotional support animals?

Emotional support animals are protected under federal law by the Fair Housing Act that enables ESA owners to live with their assistance animal in their home, exempt from pet fees or restrictions.
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What is the easiest emotional support animal to take care of?

Many people keep domesticated birds, such as parrots, cockatoos, and parakeets, and as intelligent and empathetic animals, they make great ESAs. Domesticated birds often have a longer lifespan compared to other animals, are relatively inexpensive to feed, and are ideal for smaller spaces like studios and apartments.
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What pet is best for mental health?

Dogs specifically have been proven to reduce stress, anxiety and depression, ease loneliness, encourage exercise, and improve your overall health. With stress and burnout rates on the rise, having a furry friend waiting for you at home is scientifically proven to improve your mental and physical health.
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Are emotional support animals worth it?

Support animals can provide social support, emotional comfort, and other beneficial actions for individuals with these needs. Emotional support animals can play an essential role in mental health treatment plans, and animals that are well-suited for the job can make a real difference for their owners.
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What is the best low-maintenance pet?

5 Most Low-Maintenance Pets for Small Apartments
  • Dogs. Let's start with the most commonly owned pet: dogs. ...
  • Cats. Another pet that's as popular as dogs? ...
  • Fish and Turtles. Freshwater fish and turtles are some of the most low-maintenance pets for apartment dwellers. ...
  • Birds. ...
  • Hamsters and Guinea Pigs.
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What is the cleanest pet to own?

What pet is the cleanest? Cats are famously fastidious in their cleanliness, but they will leave trails of litter, fluffs of hair, and the occasional hairball (or other things) for their human to clean up. The cleanest pets include amphibians, fish, reptiles, and rodents.
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What is the cheapest pet to own?

9 Cheapest Pets to Own
  • Guinea Pigs.
  • Hermit Crabs.
  • Sea Monkeys.
  • Dwarf Frogs.
  • Goldfish.
  • Leopard Geckos.
  • Ants.
  • Canaries.
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What animals are not allowed to be emotional support animals?

Are Any Animals Excluded From Being ESAs? The law does not exclude any particular kind of animal from becoming an ESA. However, commonsense needs to prevail.
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Do ESA letters expire?

Technically, ESA letters don't expire, so the FHA doesn't require you to renew yours at any certain intervals. However, some housing providers might request a new ESA letter annually, which is their right to do — as long as they are not discriminating against the individual.
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What is a doctor's letter for emotional support animal?

An Emotional Support Animal letter is a recommendation letter written by a licensed mental health professional. The purpose of the letter is to recommend that an individual should have an Emotional Support Animal to alleviate the symptoms of their mental health condition.
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What is the hardest mental illness to live with?

What Is the Hardest Mental Illness to Live With?
  • Schizophrenia.
  • Severe Bipolar Disorder.
  • Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD)
  • Major Depression and Treatment-Resistant Depression.
  • Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
  • Eating Disorders.
  • Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
  • So, What is the hardest mental illness to live with?
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What diagnosis is most common in ESA owners?

Some common mental and emotional disabilities that may benefit from having an ESA include:
  • Depression.
  • Anxiety.
  • Acute stress disorder.
  • Panic attacks.
  • Eating disorders.
  • Obsessive-compulsive disorder.
  • Phobias.
  • Post-traumatic stress disorder.
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Can a doctor refuse to write an ESA letter?

There's no need to pressure a therapist or physician to write an ESA letter or react defensively. They are well within their scope of practice by refusing to write an ESA letter and have the right to do so.
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What animal calms you down?

Most of us have experienced the calming effect of interacting with our feline friends, and numerous studies suggest that interaction with cats and dogs can have beneficial physiologic and psychological effects on us.
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What animal is best for depression?

Dogs are the most commonly used ESAs in cases of depression and are considered the best emotional support animal for depression. Due to their friendly and outgoing nature, certain dog breeds, such as golden retrievers and labradors, have been found to offer relief to patients battling this condition.
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What is the best emotional support animal for mental health?

Generally, dogs, cats, birds, rabbits, and guinea pigs are some of the most popular ESAs for people with depression because they are likely to be comforting and highly affectionate towards their owners.
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