https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Fri, 17 Apr 2026 14:33:33 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/emotional-support-animals#post-2054934 Wed, 04 Feb 2015 22:09:56 +0000 honeybear 2054934@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I saw a dog with an ESA badge at the grocery store today. It was riding <i>in the shopping cart</i>, in the part where people put their small children and food. It had two human chaperones, so I'm gonna go out on a limb and say this one wasn't even close to 'legit' (if you've got another human, you can't also need a Scottie, right?). Needless to say, I washed my kid's hands like I was Lady Macbeth as soon as we were near running water. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/emotional-support-animals#post-2031497 Mon, 19 Jan 2015 18:10:02 +0000 caitlanc 2031497@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I work at a college and you can EASILY tell the difference between the ESAs that are "legitimate" and those who were gotten just because they could. You practically don't even realize the former exist while the latter consistently cause problems and aren't well trained, even by pet standards. </p> <p>I for one am not a fan of how unregulated it is. People are absolutely abusing the system and ruining it for those whose health is actually improved by the support. </p> <p>I still got a kick out of that article and laughed while reading it awhile back. :-) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/emotional-support-animals#post-2030876 Mon, 19 Jan 2015 12:11:40 +0000 youboots 2030876@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Corduroy: yup. My friends sister had one in college and it was such a hassle and so poorly trained that it went back home as a pet for her parents. People need to take it seriously enough to invest in animals who are trained for the job. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/emotional-support-animals#post-2030760 Mon, 19 Jan 2015 11:12:22 +0000 Corduroy 2030760@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My teenage cousin has an ESA animal and I think it is total BS (for her). My cousin has real problems but having to control and defend an untrained dog in a space it shouldn't be does not help her interact with other people. It makes her more scared and frustrated. I think my aunt just got the dog because it's trendy. I wish they would just give up on the ESA thing and keep it as a pet. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/emotional-support-animals#post-2030730 Mon, 19 Jan 2015 11:00:24 +0000 jedeve 2030730@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I think people just love to judge what they think other people need or don't need. If you are lucky enough to live in a situation where you don't need help, don't judge others who think they might. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/emotional-support-animals#post-2030709 Mon, 19 Jan 2015 10:53:46 +0000 Happygal 2030709@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@MrsSCB: yes, good point! I know a woman who has a service dog for seizures. Part of the dog training was to watch people handle her and take care of her while she acted incoherent. She explained that a dog's reaction could be to become protective, so he had to be trained to allow others to help her, even in distress. So much goes into the training that I never even considered. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/emotional-support-animals#post-2030640 Mon, 19 Jan 2015 10:31:39 +0000 MrsSCB 2030640@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Happygal: true, by "necessary" I mean they actually notably improve a persons emotional state vs. if I just wanted to bring my cats everywhere with me (not that I wouldn't enjoy that, haha!). Although, now that you mention it, I do agree that if someone has severe emotional problems, it would probably be better to have a service dog. You also made me realize, with the word "trained," that it seems like ESA could potentially be a danger if they haven't received proper training on how to behave around lots of people. Like what if they bit someone because they got freaked out? Seems a little risky! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/emotional-support-animals#post-2030555 Mon, 19 Jan 2015 10:06:53 +0000 Happygal 2030555@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@yoursilverlining: total asshole. She's more bummed out that the animal can't continue with her stunts than its' actual well-being.</p> <p>@MrsSCB: ESA animals are helpful and wonderful creatures, but not exactly necessary. If an animal is actually a real, necessary thing to keep someone safe, then they can be trained and qualify as a psychiatric service dog. But if they fall into the category of helping someone feel better (but not necessarily keeping them out of harm's way), then that's a different story. And I hear you on the gluten thing--I have a good friend with celiac disease who is very tired about the questioning of her gluten free diet. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/emotional-support-animals#post-2030527 Mon, 19 Jan 2015 09:54:43 +0000 MrsSCB 2030527@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I believe emotional support animals real, necessary things...for some people. I also believe lots of people take advantage of that to bring their pets places, and as others have suggested, that makes people take those who actually do need an ESA less seriously. It kind of reminded me of my H's grandma who had a lifelong deathly allergy to gluten. Once it became more trendy to go gluten free, she felt like people took her allergy less seriously and would think, "oh, we don't actually have to use separate knives for butter," when that was very seriously necessary for her.</p> <p>ETA: and I agree that I don't like how animals had to be used for the article. I get what she's trying to say, and it would be funny if I wasn't feeling bad for the animals. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/emotional-support-animals#post-2030524 Mon, 19 Jan 2015 09:54:35 +0000 Synchronicity 2030524@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@yoursilverlining: I agree with you completely. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/emotional-support-animals#post-2030440 Mon, 19 Jan 2015 09:29:47 +0000 yoursilverlining 2030440@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Honestly I think this woman is an asshole. I think it’s totally obnoxious to take animals like pigs and turkeys who are clearly (from her article description) uncomfortable and stressed out being thrown around crowded NYC locations out to prove a point. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/emotional-support-animals#post-2030406 Mon, 19 Jan 2015 09:21:43 +0000 Happygal 2030406@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Shame on the author. She wrote about what is well known and has already been written about (people are lying and abusing the system). It seems her only point was to see what kind of ludicrous situations she could pull off and mock others along the way for entertainment.</p> <p>I hate that she glossed over the women's experience with MS who relies on a service animal. I'm part of a working dog community and have come to know many people who rely on their pets to keep them safe. It's not a small thing, but rather a daily struggle they have to go through.</p> <p>@blackbird: I once read an article about a soldier returning home who was trying to complete her college degree. She suffered from PTSD and would sometimes start to panic in big groups. Her dog had been trained to watch her, and when she gave the secret signal, he would whine and act like he needed to be taken out. I loved that they could work as a team like that.</p> <p>In case anyone is wondering about the difference between an ESA and a psychiatric service dog, here's an article that clearly outlines it all: <a href="http://www.servicedogcentral.org/content/node/76" rel="nofollow">http://www.servicedogcentral.org/content/node/76</a> </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/emotional-support-animals#post-2030242 Mon, 19 Jan 2015 07:32:15 +0000 blackbird 2030242@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Some people legitimately need a support animal. For example, there are some programs in place for soldiers with PTSD who I have, no doubt, need a support animal everywhere they go. This article certainly makes light of that situation. But i doubt anybody would heavily question a man with a missing leg who looked like he served our country over this ridiculous woman. </p> <p>Articles like this irritate me because it makes it seem like everyone is taking advantage of the law and the situation--it seems really easy to do. The author knows plenty. Just claim you're stressed out all the time. Who isn't, right? People who do abuse this law suck. I'd like to see it regulated more heavily. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/emotional-support-animals#post-2030231 Mon, 19 Jan 2015 07:20:52 +0000 honeybear 2030231@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I think that ESAs are an affront to people who depend on trained service animals to function. The woman with MS quoted in the article is 100% right. She shouldn't have to deal with the nonsense resulting from glorified pets being taken places they shouldn't be. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/emotional-support-animals#post-2030227 Mon, 19 Jan 2015 07:15:17 +0000 Astro Bee 2030227@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I credit our two cats with reducing my husband's PTSD. After we got them, when he had suffered from PTSD for over a year, his anxiety, short temper, and panicky moments became much less frequent, and then disappeared. But even he would scoff at this, as well as the thought of taking them out in public. That being said, we do have a family friend who has an ESA, although I think hers might be classified as a service dog. Will have to ask my MIL how the friend came to have it. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/emotional-support-animals#post-2030216 Mon, 19 Jan 2015 07:01:50 +0000 T.H.O.U. 2030216@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Haha ok calle crazy but like 8 years ago I looked into doing this with dog! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/emotional-support-animals#post-2030176 Mon, 19 Jan 2015 03:41:25 +0000 lamariniere 2030176@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I read that article a few weeks ago and found it hilarious. </p> <p>I don't really have a stance. I'm not really an animal person, so it's hard for me to fathom that kind of a relationship or attachment to a pet. Although, I've definitely heard that animals can help people with anxiety, depression and other illnesses, so I don't discount those ideas. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/emotional-support-animals#post-2030062 Sun, 18 Jan 2015 23:27:26 +0000 renee 2030062@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I haven't finished the article yet, but I find the whole concept of bringing your emotional support animal anywhere with you silly. I don't know, maybe some people need it. But most are just abusing the law.</p> <p>Aaand this is coming from one of those people who abuses the law. I live in University-owned apartments that don't allow animals… but I really wanted a dog. I legitimately have an anxiety disorder and a history of depression, so I got my therapist (who I legitimately see) to write me a letter stating I need an emotional support dog, even though I definitely don't need one. However, this is only to have her live with me. I don't try to bring her places she's not actually allowed. The funny thing is, I don't think I actually need an emotional support animal, but my dog really is good for my anxiety and depression! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/emotional-support-animals#post-2030051 Sun, 18 Jan 2015 23:16:48 +0000 mrbee 2030051@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Not sure where I stand on them, but this article is hilarious:</p> <p>&lt;&lt; I decided to go undercover as a person with an anxiety disorder (not a stretch) and run around town with five un-cuddly, non-nurturing animals for which I obtained E.S.A. credentials (one animal at a time; I’m not that crazy). &gt;&gt;</p> <p><a href="http://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2014/10/20/pets-allowed" rel="nofollow">http://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2014/10/20/pets-allowed</a></p> <p>Best part is when she brings an alpaca around NYC and tells people it's her emotional support animal. Also, when she brings a pig on JetBlue and has her sit in her lap. </p>