I know I have one, well three actually, but only one is Certified. I got my Luna when I was 18, for this purpose, and it cost me $180 to have her certified by a licensed a dog trainer. I have found places online that charge more but don’t require a dog trainer to assess the animal’s behavior.
Does anyone else have an ESA certified or not? And if you do did you get them from a breeder, or from a shelter?
I have 6 indoor only cats that were unwanted kittens from strays. 3 strictly outdoor (feral) cats, and now 3 adopted indoor/outdoor cats I take full care of at my mom’s- all unwanted kittens of a stray.
The only thing they could be certified as is HUNGRY.
I don’t have a certified dog but many people have suggested I get her certified because she’s so well behaved and she takes good care of me
I have two other dogs are support me, But the male pees on people he doesn’t like…and the lab mix female…she loves everyone so it wouldn’t help…But at night I get to cuddle with them plus the 7 foster puppies. 
I have three dogs, none of them are certified. Is there an added benefit to having one that is certified?? Are they better at calming you? Can you bring them in stores like other service animals?
**I’ve two indoor-only cats and a third cat (formerly “feral,” but not so to me) that I have inside more and more these days because she’s nearly 16 years old and has adjusted well to life indoors.
Some day, though, I’d like to get a real assistant dog for mainly hearing because I am deaf and do not hear stuff like the doorbell, etc.
However, I’m first a diehard cat purrson – it must be a personality thing.**
i have dog,he’s the only friend i trust
What actually is the certification for?
Certified gives the animal some of the same rights as a true Service animal, most stores will allow you to take them inside if they have the vest. The certification , when done by a licensed animal trainer, means the animal has been tested to see if they have the right properties. You usually see small dogs as ESAs, something that can fit in a purse or something similar.
However, a ESA is not permitted in all places a Service dog is, some stores can refuse you entry, but most don’t since it makes them look bad.
The biggest difference between a Service Animal and ESA is that a Service Animal gets a bunch of training to help with everyday tasks and life, whereas an ESA usually has no training, and only helps with your emotional stability. If your condition is bad enough, you can get a Service dog for it. There is another kind of animal therapy, cant remember what its called right no, that is half way between an ESA and a Service animal.
In short the Cert means you have a recognized need for animal companionship because of an emotional or mental disorder.
EDIT: the other kind of animal is a Therapy Animal, and is typically used in group settings, not for individuals
Be warned there are a lot of scams for this out there, and in order to get a ESA you need a Docs note current within a year, my dog needed to be tested by a trained professional.
I paid for the evaluation, not the cert. If you see a website that doesn’t require they see the dog and assess it’s behavior, they are a scam!
I don’t have a emotional support animal. I have a bearded dragon and I take care of my in laws’ dog. I doubt I could get an emotional support animal evaluation or certification.
The cert only means you have a piece of paper, if you have a docs note you don’t need a cert, I just had to deal with an arsehole who said my dog wasn’t allowed in without a piece of paper that said they could “Because that’s the Law”… which is not the case. Legally they can ask for it, but, if you research the laws, and know your stuff, most wont ask.
Legall an establishment can only ask two questions “Is this animal for help with a disability ?” And “What are they trained to do to help with this disability.”
I had never heard of certification, so thanks for clearing that up. I actually have a “prescription” from my pdoc. Even though I own my condo, I just wanted to make sure I was covered.
no problem, I almost got scammed the first time I went for the cert. I contacted a friend who breeds GSDs in GA and he told me ti get an actuall dog trainer to do it
How big is the bearded dragon? Big enough to put on a leash? I assume it’s a lizzard - like creature.
bearded dragons get to be about 12-18 inches total, biggest ive seen was 16 inches
I want a service Rottweiler or German Shepard. I could use one. You know, because I can’t have a gun and stuff, as far as I know. My family has dogs and one of them licks my face a lot, but they really only answer to my dad.
I got my therapist to fill out a paper for this apartment stating my cat is a therapy animal. Didn’t really have to do anything really but cats that are close to you don’t really have to be trained at all to be helpful for keeping you feeling better.
He goes on leashes, he’s a lizard that’s about 18 inches long.
I visit my dad and am always over the moon to see his pet canine and wild cats - they are wonderful
Kate xxx