Emotional support animals are proven therapy tools that have helped severely lessen the more unpleasant symptoms of several mental health afflictions. They differ from service canines in that they require no specific training and can be any domesticated animal. That being said, a person cannot simply declare their cat as an ESA and get all the benefits.
Emotional support animals require a doctor’s consent and a legal document known as an ESA letter for a pet to be classified as an emotional support animal. These letters unfortunately have become a common source for scammers to get financial information or payments off of would-be ESA owners.
For those looking to get an emotional support animal of their own, we can help. This article is going to take a look at how to get an Oregon ESA letter, from sitting down for a consultation to presenting the letter to your landlord.
What Is an ESA Letter?
An emotional support animal letter is the only required legal document a person will need to get their pet classified as an ESA. These letters can only be prescribed by licensed mental health professionals who are able to practice within the state of Oregon. Without an ESA letter, an animal and their owner are not protected by emotional support animal laws within the state.
Emotional support animal letters must be prescribed from a physician who is legally able to practice within your state, but they do work across all fifty states. That means if you visit your family in Florida, your Oregon ESA letter is still valid in the Sunshine state. ESA letters must be renewed every year for Oregon residents, or it will be considered invalid.
Getting an ESA Letter in Oregon
If you want to get an emotional support animal letter in Oregon, you will need to find a licensed mental health professional to sit down with for a consultation. This may seem difficult, but the process has become easier over the years and can be done online as well as in-person. Always check the credentials of a physician that you haven’t met with before, as scams do occur.
When you sit down for the consultation, you will want to discuss any mental afflictions you may have and express interest in an emotional support animal as a form of therapy. Common medical ailments that qualify for an ESA are depression, anxiety, certain phobias, PTSD, and more.
If the doctor sees the benefit of it, they will write out an ESA letter for you to use as needed. A common benefit of having emotional support animals is their protection under the Fair Housing Act, which classifies them as a form of therapy instead of a pet when considering housing. Because of this, pet fees and pet policies are waived for almost all emotional support animals.
How to Avoid ESA Scams
Scams are becoming increasingly common both over the phone and online, and emotional support animal letters are one of the new avenues that they use to con people. The common tricks are websites that claim same-day ESA letters, or letters that don’t require consultations with doctors.
Similarly, many will offer ESA registrations, certifications, or other terms that aren’t explicitly ESA letters. While there may be benefits to having extra documentation, the only legal document an ESA will need to be classified as such is an emotional support animal letter. Any website offering something different is not worthy of your business.
Last Word on ESA Letters in Oregon
If you want an emotional support animal, you will eventually have to get an ESA letter. ESA letters in Oregon require you to sit down with a licensed mental health provider for a consultation where they can determine your need for an ESA. If they deem it appropriate, they will compose an ESA letter which can then be shown to landlords.
There are many scams that take place nowadays, and those looking for ESA letters through online websites should be vigilant. Any website offering “lightning-fast ESA letters” or oddly-worded documents like “ESA certificates” should be kept at length unless they provide these in addition to ESA letters provided by LMHPs in your state.
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