Service Animal and Emotional Support Animal Scams

Service Animal and Emotional Support Animal Scams

I often see online advertisements to get your Emotional Support Animal or Service Animal “certified” or “registered” “in just 5 minutes!” These are scams. There is no such thing as ESA or service animal certification. There is no such thing as service animal or ESA registration. If there was, that would mean thousands of people with disabilities would be on some list somewhere with their private disability information and their dog’s information available for anyone to see. That would violate medical privacy laws, but it would also be administratively impossible to set up and maintain. These websites are scams and are no better than some dude in a basement printing out certificates on really nice paper and then mailing it to you. It is somehow not illegal to do this, but it is fraudulent, in my opinion, because it promises things that are (1) not real; and (2) legally questionable. Do not give your money to these websites.

Unfortunately, many people have fallen victim to these websites and paid their hard earned money to “legitimize” their support or service animals with a certificate, or a cute ID card with their dog’s picture on it. Sometimes, they are even “up-sold” on a fancy vest or leash. None of these things are legally required. No one can legally ask you for them. And, because of that, they carry no legal or probative value. Some people get them and use them because it is easier and less hassle to hand over an ID card to some uninformed hotel receptionist, landlord, or other average Joe. There is nothing illegal about a disabled person using these materials in order to avoid harassment from the uninformed. However, there is harm in relying on these websites when using these certificates or cards to comply with the FHA, but not because it is illegal to use these websites, but because they are not your true medical provider. The best way to avoid a drawn out battle with a landlord over an ESA is to get your medical provider that you have an established relationship with to write you a letter saying you need an ESA and that it alleviates the symptoms of your disability. Your medical provider can be a nurse practitioner, a therapist, counselor, medical doctor, psychiatrist, etc.

If you have just moved and do not have an established relationship with a therapist, these online websites can provide a quick letter documenting your disability and prescribing an ESA, but make sure you follow up that appointment with a medical provider you intend to see in person and establish a relationship with. Again, there is nothing illegal about these websites, nothing illegal in using them, and nothing illegal in using the documentation provided by licensed medical professionals who work with these websites. But beware that what you are buying is actually in compliance with the law.

Also beware of some service animal training organizations. There are, unfortunately, people out there who take advantage of persons with disabilities needing service animals and will promise that they can train a service animal and return the dog back to that person. Service animals require extensive training with you, specifically, to respond to the symptoms of your disability. Service animals can be trained by you – you are not required under any law to have your animal professionally trained. Some online service animal training websites are also scams. There are a lot of people who “think” they are “good” with dogs and claim to be “dog whisperers.” Those people may even have “credentials.” But make sure to thoroughly investigate these peoples’ backgrounds and credentials before signing up with them. Legitimate service animal training organizations will be very strict about their intake process, will likely have long wait times, and will NEVER ask you to fundraise to “move you up in line.” Legitimate service animal training organizations will likewise never take your dog away from you for training and then send the dog back to you. It is impossible to remove a dog from its handler and train that dog on the handler’s specific disability symptoms. The dog needs to be able to learn you as its handler, learn your scents, your body chemistry, your specific movements, and other signs and symptoms of whatever your disability is.

If you have further questions about your rights under the FHA or the ADA as it relates to Service Animals and Emotional Support Animals, call our our experienced animal lawyers at The Animal Law Firm at 1-844-PET-LAWYER (1-844-738-5299) today.