So, there’s no doubt you’ve heard of all sorts of crazy going-ons in the world of emotional support animals lately. Like, seriously, bonkers. But cast those bemusing memories aside (until the end of the article), because ESAs truly are an excellent way to care for mental health.
If you’re new to emotional support animals and have been wondering where to start, start here! We lay down the best pets for the ESAs and their best qualities, to help you decide which pet is right for you. Read right through to the end where we round up the most ridiculous ESAs of the year, which will either have you laughing…or crying. We’re really not sure which.
What Do ESAs Do?
If you’re new to emotional support animals, you may be wondering what, exactly, they do. These special critters are being prescribed by therapists everywhere to support the mental health of their patients. Animals have long been known to have positive effects on us, and now the health sector is taking notice and using them more and more in practice to support their patients.
To put it in a nutshell, ESAs are there to provide support to their owners in times of need, in a number of ways.
Benefits of ESAs
Emotional support animals are able to provide comfort, companionship and soothe those experiencing mental health issues whenever they need it. Having a source of support 24 hours a day is hugely valuable to help with healing and to relieve symptoms of depression, anxiety disorders, addiction issues, and even post-traumatic stress disorder.
Not only that, emotional support animals actually help to restore our brain’s feel-good chemicals, giving us an extra boost of well-being.
Choosing an ESA: Simple is Best
We’re just going to come out and say it—let’s stick to the classic pets, okay? While it is technically allowed to use any animal for emotional support, there are definitely some that make much better ESAs than others. It’s also a fact that if you stick with a dog or a cat, you should be able to take them with you wherever you go under the Aircraft Carrier Access Act (ACA).
Airlines have been cracking down on pets other than cats and dogs, with many already having policies in place forbidding other types of pets (just incase you are wondering how much does it cost to fly a dog on delta) .
Without further ado, we present the best pets that make for emotional support animals.
Best Dog Breeds for ESAs
Dogs make the perfect ESAs. They’re loyal, friendly and protective of their owners. They’re also great at encouraging us to get out of our comfort zone and be active.
1. Golden Retrievers
These gentle giants wouldn’t hurt a fly. That makes them the perfect adaptable laid-back pooch, ideally suited for the role of emotional support animal. They are also very easy to train, meaning that an owner can rest easy in public once they’ve laid the groundwork with their pet.
2. German Shepherds
Another large but good-natured dog for an ESA is the German Shepherd. Incredibly smart and intuitive, these dogs can sense the emotions of their owners, making them great assets for protecting someone in a fragile state of mind.
3. Labradors
These crowd-pleasers make great dogs and ESAs and for good reason. Like Golden Retrievers, Labradors are incredibly loyal, trainable and gentle. They are super supportive and comforting to their owners, plus they can make most of us crack up with their silly antics. ESA superstars!
Best Cat Breeds for ESAs
If you’re not a huge fan of dogs for whatever reason, cats can also make wonderful ESAs too. Cats are calm, occasionally independent and bond strongly with their humans.
With their hypnotic purring, they can help to ease anxiety and provide convenient companionship for those that are not able to be as active as they would like. Here are the best breeds for the job.
1. Maine Coon
These big beauties have all the best qualities of a dog, in a big, fluffy cat body. Inquisitive and playful, they’re a great emotional support animal choice.
2. Siamese
Talkative and attention seeking, it’s impossible to feel lonely with a Siamese or two in the house. The Siamese’s love for affection is perfect for those who must spend a lot of time at home, due to chronic illness or other factors.
3. Persians
With the sweetest little faces and a personality to match, Persians are always a popular choice. They’re also perfect as ESAs, providing a soothing presence in their number one spot: the lap of their favorite human.
Craziest Support Animals of 2018
Now that you know the best pets to make your ESA, let’s look at some no-nos. 2018 was truly the year of owners pushing emotional support animal boundaries, so let’s take a walk down memory lane, shall we?
1. Kangaroos
One woman was asked to leave a McDonald’s when she brought her emotional support kangaroo into the restaurant. We don’t think Ronald would be too happy about that.
2. Pigs
When an 80-pound emotional support pig got rowdy on a U.S. flight earlier this year, the owner was swiftly booted from the plane. If only pigs really could fly.
3. Snakes
Snakes on a plane? We hope not. Sadly, Delta had to expressly ban all reptiles from flights in early 2018. This is truly sad because really people?! Didn’t you watch Samuel L. Jackson dealing with those slimy things? Come on!
4. Ducks
Who could forget Daniel Turducken Stinkerbutt? We’ll sure never forget his outfit. But please, keep him off the plane.
5. Squirrels
Ah Squirrel Lady. Let her actions be a lesson to us all not to try to sneak things past TSA!
When considering getting an emotional support animal to assist you, go back to basics. With a standard pet, your options are far wider, meaning you and your ESA can live and travel together happily.
About Jammie Morey
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