David Mick
Difference Between a Service Dog and an Emotional Support Dog
Mental and emotional disabilities are growing rapidly. Due to this, people, especially Americans, are bound to take help from others to support them emotionally, mentally, as well as physically. You just need to take simple and easy steps to order your ESA Letter online.
Service dogs and support dogs are a major type of support for patients suffering from poor mental health. These dogs provide services and support to people in order to help them cope with depression, anxiety, panic attacks, etc.
Although service dogs and support dogs serve the same purpose, there are several differences that make these two service animals different from each other. If you are suffering from any type of mental illness it is important for you to understand the difference between the two so that you can select the best option for yourself.
General Function
People often get confused about the purpose both the service dogs and support dogs serve and consider them as one. While the fact is, that both of these animals have very different jobs. The basic difference is the function of the two animals.
A service dog is that trained animal that provides emotional and physical assistance to people who are mentally disabled. In contrast to this, an emotional support dog is just there as a companion to emotionally support a person. Unlike service dogs, a support dog cannot help a person perform his tasks. If you’ve no idea of an ESA letter then you should see an ESA letter sample.
For example, a service dog is trained to help patients if they are having a seizure or panic attack. Emotional dogs can make you calm but can never help you in times of attacks or when you want a certain task done.
Protection
People often take service dog’s help as they help in performing tasks to people. This the major reason behind the fact that the service animals are given legal protection under the law by the state.
The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) is the law under which only the service animal is given legal right to go anywhere with the patient. On the other hand, emotional support animals are not given this right and are not allowed to go everywhere with their owners.
The legal protection of a support animal is only restricted to air travel and housing while a service animal is allowed at places that emotional support animals are not.
Certification
Because of the difference in the duties they serve to their owners, the certification differs. Only a service dog agency will get you a service dog that will be fully trained to help you complete your basic tasks. While for a support dog, a person only requires an emotional support dog letter from a mental health professional. This letter suggests the need for a person to get an animal’s emotional assistance and affection.
Differentiate your dog
To make your dog differentiate from an ordinary pet and an emotional support dog, you should make your support dog wear a vest or a collar to make people distinguish between service animals and pets.
Also, it is important to make other people identify that the animal with you is there for a purpose. Although emotional support animals and service animals are trained to behave in public, people should still be careful around them.
If you identify a service dog or a support dog with a person, try not to make the person awkward or uncomfortable as they are suffering from illnesses and disabilities. Cope with them to make them feel calm and relaxed. You can see an emotional support animal letter sample on the internet to learn what is an ESA letter and how it can help you save extra pet fees.
If you think you need an emotional support animal or a service animal, get yourself examined today by a mental health professional to see if you qualify to get one or not.
Useful Resources:
How to Get a Legitimate Emotional Support Animal Letter Online
Components of Emotional Support Animal Letter Sample
5 Reasons to Give Pumpkin and Cinnamon to your Dog