The Emotional Support Animal Scam: Know the Difference

💼Service animals are trained dogs that perform specific tasks to assist people with disabilities.

🐶Service animals may also be miniature horses, but emotional support animals can only be dogs or miniature horses.

🐵Emotional support animals do not qualify as service animals under the American with Disabilities Act (ADA).

🏢Landlords and housing providers must allow emotional support animals, but there are exceptions for operating rooms and sterile environments.

🛫The Air Carrier Access Act allows emotional support animals on airplanes, which has led to abuse of the system.

What is the difference between a service animal and an emotional support animal?

—Service animals are highly trained dogs or miniature horses that assist people with disabilities by performing specific tasks. Emotional support animals provide comfort and support to individuals with emotional or psychological conditions, but they do not receive special training.

Can any animal be an emotional support animal?

—No, emotional support animals can only be dogs or miniature horses. Other animals, such as monkeys or pot-bellied pigs, do not qualify.

Do emotional support animals have the same rights as service animals?

—No, emotional support animals do not have the same rights as service animals under the ADA. Service animals are allowed in most public places, while emotional support animals have more limited access.

Can landlords or housing providers refuse to allow emotional support animals?

—In most cases, landlords and housing providers must allow emotional support animals as a reasonable accommodation under the Fair Housing Act. However, there are exceptions for certain environments where the presence of animals may compromise safety or cleanliness.

Why has there been an increase in people claiming their pets as emotional support animals?

—The Air Carrier Access Act allows emotional support animals on airplanes, leading to an abuse of the system. People have been obtaining questionable documentation online to bring their pets on flights for free or avoid pet fees.

00:01Introduction to the emotional support animal scam and the speaker's background in consumer protection and lemon law.

02:29Explanation of the difference between service animals and emotional support animals, including the tasks and training required for service animals.

04:36Clarification that only dogs and miniature horses can be emotional support animals, and they do not qualify as service animals under the ADA.

06:59Discussion of the rights of service animals under the ADA and the limited access for emotional support animals.

09:03Explanation of the legal requirements for landlords and housing providers to allow emotional support animals, with exceptions for certain environments.

10:58Explanation of the Air Carrier Access Act and how it has led to an abuse of the system, with people obtaining questionable documentation to bring their pets on airplanes.