Cherry, Kendra. ( 2023, May 26). Emotional support animals: How to Get One, Mental Health Benefits (fact checked by Lustick, Cara).https://www.verywellmind.com/what-is-an-emotional-support-animal-4171479

Very Well Mind Emotional Support Animal Reference 

(No Author). (2019, Jan 31). What Kind of Animals Can Be Emotional Support Animals?. https://mangoclinic.com/emotional-support-animals-types/

Mango Clinic: What Kind of Animals Can Be Emotional Support Animals?

(No Author). (2020, Feb 28). ADA Requirements: Service Animals. https://www.ada.gov/resources/service-animals-2010-requirements/#where-service-animals-are-allowed

ADA Guidelines for Service Animals

Housebroken. In Merriam-Webster.com dictionary. Retrieved August 24, 2023, from https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/housebroken

Meriam Webster Definition of Housebroken

Ferrell, J and Crowley, S.L. (2021). Emotional Support Animals: A Framework for Clinical Decision-Making. Professional Psychology: Research and Practice, 52 (6), 560-568. https://doi.org/10.1037/pro0000391

Emotional Support Animals: A Framework for Clinical Decision-Making

The collection of references for emotional support animals.

Santa Clara University

These animals provide companionship and support for a person with a disability. It can help to alleviate certain aspects of a disability too. 

ESA's are any animal species or breed able to help primarily with mental-related disabiltieis. 

Purpose of emotional support animals + types

Research has not been able to demonstrate that emotional support animals provide any more benefit than a regular pet would provide. Research should be done around when emotional support animals can be beneficial for someone. 

Research Around Emotional Support Animals

- Emotional support animals provide companionship/relief while service animals perform specific tasks (e.g. alerting others of a seizure)
- Service animals need to be trained
- Service animals tend to be dogs or minature horses, whereas emotional support animals have a wider range of options as long as they do not create disturbances and are domestic animals. 
- ESA's are covered by the Federal Fair Housing Act while Service Animals are covered under the Americans With Disabilities Act

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