*Trigger warning: Discussion of suicide*
For quite some time, I didn’t understand the benefit of an emotional support animal (ESA). The Animal Legal & Historical Center defines an ESA as “a companion animal that provides therapeutic benefit to an individual with a mental or psychiatric disability.” When I had initially heard of them I was in college, and all I really knew was that they were supposed to be some sort of comfort. Other than that, I knew absolutely nothing.
If I’m being honest, the whole notion of an ESA made little sense to me. What was the difference between them and a regular pet? What “emotional support” were these animals supposed to provide exactly? It wasn’t until I stumbled on a dog therapy session that I started to understand what the hubbub was about.
During finals week, my old university would bring a bunch of adorable Labradors that the students could pet and spend time with in order to reduce stress. As I made friends with a friendly little lady, I did feel better seeing her smiling doggy face. Maybe there was a point to this.
When I was advised to get an ESA from my therapist, my husband and I decided it was a great idea. Now that we have them, I couldn’t imagine my life without them. Here’s why.
