Glossary

Emotional support animal

An animal that comforts a person with a disability but is not task trained; protected in housing but not given public access under the ADA.

Also called: ESA, emotional support dog, ESA letter, comfort animal, support animal

An emotional support animal, or ESA, is a pet that helps a person with a mental or emotional disability through its presence. It does not need task training, and it is not a service dog under the Americans with Disabilities Act. As a result, an ESA has no right to enter stores or restaurants.

In the United States, the Fair Housing Act can require a landlord to make an exception to a no-pets rule for an ESA when a person has a disability-related need and supporting documentation from a licensed provider, though rules and limits apply. Since 2021 the Department of Transportation has treated ESAs as ordinary pets on flights, so airlines may charge pet fees and require a carrier.

Online sites sell instant letters and certificates, and they are no substitute for an actual evaluation. A therapy dog is also a different thing, since it visits other people. Fraud and misrepresentation cause problems for people who really need service dogs.

Last reviewed November 8, 2026

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Related terms

Service dog A dog individually trained to do work or perform tasks for a person with a disability, and the only dog with public-access rights under the US ADA. Assistance dog A broad term for a dog trained to help a person with a disability, including guide, hearing and service dogs; wider than the ADA term service animal. Therapy dog A pet that, with its owner, visits hospitals, schools and nursing homes to comfort others; it has no special public-access rights.