Emotional Support Animals vs. Therapy Pets: What’s The Difference And Which One Might Be Right For You?
December 20, 2024
When you spend time out in public, you might notice pets wearing accessories that distinguish them as part of a certain group. Commonly, you’ll see service dogs, therapy pets and emotional support animals helping people in various situations. Although these designations might seem the same to you, there are specific distinctions for each. The rights of the animal and its owner depend on the designation. Here are the differences and how you can tell which one is right for you.
What Is a Therapy Animal?
Therapy animals work to provide relief, comfort and other types of therapy for people. Although therapy pets are often owned by individuals, they usually work with organizations to provide support. With proper training and a proven temperament, therapy animals may be invited to visit schools, libraries, hospitals, convalescent homes and other public locations to support the people there. Therapy pets can help with emotional trauma, social anxiety therapy or education of young children. Although therapy animals are commonly dogs or cats, many organizations rely on horses and other animals for therapeutic practices. Therapy animals do not have to meet specific standards for breed or behavior outside of the general requirements of the place they intend to visit.
What Is an Emotional Support Animal?
An emotional support animal is there to provide support to a single person, occasionally a family unit. Although any pet can provide emotional support for loneliness, trauma or mental illness, a therapist must prescribe a pet in order for the animal to be classified as an emotional support animal.
Because emotional support animals do not require any specific training, they may not be allowed in places where therapy pets or service animals would be. Some areas provide legal protections for emotional support animals, but you should check your city, state or province to see if such rules apply to your situation.
How Do Therapy and Emotional Support Animals Differ From Service Pets?
Although therapy animals and emotional support pets can provide a lot of helpful support to people, their roles are quite distinct from service animals. Service animals have specific rights and responsibilities under the Americans with Disabilities Act. Businesses and organizations are required to allow service animals to enter public spaces where they normally wouldn’t permit other pets. To achieve this distinction, animals must complete a rigorous set of training, and their owners must maintain paperwork establishing their service status. Because therapy animals and emotional support pets have no such requirements, they may face certain limitations for their presence in public spaces.
Images from: Deposit Photos
How Can I Choose the Right Support Pet?
Choosing the right pet takes an investment. While you consider the breeds and behaviors you expect from your long-term companion, you should determine if you want your pet to meet additional needs. If you have the space to accommodate a pet inside your home and provide for its care, an emotional support animal may help you to make improvements in your therapy and recovery goals. If you lack the space or if you worry that you don’t have the energy to take care of an animal, you might consider working with a therapy pet organization. These organizations often have services that individuals can use on a short-term basis.
Selecting a support pet requires an understanding of your needs and the rights of the animal based on its training. By considering these differences, you can decide if a therapy pet or emotional support animal will work best for you.
Author bio: Carolyn Ball, LCPC, is the founder of Elevate Counseling + Wellness. Her goal is to help people elevate their lives and reach their maximum potential. She has an understanding of the significance of mental health in a person's overall well-being, and is passionate about assisting others in living their best version of themselves.
SOURCES
https://www.akc.org/expert-advice/training/service-working-therapy-emotional-support-dogs/