Importance of Emotional Support Animal in Veterans
All pet owners understand how an animal can lift your mood. With veterans suffering from PTSD and physical disabilities, this service is even more valuable. That is why many health care providers are now recommending the use of ESAs for veterans. These animals (or ESAs) are essential for helping veterans recover from physical and mental wounds.
If you are new to the ESA concept, you probably have a few questions. The rest of this article answers the most crucial questions about ESAs and their use in veteran care and support.
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What makes a pet an emotional support animal?
Unlike service animals, any animal can be an emotional support animal. They do not need specific training. Although there are fewer requirements for a pet becoming an emotional support animal, there are nevertheless still a few guidelines to follow. The most important of these guidelines are as follows:
An emotional support animal must follow its owner’s commands at least 90% of the time
The pet must be potty trained
An ESA has to be prescribed by a licensed mental health professional
You will need to keep your documentation on hand at all times
There is no legislation that ESAs are allowed in usually restricted shopping malls or non-residential housing. However, the Fair Housing Amendments Act of 1988 ensured that with the proper documentation ESAs are allowed in pet restricted housing. With an ESA you will not be required to pay any pet deposits, nor can the size or species of the pet be limited.
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Service animals vs. ESAs
It is important to also discuss the difference between an emotional support animal and a service animal. Service animals are typically only dogs—or sometimes ponies. Breeds such as German Shepherds are popular, as they typically have a kind nature, strength, plus training a German Shepherd is easier than lots of other breeds as they are highly intelligent. They are highly trained to perform a specific function for their owners. These are the dogs with the “I’m at work” vests that you may see in stores and on the street.
Dogs train for many years for the role and must meet very specific requirements to become a service animal. They have typically been prescribed for people with physical disabilities. The most familiar example is a service dog helping a blind person. However, service animals can be used to help people with seizure issues, amputees, and those with a variety of physical disabilities.
ESAs, as mentioned above, are typically not as highly trained. They are prescribed to help with emotional and mental health issues. As long as the pet is well-behaved and toilet-trained, they can be an ESA. ESAs provide overall support and love, they do not perform the specific functions of a service animal.
What animals can become an ESA?
Because there are less stringent requirements for a pet to become an ESA, more varieties qualify. Any domestic animals can become an ESA. Birds, ferrets, pigs, horses, rabbits, cats, and dogs are just a few of the most common ESA animals. An animal of any age can qualify as well. It doesn’t matter if you have a puppy or a ten-year-old dog, they can both become an ESA as long as they are well-trained and house-broken.
At Vanderpump Dogs, we support all ESAs for veterans. However, this is another field where dogs excel. Dogs have evolved to support and comfort humans. In fact, recent research has proven that dogs can understand and even hear your emotions. Their innate ability to read their owners makes dogs an ideal ESA.
Dogs are also natural cuddlers. People with mental health issues, especially veterans, benefit from a dog’s pack instincts. All you have to do is watch a dog snuggling with and comforting its owner to understand why this animal makes a great ESA for veterans.
If you’d like to learn more about dogs available for adoption from Vanderpump Dogs, visit this page.
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What can ESAs do for veterans?
Veterans have a much higher risk of developing PTSD. About 11-20% of veterans from Operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom have PTSD symptoms every year. That is an extraordinary number of people who need help dealing with PTSD symptoms.
People with PTSD often struggle with emotional numbness. Night terrors, depression, paranoia, and loneliness are also all symptoms of PTSD that an ESA can help treat. Most dogs also require regular walks and care, which can increase a veteran’s social participation and even willingness to leave their homes.
Studies have shown that emotional support animals, especially dogs, help sooth many PTSD symptoms in veterans. A 2018 study by researchers at Purdue University concluded that ESA dogs lowered PTSD symptoms, improved the quality of life, and increased social participation among veterans. Of the 141 veterans in this study, the group with the ESA dog reported much better mental health and well-being than the group without an ESA dog.
A similar study released in 2016 by the American Psychiatric Association found similar results. The group in that study that had an ESA dog reported great happiness, decreased stress, and better relationships than the group without.
What both of these studies clearly show is that ESA animals, especially dogs, have a significant impact on a veteran’s mental health and overall well-being. It is no wonder then that ESA dogs are becoming a very common treatment option for veterans and others with mental health issues. Any rescue from Vanderpump Dogs can be trained as an ESA.
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