Can anyone help me on Companion Animal policies in Texas?

Question

My therapist thinks that a companion animal may help me adjust to life on my own, at least as a temporary solution until therapy takes care of the rest. I was planning on adopting a dog anyway, but this Companion Animal thing would allow the dog to live in no-pet housing, like the college dorms I live in now.

But, I'm having trouble finding out what the policies are not only for the country, but for Texas specifically. Do I pick my own animal to be certified or do I pick from a pool of selected pets? Does health insurance, since Congress passed that mental health is as essential as physical health, pay for the dog if I can't select my own? I have a dog in mind that I'd like to adopt from a shelter, but I'm unsure. A friend of mine got the OK from her therapist to pick out her own animal (she's picking a bunny?) so does that mean I get to do that, too?

Answer 1

"Companion animal" is just another name for "pet", so, no...it would not be allowed in "no-pets" housing.



What you are thinking about is known as an Emotional Support Animal, or ESA. An ESA does not have any task or work training, but it must behave and not be a nuisance. An ESA is not a service animal, and one does not have any rights to public venue access with an ESA. The ADA and other disability rights laws make no mention of ESA's.

To have an ESA, one must meet the legal definition of "disabled". If you are not disabled, you cannot have an ESA. The FHAA (Federal Housing Act Amendments) does allow for a disabled person to have an ESA in certain types of housing, but there are restrictions. One cannot simply have some doctor write a note which will magically allow them to have a dog in their housing situation....the person must meet the legal definition of disabled and the dog must be considered part of the prescribed treatment regimen by the persons primary care physician or psychiatrist.

Answer 2

Talk to the shelter about the dog needing to be a companion dog as well. This dog may or may not fill the bill, but the shelter will know if it'll make a good companion animal. The therapist should have access to the laws and regulations regarding companion animals in your area.

Answer 3

Judy the ADA covers PSAs not ESAs. Any trained dog can be a ESA so yes you can pick your own. Either way the dog MUST be trained and must behave.

Answer 4

The American Disabilities Act covers this--- Check it out!!! Then call the Disabilities Council in your city/state. Social Services also may be able to point you in the right direction for your information.

Answer 5

Here are some helpful sites as to if you qualify for one or not. If you qualify for one, it is issued to you at no cost.



http://search.yahoo.com/search?p=how%20do%20I%20qualify%20for%20a%20service%20dog