Author: SPCAI Staff

Emotional support animals are controversial. Let’s talk about the difference between service animals and emotional support animals, why emotional support animals are increasing in popularity, and why they are so controversial.

Both service animals and emotional support animals serve a distinct purpose in their owner’s lives, but there are some key differences.

Service Animals:
Are trained to complete specific tasks to support a person with a disability such as blindness, limited mobility, or diabetes. Service animals’ access to all businesses and public spaces is protected by the Americans with Disabilities Act. Service animals usually receive extensive training before becoming a “working” dog.

Emotional Support Animals:
Provide companionship to a person with an emotional or phycological disability such as PTSD, anxiety or depression. These animals do not typically require special training. In most states emotional support animals do not have access to all businesses and public places, instead they are limited to being allowed to accompany their owner in no-pet housing, and to fly on an airplane with their owner if they are needed in-flight or at the owner’s destination.

Increase in popularity:
Anyone with a pet reaps positive emotional benefits from interaction with their animal. As humans, we adopt pets and treat them as valued members of our families. So, when furry family members are prohibited from housing or people fear having to leave a pet behind because of flight restrictions, they often turn to the option of an emotional support animal.

You might wonder why don’t people just find other housing or travel with their animal as checked baggage? There are many reasons: unavailability of housing, safety, cost, and restrictions for animals traveling as checked baggage, to name a few.

The controversy:
Service animals and emotional support animals are not required to be registered as such with any entity. That’s right, there are numerous voluntary registries, but no requirement. Because housing and airline documentation pertains to the person and not the animal, animals can often be untrained and even sometimes lack basic obedience. All that is needed is a letter from a mental health provider or physician stating that the person has a health requirement for the animal.

While the majority of service and emotional support animals are well-behaved, there have been instances of poor behavior, including accidents, barking, and even aggression- which has led the housing and airline industries to seek better controls for emotional support animals.

Here at SPCA International, we’re closely monitoring the debate. We know that both service animals and emotional support animals provide an extraordinary benefit to their owners, and we hope that any regulations are developed carefully and with the interest of the animals in mind, as well as humans.

Most of us enjoy summer hikes, swims, and other outings with our pets… follow these tips to keep them safe from the heat. 

• Never leave your pet in a car! — A parked car quickly heats up and can reach temperatures 20 to 30 degrees higher than outside. Exposure to this high heat and low airflow can quickly result in the death of a pet. Please leave your pet at home or run that errand later. 

• Always provide water – In the summer, your pet will naturally drink more water than usual. Make sure they always have plenty of clean water available, especially when you are out of the house. There are some great collapsible bowls for when you and your pet are on the go.  Hiking anyone?

• Pets need shade – not a doghouse! If pets must be left outside during the day, hanging a tarp is a quick solution for a yard without tree cover. Unfortunately, a dog house can trap heat and become even hotter than outside.  

• Avoid Asphalt – Hot asphalt can burn our pet’s feet – Consider walking your pet in the morning or evening to avoid the midday sunbaked asphalt.  

• Trim haircut – Some dogs can benefit from a summer haircut, but they should never be shaved! Check with your vet to learn if you should trim your pet’s coat or not. Some long hair acts as a natural cooling system and daily brushing is the best advice.

If you detect any signs of heat stroke or heat exhaustion, such as excessive drooling, red or purple tongue, vomiting, and suspect your pet is at risk, contact your vet right away for medical care that may save your pet’s life.

When Sergeant Foster’s wife, Dana, called him eight years ago to ask if she could bring home a dog that another U.S. Air Force family had to leave behind, he said no. He was newly stationed in Guam and the family was still getting settled, but Dana brought Boomer the dog home anyway. To this he says, “Well you know, that’s what being married is like.”

Now, eight years later, Sergeant Foster says Boomer is part of the family. He has been through military assignments in Guam, England, and now North Dakota. Sergeant Foster tells us, “Who knew this free rescue dog would be worth over $5,000 from moving around the world? We love him so much and he brings us such joy that it's worth the extra stress and planning. He's our forever pet.” SPCA International was honored to help keep this family together through their most recent military reassignment in March from the United Kingdom to North Dakota.    

Even though the U.S. Air Force moves military families and their possessions (except the family pets), reestablishing in a new place is surprisingly expensive. The Fosters had to buy all new appliances to fit U.S. outlets, as well as a new car built for driving on the right-hand side of the road! By providing for Boomer’s travel expenses, SPCA International was able to make this military family’s move just a little easier with the help of an Operation Military Pets grant. This family received a $500 grant to cover a portion of the cost to move Boomer to North Dakota. Without financial aid from Operation Military Pets many families (like Boomer’s family before the Foster’s) would be forced to leave their pet behind. 

Sergeant Foster says there aren’t many organizations that support military members directly like Operation Military Pets does, so he will definitely tell others and support SPCA International in the future. Here at SPCA International, we would like to thank Sergeant Foster and his family for their service. 

Boomer is loving North Dakota Summers too!