Whether you’re new to the world of emotional support animals or you’re planning on adopting another ESA companion, you’re probably wondering – is there a limit to how many ESAs I can have? If so, you’ve come to the right place. In this article, we help you learn more about emotional support animals, specifically how many you can have.
So, can you have more than one ESA? The short answer is yes, but it’s more complicated than that and you may need additional documentation. Read on to discover the whole story below.
What Is an Emotional Support Animal (ESA)?
First things first, what is an emotional support animal (ESA)? Essentially, ESAs are animals that provide you with comfort in your home. They’re protected under the Fair Housing Act (FHA) and ensure that landlords can’t have you evicted just because you have an ESA.
Most ESAs support people who have mental health disabilities and you need an ESA letter from a licensed mental health professional to prove that your companion is serving a purpose that’s beyond being adorable.
What Conditions Are Eligible for an ESA?
If you’re considering an ESA you’ll want to know which mental health conditions apply. Thankfully, the list is inclusive and you’ll find that most conditions can qualify – even some phobias! We take you through some common conditions that qualify for an ESA below:
- Anxiety
- Depression
- Loneliness
- General phobias
- Seizure disorders
- Social anxiety
- Stress
- Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
- Bipolar disorder
This list is not exhaustive, land you’ll find that there is a lot of wiggle room on a case-by-case basis. At the end of the day, it’s all about whether or not an ESA will help you; or two for that matter.
Can You Have More Than One ESA?
Yes, you can have more than one ESA. That said, your licensed mental health professional has to determine that it’s necessary to have more than one ESA. In other words, they have to sign off on your condition requiring assistance from another animal.
At the end of the day, there’s no specific limit to how many emotional support animals you can have, but that doesn’t mean a landlord has to let you live in a small apartment with 12 dogs. For example, if it’s too many animals for a small space landlords may be able to evict tenants or not approve an ESA request. Therefore, you need to be mindful of how many ESAs you have and the space you live in.
Do You Need an ESA Letter for Each ESA?
No, you don’t need a separate emotional support animal letter for each ESA. While you don’t need a separate letter for each animal, that doesn’t mean you can get an ESA letter and then keep adding animals into the mix. Instead, you’ll need a licensed mental health professional to sign off on your ESA letter and state that multiple emotional support animals are necessary to treat your conditions.
Can You Have More Than One ESA – Local Laws
Some municipalities have strict requirements on how many pets a household can have. For instance, many city ordinances limit households to having three or four dogs. While this applies to pets, note that it doesn’t apply to emotional support animals.
How Do You Get an ESA Letter?
If you want to get an ESA letter you have a few options, but some are better than others.
While you can see your therapist for an ESA letter, for example, if you don’t already have one you may need to spend a few hundred dollars on sessions before you can get an ESA letter. The good news is that the alternative is to work with a reputable ESA registration website like United States Service Animals (USSA).
Platforms like USSA allow you to schedule a call with a licensed mental health professional online and you can have your appointment over the phone. The result is a hassle-free ESA registration process that enables you to bypass looking for a doctor, checking insurance, and much more.
What’s more, all you need to get started is the pet you want to register and some time open on your calendar. In fact, the process is simple enough to complete in five easy steps:
- Submit information about yourself.
- Submit information about your pet – type of animal, breed, weight.
- Submit information about any mental health disorders.
- Schedule a call with a licensed mental health professional.
- Speak with a licensed mental health professional and await approval for your ESA letter.
Then, all you have to do is wait for the letter to arrive in the mail and you’re all set.
Adopt an ESA (or Two) Today!
Whether you want to go with a classic pairing like a dog and a cat, or you think adding a fish into the mix can help keep you calm, two ESAs can be better than one. Make sure you have the necessary ESA documentation and don’t forget to have a licensed mental health professional clearly state that you need more than one ESA. Always have your ESA letter handy, especially when interacting with your landlord, and you shouldn’t have any problems with your emotional support animals.
