Animals in red vests are showing up everywhere, and many people are beginning to question whether or not they are necessary. A new type of assistance animal is swelling in popularity among pet owners looking to reap benefits from the title, the emotional support animal (ESA). With the vague legal definition of emotional support animals, many people find it easy to access rights to avoid fees or to live with their pet in housing that has no-pet policies. Joan Morris from the Mercury News states that “the issue of people claiming pets as service dogs began rising several years ago when Americans seemed to suddenly develop a need to take their pets everywhere” (5). With the confusion, being able to spot a real service animal from a fraud is proving more difficult. While various patients find comfort and a form of treatment in an emotional support animal, countless people abuse this right. Consequently, false assistance animals pose threats to the rights of disabled …show more content…
The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development recognizes that “‘emotional support animals, by their very nature and without training, may relieve depression and anxiety, and/or help reduce stress-induced pain’” (Chandler 3). Several studies have been executed that prove a decrease in stress levels following contact with animals (Ketchen 2). Animals also provide a source of company and serve to prevent any negative consequences from “dangerous feelings of isolation and loneliness” (1). Walking a dog or other animal can force the pet's owner to get outside, which itself has many benefits (2). Owning a pet can also bring people together that share a general interest in animals, causing one to “make meaningful connections with other people” (1). In today’s world, animals play an immense role in the lives of the public. For those in need, an animal can assist with both mental and physical