Emotional Support Dog Virginia

Under virginia s disability rights law and the federal americans with disabilities act ada people with disabilities may bring their service animals to all public accommodations including stores businesses.

Emotional support dog virginia.

To qualify for an emotional support animal known as an esa in virginia you need to have an esa letter this is an official letter from a certified mental health professional such as a psychologist psychiatrist or clinical social worker. We rise in the strongest support of this legislation. Virginia s 36 96 3 1 combats emotional support animal and service dog fraud. For example the virginia code defines a service dog as a dog that was specifically trained to perform tasks that benefit a person with a disability.

We serve clients residing in the commonwealth of virginia and are based in charlottesville virginia. In order to get an emotional support animal in virginia you ll be required to consult a licensed mental health professional. To simplify the entire issue into a single sentence. Don t listen to your landlord s demand to go online and get a certificate in the state of virginia that s now against the law.

When virginia laws allow you to bring a service dog or emotional support animal to public places or housing. Information on service dogs and emotional support animals. Emotional support animal basics in virginia. Virginia 36 96 3 1 combats emotional support animal fraud in housing.

The following is an overview of the laws established in federal laws and west virginia laws that protect emotional support animals. Highly trained dogs perform a multitude of tasks that allow greater personal freedom and independence. Generally speaking the two main differences between service dogs and emotional support animals center on 1 the animal s level of training and 2 the severity of the owner s needs. In this article we ll cover all you need to know about getting an esa in virginia.

Landlords must make reasonable accommodations to people with disabilities in order to provide them with housing opportunities that are equal to those enjoyed by able bodied individuals. Service dogs of virginia is a 501 c 3 non profit organization that raises trains and places dogs to assist people with disabilities. In fact access serves as a cornerstone of our very mission as moral and ethical obligation rather than just a legal requirement. It is helpful to understand the emotional support animal laws in west virginia to avoid any complications and know what to do if unlawful discrimination occurs.

By lisa guerin j d.