Emotional support animals.

[Izthewiz]

Anyone here have a esa?
We have one because past anxiety and he's our cat ,he only stays at home.
I'd never take him to the store or out places do to people possibly being allergic to pet dander.
I have noticed many people abusing the system with esa animals claiming to have all these issues walking around walmart with an aggressive dog and socializing ,I think this is madness.

 

[MainerMikeBrown]

Walking around Wal-Mart with an aggressive dog is very unfair to everybody else in the store.

 

[Howlingvapor]

I don’t have any kind of actual licensed emotional support animal, I don’t know how that works, but I do have my dog Athena. She’s gotten me through a lot of tough times and walking her every day has been a huge help with my anxiety and depression. When we first got her I was so stressed out from work and school that I told my folks I wanted nothing to do with her. For context when I was a kid and didn’t understand the responsibility involved in a pet they got me a puppy and it was never house broken and ended up an outdoor dog until my aunt and uncle took her home with them last Christmas. They always blamed me for the dog’s numerous issues because it was technically mine, but I was like 12. Anyway sorry for the tangent, but because of that whole situation I didn’t want the responsibility on me for Athena. But as it usually goes with me and animals I eventually warmed up to her and she’s basically become MY dog lol. She watches tv with me, practically tackles me when I come home from work and even takes naps with me sometimes. I love her more than anything and I’ve honestly been trying to figure out what to do when I move out eventually because I probably won’t be able to take her with me.

I guess my point is that animals are sometimes incredibly beneficial to mental health, because they’re essentially a source of unconditional love. You never feel like you could disappoint them and they make you feel loved even when no one else does. My dog once even pulled me out of a really dark place when I collapsed on my floor in drunken stupor wanting to take my own life and she immediately ran up to me and started licking my face. It’s almost like she could tell something was wrong. And yeah that’s the little goofball herself in the picture.

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[FinneousRex]

I don’t have any kind of actual licensed emotional support animal, I don’t know how that works, but I do have my dog Athena. She’s gotten me through a lot of tough times and walking her every day has been a huge help with my anxiety and depression. When we first got her I was so stressed out from work and school that I told my folks I wanted nothing to do with her. For context when I was a kid and didn’t understand the responsibility involved in a pet they got me a puppy and it was never house broken and ended up an outdoor dog until my aunt and uncle took her home with them last Christmas. They always blamed me for the dog’s numerous issues because it was technically mine, but I was like 12. Anyway sorry for the tangent, but because of that whole situation I didn’t want the responsibility on me for Athena. But as it usually goes with me and animals I eventually warmed up to her and she’s basically become MY dog lol. She watches tv with me, practically tackles me when I come home from work and even takes naps with me sometimes. I love her more than anything and I’ve honestly been trying to figure out what to do when I move out eventually because I probably won’t be able to take her with me.

I guess my point is that animals are sometimes incredibly beneficial to mental health, because they’re essentially a source of unconditional love. You never feel like you could disappoint them and they make you feel loved even when no one else does. My dog once even pulled me out of a really dark place when I collapsed on my floor in drunken stupor wanting to take my own life and she immediately ran up to me and started licking my face. It’s almost like she could tell something was wrong. And yeah that’s the little goofball herself in the picture.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Love that pup - so cute! Glad she’s got an amazing heart, makes her even cuter

 

[Glassgirlw]

Mines not officially an ESA but all my dogs are a great comfort to me when I’m in heightened states of anxiety. Just laying and petting their fur can sometimes distract me enough to pull me out of it.