In the video, Marc Eskenazi creates a game of seeing the most unusual animal that he can take into human-only establishments under the moniker of ESA. The video is played for laughs, such as when Eskenazi’s doctor says,
“I’m not gonna write you a letter for an emotional support animal. I’m not one of those websites that just hands these things out to whoever asks for one.” In line with the narrative cues,
Eskenazi immediately goes to one of “those websites” and acquires a letter to register his emotional support pig…after paying the $200 fee.This essay does not engage with whether or not ESAs’ protection under the Fair Housing Act (FHA) is being exploited. The reality is that, in America, there are ways for people like Joe Henney to get his
pet alligator Wally registered as an ESA. Rather, the essay will explore the ways in which animals do provide emotional benefits to their owners and how pet owners must navigate a shifting rental housing landscape, one that is undoubtedly made more difficult by the accusations of exploitation; additionally, it will note that raising the cost of registering an ESA to deter fraudulent claims may contribute to those marginalized people—particularly poor people of color, who are at higher risk of mental illnesses like depression and anxiety and who would benefit from having an ESA—from being able to obtain ESA status for their animals.
In general, ESAs are used for people with depression and/or panic disorders who have varying levels of independence. These disorders can range from the mild—heightened anxiety on public transportation—to the severe—agoraphobia. Studies have found ESAs helpful in combatting anxiety disorders, with some case studies noting that the presence of an ESA allowed
“previously housebound patients to go out in public and perform activities like grocery shop and eat at restaurants,” greatly improving their owner’s quality of life. ESAs have also been known to help handlers focus and to alleviate panic attacks and major depression; in fact, 7
0% of ESA users reported their animal having a calming effect on them.Broadening the umbrella of “mental illness” from depression and anxiety that ESAs are typically associated with, other studies have found that pets, in general (even when they are not registered ESAs), provide mental health benefits for people with severe mental illness in supported housing communities. The concept of supported housing refers to
“helping people with mental illness to secure independent housing in the community that is linked with flexible support services, including mental health services.” Despite the documented benefits to both physical and mental health that comes from owning a pet, many supported housing communities do not allow residents to keep pets. Arguments against keeping pets on rental properties include the
potential for pet-related property damage, health concerns, liability issues from possible pet attacks, and, for tenants with psychiatric disabilities, concerns about a tenant’s ability to care for the pet and the tenant’s often restricted budget.There have been extensive studies on the way that pets—as both pleasurable companions and registered assistance animals—improve the mental health of their owners and handlers, and yet many rental companies are hesitant to allow animals on their properties. People who suffer from mental health issues often use the FHA clause protecting assistance animals as a means to register their pet as an ESA and circumvent “no-pet policies,” pet deposits, and monthly pet rent. However, the up-front cost of registering an animal as an ESA can be a deterrent for those in precarious financial situations, such as students or those experiencing homelessness. While the video from
The New Yorker was created in jest of such problems, the $200 fee shown in the video is not outside the realm of the cost of an ESA letter.
The ESA Register of America tells users to expect to pay $100-$150 for an in-person assessment, while a letter from an online company could run up to $200. (These fees may not apply if you are currently seeing a licensed mental health professional, but that brings into the question the affordability and access of mental healthcare to certain communities.)
The debate about emotional support animals in the United States is far from over, but there has been ample evidence and a vocal push to make ESA registry more accessible and, in turn, for more rental properties to become more accepting of pets in general.