Cat Parent
"I would give my experience 10000/5 stars! I have already recommended your company to another friend. It was a straightforward no gimmicks service, and the doctor was genuinely concerned.
My new rescue cat Marston really appreciates that he is able to live with me now!
Dog Parent
"I would definitely say a 5/5 star rating! It was the best service I have ever received. They were quick, and knew what was needed for the time being!"
Cat Parent
"They are five stars all the way! The site helped set me up with a professional therapist, who is licensed in my state. It was very easy to setup calls or opportunities to communicate with them that worked for both of us.
Most of all they allowed me to keep my cats Mew and Espurr. ā
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How To Get An Emotional Support Animal Letter In Arkansas Online
To get an ESA letter in Arkansas, you will need to schedule a consultation with a licensed mental health practitioner (LMHP) in the state. This could be a doctor, a psychiatric nurse, a counselor, or a psychologist who is licensed in Arkansas. Once you meet with them and share details about your mental health condition and the therapeutic benefits your ESA provides, they can write an official letter stating the validity of your need for an ESA.Ā
When you work with Pettable, we will connect you with an LMHP in Arkansas and arrange an online or tele-meeting where you can chat with them about your ESA needs.
Due to the recently passed Arkansas HB-1420 law on emotional support animals, a minimum 30-day client-provider relationship must be established before the clinician may write a valid ESAĀ letter. To keep our process legally compliant, we have adopted a 30-day process for Arkansas residents seeking an ESAĀ letter.
Emotional Support Animal Laws in Arkansas
In Arkansas, emotional support animals and their owners are primarily protected by two federal laws: the Fair Housing Act (FHA) and the Air Carrier Access Act (ACAA). The FHA prohibits discrimination against disabled persons in housing, which includes anyone with a legitimate ESA and accompanying ESA letter. It guarantees that your support animal can live with you in most rental housing situations.Ā
When you travel from Arkansas via airplane, your ESA letter doesnāt guarantee you can bring your assistance animal in the cabin, but some domestic airlines will do their best to accommodate you, for a fee. However, this typically only works if your emotional support dog is small enough to fit under the seat ahead of yours.
Arkansas Emotional Support Animal Law HB 1420
In February 2023, the Arkansas House of Representatives passed HB1420, which affects both sellers of emotional support animals as well as ESA owners. The main impact for those getting an ESAĀ letter in Arkansas is that you are now required to have a minimum 30-day relationship with your LMHP before they can write you an ESA letter. This intends to ensure the LMHP has a full understanding of your mental health before issuing you a letter.
The law requires any business that sells or provides a dog as an ESA must inform the buyer that the animal is not trained in the skills that would make it a service animal. While ESAs don't require training, service dogs do, so the law is meant to prevent these providers from trying to pass off an untrained emotional service dog as a service animal. HB1420 also requires sellers of ID tags, vests, certificates, harnesses, or other ESA-related items to inform their customers that these products are not required to have an emotional support dog or other domesticated animal. If they break this law, companies or individuals may be subject to civil penalties in the Natural State.
Emotional Support Animal Registration in Arkansas
Some companies promote products and services such as ID cards and registration for emotional support animals; however, these are unnecessary for living with an ESA. There is no such thing as a state or federal ESA registry, so inclusion in any such database is not required, nor do any such products carry any legal weight. All you need to bring an emotional assistance dog or other animal into your life is an official ESA letter signed by your LMHP ā which you can acquire easily with Pettable.
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How Do You Qualify for an Emotional Support Animal in Arkansas?
If you think you might need an ESA in your daily life, you may be living with a mental or emotional health disorder that qualifies you. Whether youāve already been diagnosed or have been reticent to get your mental health checked up, an ESA might make a serious difference. Qualifying conditions include:
- Anxiety or panic disorder
- Bipolar Disorder
- Clinical or major depression
- Post-traumatic stress disorder
- Schizophrenia
- Borderline personality disorder
- Phobias
- Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)
- Eating disorder
Benefits of Emotional Support Animals for Arkansas Residents:
There are many reasons why people living with mental health conditions choose to live with emotional support animals. They bring comfort and companionship to the lives of their owners and this can positively address many symptoms caused by mental health conditions, including anxiety, depression, loneliness, and stress.Ā Ā
Provide Mental and Emotional Stability
ESAs provide comfort with their presence. They offer their humans physical touch and affection and this promotes feelings of safety and wellbeing. Many people feel more secure when their ESA is close by as it offers owners a greater sense of security and protection.Ā
Financial Relief from Costly Pet Housing Fees
Legally, landlords cannot charge any additional pet fees for those who have an emotional support animal. This is because under federal law ESA's are technically not pets, but assistance animals that are essential in the owner's life. Obtain a legitimate ESAĀ letter to ensure these rights are protected.
Provide Social Support
Animals and their humans share incredible social bonds. ESAs significantly reduce feelings of loneliness and add huge value and connection to the lives of their owners.
How To Get a Psychiatric Service Dog in Arkansas
Psychiatric Service Dogs (PSD) - much like service animals - are recognized and protected by the Americans with Disabilities Act. Under this act, PSDs must be individually trained to perform a disability-related function that supports the handler. For example, reminding a handler with depression to take their medication.Ā
Any dog can be a PSD and owners can train them themselves or through Pettable's online training program which equips handlers with the knowledge and skills to train their PSD effectively.
Why Pettable?
Pettable is well versed in all things related to ESAs and we have a brilliant network of like-minded mental health experts on our side. We will connect you with practitioners who understand and value the important role that ESAs play. Here's how we stack up against other online ESAĀ certification providers:
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