ESA Laws in Connecticut
In Connecticut, as in all U.S. states, emotional support animals are not automatically permitted in public places. Service animals, on the other hand, generally do have this right. This includes commercial flights, workplaces, shops, restaurants, hotels, libraries, and hospitals.
However, some airlines, employers, and venue owners/managers may accommodate your companion animal, as long as you can show them a valid ESA letter. Of course, if they still will not permit your emotional support animal to enter, you must abide by their decision. Instead, you could seek out a pet-friendly establishment, or leave your ESA at home.
For air travel, you have a few additional options. Your ESA could fly with you as a regular pet – in a carrier in the cabin (if they’re small enough), or in the hold. You’ll also have to accept the airline’s standard pet fees. Alternatively, your emotional support animal could train to become a psychiatric service animal, as service animals are allowed on all flights.
On a more encouraging note, federal and state housing legislation is quite accepting of emotional support animals. The federal Fair Housing Act (FHA) protects your right to have your ESA live with you. As long as you can provide an ESA letter, your housing provider must make reasonable accommodations for you and your emotional support animal to live together. This is the case even if the landlord typically has a “no pets” policy. A valid ESA letter also waives any pet fees and breed or weight restrictions that your landlord may typically have in place.