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Obtaining an ESA letter in Virginia requires first meeting with a mental health professional licensed in your state to determine if you qualify for an emotional support animal.
The availability of telemedicine makes seeking an ESA letter online easier than ever. We've performed extensive searches and interviews to find the best licensed mental health professionals (LMHP) in Virginia who are familiar with the state's ESA laws.
Connect with one of our vetted LMHPs from the comfort of your home today to find out if you're eligible for an emotional support animal in Virginia.
Answer a few questions about your ESA needs
We'll match you to a professional in your state
Receive it within 24 hours of getting approved
We'll help with any extra forms you need signed and our therapists are available to talk to your landlord anytime.
Anyone with an emotional or mental disability may qualify for an emotional support animal in Virginia. The state is very aware of the challenges those with mental health conditions face daily. Because of this, the state strives to keep considerate laws and policies in place that help protect those with emotional support animals as a key component of their mental health treatment plans.
In accordance with the federal Fair Housing Act (FHA), Virginia requires that housing providers make reasonable accommodation for any tenants with an emotional support animal, as long as they can present a valid ESA letter as verification. This means they are not allowed to impose any extra fees or breed or weight restrictions on the animal—regardless of the landlord’s typical policy or restrictions on pets.
The only way that a landlord can legally deny a tenant with an ESA is if the animal poses a direct threat to others' safety or causes significant damage to the property or housing unit.
Get Your ESA LetterIn accordance with the federal Fair Housing Act (FHA), Virginia requires that housing providers make reasonable accommodation for any tenants with an emotional support animal, as long as they can present a valid ESA letter as verification. This means they are not allowed to impose any extra fees or breed or weight restrictions on the animal—regardless of the landlord’s typical policy or restrictions on pets.
The only way that a landlord can legally deny a tenant with an ESA is if the animal poses a direct threat to others' safety or causes significant damage to the property or housing unit.
While service animals have protected access to public places, federal law gives no requirement for employers to accommodate emotional support animals. Under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) however, an employer cannot discriminate against you for having a disability or for owning an ESA.
Some businesses may be empathetic and lenient. It's ultimately up to them to decide if your support animal can accompany you to work. Bring your ESA letter and explain your situation to your employer or HR department—they may just be willing to allow you to bring your furry friend to the workplace.
In early 2021, the Air Carrier Access Act was updated to no longer obligate airlines to allow emotional support animals to board the cabin of a plane. Service animals, however, are still provided this protection.
Some airlines do still choose to accept ESAs. You'll need to call a specific airline before booking a flight to find out if they will accommodate your assistance animal. If not, you may be able to bring them on board as a regular pet, submitting to the airline’s usual pet policies and fees.
Virginia public transportation is also not required to accommodate emotional support animals. In order to travel in public or be ensured acceptance in public places, an animal needs to be designated as a service dog (more detail on this in the FAQ section).
If you think getting an emotional support animal is the right move for you, you must have a live consultation with a licensed mental health professional (LMHP) first. They can properly evaluate your mental health condition to determine if you qualify. If they find that you are eligible, they will write you a valid ESA letter to make it official.
With our telehealth marketplace, we make it an easy, simple process to find and meet with a vetted LMHP who has knowledge of the ESA laws in your state and experience incorporating animals into a treatment plan.
Get Your ESA Letter
1. We Guarantee Our Letters Will Work For You
We believe you should not have to worry about your letter working or not. That's why at Pettable we offer a satisfaction guarantee - meaning your letter works or you get your money back.
2. World Class Mental Health Professionals
We have built a team of world class mental health professionals who can write you a PSD Letter prescription guaranteed to work anywhere you go.
3. Unparalleled Customer Support
We know getting your animal approved to travel or live with you can be stressful, which is why we invest so much in our team of dedicated support specialists to make sure you are always taken care of and have the support you need!
4. Licensed in all 50 states
Our network of mental health professionals is deep and spans across the entire country. Additionally, we have a deep team of mental health professionals to make sure we can meet any timeline.
5. Best In Class Legal Support
We are here to make sure your housing and travel needs are taken care of so you don't worry. Our legal team is dedicated to having your back should you need it!
6. Human Connection & Legitimate Evaluations
In order for your letter to work you need to have a live consultation with a mental health professional. At Pettable we make sure our clinicians adhered to HUD standards and conduct consultations over the phone to get to know you and your mental health situation well.
Pettable is the best provider because we're committed to making sure the process works for you. That means working with the best and most experienced mental health professionals in the psychiatric service dog letter space, as well as providing a guarantee that your letter will work for you. We back all of this up with outstanding customer support, a renowned legal team, and a commitment to making sure you have an incredible experience.
We broke down the different services offered by every ESA service. And we looked for unbiased reviews from 3rd party sites.
Satisfaction Guarantee
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Transparent Team
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*review chart on how Pettable stacks up vs. the rest
Bolutife "Bolu", LCSW-S, MPA
Licensed Therapist
Equipped with over 13 years, Bolu has worked with various populations (adolescents, couples, families, and adults), but finds passion in working with the BIPOC community suffering from trauma.
Shaunae, M.S., LPC
Licensed Therapist
I have worked in the mental health field for 10 years with experience across diverse populations and communities. I’m dedicated to ensuring the best care possible.
Michael, LPC, LCDC
Licensed Therapist
I graduated from UT Dallas with my BA in Psychology, University of the Southwest with my MS in counseling, and California Southern University with my PsyD in Psychology, but have been an LPC and LCDC since 2011.
Jasmine, LCMHC
Licensed Therapist
I graduated with a BA in Political Science and a minor in Psychology. I completed my Masters in Clinical Mental Health Counseling. Since graduating, I have been working in private practice.
Rhiana, MA, LPC, LAC
Licensed Professional Counselor
I primarily work with people experiencing homelessness. I began doing emotional support evaluations to increase housing access to all.
Melissa, LCSW
Licensed Clinical Social Worker
I'm a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and Certified Substance Abuse Counselor. I graduated from the Catholic University's National Catholic School of Social Service with a Master of Social Work.
At Pettable, we understand at a personal level the positive impact an animal can have on your life.
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