A while back, my co-op fought a losing battle with HUD regarding Emotional Support Animals (ESAs). The way the law was being enforced, small "No-Pet" apartment complexes were victimized by people claiming their pets were support animals. HUD even suggested that people allergic to dogs owning their apartments in co-op and condo complexes be moved to accommodate the needs of the person "needing" the support animal. This is ludicrous, but it's the way the law functioned. Since then, major airlines have banned many of these ESAs, as no one wanted to be near geese, miniature horses, etc. while on a plane. But nothing has been done for co-ops and condos which do not allow pets for the health of ALL of their residents.
The following site mentions how to certify an emotional support dog: How to certify an Emotional Support Dog. Although the site implies respectability for ESA certification, even they recognize that a mental health professional should be one providing an ESA letter. And here's where the fun starts. How many people are going to do the research to prove that a mental health professional has had the person in therapy for a reasonable amount of time to justify writing the ESA letter. When I dealt with HUD, the bureaucrat effectively admitted that there were few rules governing these letters. Years later, I found that these letters were easily available online for a few minutes of on-line "consultation: and a fee of less that $100.
As much as I'd like to talk about current co-op affairs, I can not do so. Yet, I can mention that HUD told us that we can't even require that the dog's owner identify the dog as a service animal because the "handicapped" person (my words, not that of law) could be discriminated against. But what about the other people in an apartment complex? Does this person's needs override others' property rights? What about others' health needs? Once people start seeing animals in the hallways, they will act as if pets are allowed. And then, a No-Pet residential complex is opened up to pets via the back door.
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Years ago, I mentioned this situation to someone I know. And she started making lots of noises in support of the animal owner. (She fed raccoons on her porch. Go figure.) But shouldn't the rights of people who choose NOT to live with animals be respected? Even in this group, most will support legitimate service animals for other residents. One woman I dated is an epileptic who could die if she were to have an episode in her sleep. Her service animal is able to sense an oncoming event early enough for her to wake up and take her medicines. This is the type of animal I'm comfortable with in my complex, not the pet with another name....
