10 Pros and Cons of an Emotional Support Animal

10 Pros and Cons of an Emotional Support Animal

A few years ago I decided to get an Emotional Support Animal. I had read about the benefits of emotional support animals for people with depression and anxiety and decided to get a dog. I had never owned a dog in my life and didn’t have a clue about how to care for one. It’s been about 3 years since we got our English Bulldog and he is the cutest, most laid back dog; which was perfect for me and my family. We wanted a dog that would be good with kids, quiet and best suited for apartment dwelling. If you are thinking of getting a pet for yourself here are 10 Pros and Cons of an Emotional Support Animal to consider based on my experience.

PROS of an Emotional Support Animal:

Companionship:

An emotional support animal is a great companion. My husband is a firefighter and works overnight many nights out of the week. Having my dog around, especially during those times, has helped me to feel less stressed or lonely. My dog is a great snuggle buddy, as he is very cuddly and loves to be on my lap or lays right next to me on the couch or bed. This can, on occasion, be a bit much as he is about 60 lbs! But he is the sweetest so It’s hard to say no.

Responsibility:

An emotional support animal is also a great teaching tool for children. We’ve had to add our dog care into our busy routine. Waking up earlier to feed and walk the dog before we left for work and school, and feeding and walking at night either in between kid activities or after dinner. We also planned extra walks when he was a puppy and potty training. A lot of responsibility! It is however a great example for children, helping to feed or walk the dogs, and the responsibility of caring for “someone” else. It has even helped to teach empathy and respect.

Kids sometimes have a hard time understanding the feelings of others; their actions and the consequences. I’ve taught my son lessons on respect and treating animals as if they are another person. Animals have feelings too and he needed to learn how to use the dogs facial expressions and body language as a way to know if he is playing too rough or if he wants to be left alone; when the dog is scared or when the dog wants to play.

Security:

Along with not feeling alone, my dog has become an extra sense of protection and security, especially at night. He is such a lovable and friendly dog I didn’t think he would be much of a guard dog. As he has gotten older he is alert of sounds and notifies us when someone is in the hallway or by our door (which is helpful for delivery people who just leave the package and don’t ring or knock). He is protective of our children; even with their father. If they are play fighting my dog will get in between them and try to defend my children! And when we stay in North Carolina he guards the house from other dogs and animals.

Joy:

I love my dog so much! I get a general sense of joy and happiness being around him. He has such a great personality, is so smart, and it is exciting to see new milestones as he grows. Even if I am sad my dog seems to sense it and comes to comfort me. I also enjoy teaching him new tricks and playing with him with different dog toys.

Exercise:

Taking the dog on walks is a great way to fit in exercise for yourself. My dog is not a very active dog so he doesn’t need super long intense walks, but we usually walk him a minimum 15-20 minutes twice a day. That is a good amount of exercise for you and your dog especially if you usually do none. Exercise is recommended for improving mood which can help with depression. You are also getting outside in sunshine and fresh air.

CONS of an Emotional Support Animal:

Time Consumption:

So along with responsibility is also increased time consumption. If you already have a busy schedule it may be difficult to keep up with the regular care and maintenance required; depending on the breed of dog and your individual living situation. For example, I live in an apartment building in NYC, this means I have to wake up, get dressed, ride down the elevator, go outside, walk him, come back in and ride back upstairs. When you are trying to get to work and the elevators are held up or your dog is not ready to go back inside, it could cause you to be late or rushed. It may seem like I’m just complaining, but that time adds up! If you live in a house with a fenced yard, it will be a little easier and less time consuming if you can just let your dog out in the morning while you get dressed or at night while you are cooking dinner.

Health Care:

There is also health and maintenance such as, vet visits, shots, training, bathing, brushing teeth, brushing or cutting coat, cleaning face folds (for some breeds), cutting nails, ear drops, eye drops, etc. based on your breeds health needs. A lot of time and attention will go into maintaining your dog.

Expenses:

Coinciding with time consumption and healthcare are expenses! Pet insurance can get expensive, if you choose to have it, depending on your breed. Plans at the Vet or places like Petco can add up as well, which may or may not include shots and other medications your dog may need. Pet supplies begin to add up with food as one of the main consistent purchases; we have dog food shipped automatically through Chewy.com. Then there are also treats, toys, brushes, wipes, tooth paste, shampoo, leashes, collars, beds, crates, pee pads, jackets, etc.; with possible upgrades as they grow.

Travel Considerations:

We haven’t really travelled much to begin with but when we do plan to go anywhere, we have to consider the dog. Is the hotel pet friendly? Does the plane or train allow pets? What is the size restrictions for pets? Would it be possible to travel with them or do we need someone to dog sit? We now have two dogs, so it’s a lot harder to ask a friend to dog sit for two dogs.

We do take them with us, on a lot of road trips. They take up additional space with an increase in luggage because of their supplies and less luggage space because they usually ride in the trunk. More thought has to go into going away and whether to make arrangements to take them with you or leave them at home or at a friend’s house. Some places do offer overnight and extended dog care but that can get pricey as well.

Pet Restrictions: Emotional Support Animal Accommodations

Some Co-ops, condos, or apartment buildings have restrictions on pets. I live in a Coop. There is a no pets rule in my building. In order to get a pet I had to get an emotional support animal letter from my doctor stating that I would benefit from having the pet as an emotional support dog. I submitted an application and paperwork and had to wait for an approval. I’ve heard of people fighting in court over the right to have an emotional support animal in apartments according to emotional support animal law. If you provide documentation supporting the need for an emotional support animal under the Federal Fair Housing Act an emotional support animal is a reasonable accommodation. However, an emotional support animal does not have the same rights as a service animal.

This list is based on my personal experience with researching for, obtaining, and caring for a dog as an emotional support animal. In my experience it would have been too overwhelming for me to care for a dog without the help of my husband. However, at the time I was working full time as a teacher and caring for two young children. If you don’t have children or a very demanding job it may be feasible. I think like with everything there are always pros and cons, but they seem to balance out. For me, over time, the pros outweigh the cons. There were a few a moments when I felt like I made a mistake getting a dog, but overall it has been more of a benefit than a burden.