3 Reasons Why You Should Get Your Child an Emotional Support Dog
If your child suffers from mental health conditions such as anxiety, depression, or behavior disorders, you might have considered getting them an emotional support dog. But what exactly is an emotional support animal, how does it compare to a service dog, and how could it help your child?
The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) is clear on the distinction between emotional support animals and service animals. While psychiatric service animals can help those with emotional or mental disabilities, they’re required to go through training both to “perform specific tasks directly related to a psychiatric disability.” Emotional support animals, while providing just that—emotional support—do not undergo the same training and, as such don’t share the same public access rights as service dogs.
In short, a service dog is trained to recognize and respond to their handler’s needs and can accompany them in public places like stores and restaurants. An emotional support dog supports their owner’s mental health but is not trained to do so, and is not given those rights to access public places (though they do have rights regarding housing and air travel).
Support Dogs and Children
When prescribing an emotional support animal, your child’s doctor will likely share their reasoning with specific reasons as to why they think it would be beneficial. After all, they’re the expert! But a few benefits are true in nearly any situation:
Emotional Well-Being
The psychological benefits of having a dog, in general, are well-documented, from stress relief to improved heart health. In the case of an emotional support dog, however, they’ve been prescribed by a therapist, psychologist, or psychiatrist to provide support and comfort to their owner.
If your child suffers from an emotional behavior disorder or other mental illness, their doctor may recommend an emotional support animal to help combat symptoms. If your child’s mental illness affects their reaction in social situations, for example, going to a park or for a walk with their emotional support dog will give them a safe, mediated segue into a conversation with their peers and soon-to-be friends. And, meanwhile, the dog itself can provide companionship, helping your child to feel less alone.
Developing Independence & Responsibility
There’s no doubt that having a pet can help a child to learn responsibility and the same is true, if not more so, of an emotional support dog. Caring for their ESA will help your child to learn to take care of not just the dog but themselves as well. They’ll learn to be more compassionate, respectful, and patient through their emotional support animal and will have the opportunity to experience the unconditional love that comes from an animal.
In more extreme cases, knowing that the dog is dependent upon them for basics like food, water, and walks can help your child to combat suicidal thoughts.
(Relatively) Budget-Friendly
Make no mistake: taking in a dog in any context is not a cheap endeavor. From adoption fees upfront to the cost of care and must-have products like a dog harness, leash, toys, food, and more, there are plenty of costs that come with a dog. However, when compared to a service dog, for example, an emotional support animal comes at a much more affordable price. There is no legitimate registration for emotional support animals (despite websites that will try to charge you while claiming otherwise)—the only genuine way for your child to have an ESA is through their doctor’s prescription letter.
While you may want to work with a professional dog trainer to help your child get the most from their emotional support dog, there is no specialized training required for an ESA. Even buying the best harness and other pet care products on the market, you’ll spend less money on your child’s emotional support dog than you would on a more highly-trained service animal. Talk to your child’s mental health professional to see if it could be a good addition to their treatment plan.
Do your research and discuss the possibility with your son or daughter. If you and their doctor agree that it’s the right fit for your child, help them to be the best dog owner possible to reap as many benefits as they can.
