Can I lend my Emotional Support Dog to Someone?

Having a psychological condition can be harsh. And it has become very common now. In the United States alone, more than 45 million people are battling with one or another kind of mental ailment. And it’s not getting any better. 

But with the progress in medical science, many treatment methods have emerged now. One of which is an Emotional Support Dog. 

Many of you might know about it. Some may even have one. But for those who don’t know, an emotional support animal is a companion that helps you treat your mental condition by providing the required love and emotional support. It is a part of your normal treatment plan and can be any animal, from a cat to a dog to a guinea pig. 

Though they are there to help you with your psychological condition, they are not service animals. Unlike service animals, they are not trained to do any specific tasks for their owner. Their work is to provide you emotional support only.

But can you lend it to someone?

A lot of ESA dog owners have this question when someone asks them to lend their emotional support dog or cat to them for a few days. And if you have an ESA support dog, you may also need to know if it’s okay to do so or not.

Let’s find out.

What an Emotional Support Dog can Do?

As already mentioned, an ESA dog is not a service animal. So you cannot take it to every place. ESA dogs are not allowed in restaurants or stores with a no-pet policy. Then what can they actually do?

Well, your ESA dog can live and travel with you. Here they are given special provisions. The Fair Housing Act allows your pet to live with you even at a no-pet policy place, without paying any extra charges. Under the Air Carrier Access Act, your ESA dog can legally fly with you in-cabin. This too without any extra fees. 

But remember, all this can only happen if you have an emotional dog letter. Otherwise, your pet is just a pet.

Can I Lend it to a Friend?

When your emotional support dog is doing so much good to you, you might think of sharing it with your loved ones. Especially when any of them also has a psychological condition. That’s very kind of you. But as your emotional support dog is a prescription given to you only, you can't share it with anyone.

Think of your emotional support dog as any other medical prescription. You don’t go sharing your medications with someone. Your ESA dog letter is just the same. So if your friend asks you to lend them your emotional support dog, politely refuse them. Otherwise, your ESA dog letter may also get in danger.

But What if My Friend also has an Emotional Support Dog Letter?

You might think that if your friend has an ESA dog prescription, then they can borrow your emotional support dog. But that also may not work. 

See, when you get an ESA dog letter, your doctor must also approve your ESA type. So, if your letter says you need an emotional support dog, and your friend needs a cat, you cannot lend them your ESA dog. 

And even if you have the same type of animal prescribed, the bond you and your ESA share cannot transfer to anyone else. That’s why you should not lend or even borrow an emotional support dog yourself.

Penalties for Misuse

You should never misuse your ESA as this might have some serious after-effects. Your ESA can be taken away from you. And this can revoke all the rights you get with it. This means you won’t be able to live in a no-pet policy house with a pet, nor will you be able to fly with a pet. So, it’s better to keep your relation with your ESA exclusive.

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