Emotional Support Animal Evaluations in Miami
An emotional support animal can provide comfort, companionship and meaningful support for individuals experiencing a qualifying mental or emotional health condition. Our physician provides private and professional ESA evaluations in Miami.
Support Through Companionship
An emotional support animal, commonly called an ESA, is a companion animal whose presence may help alleviate symptoms associated with a qualifying mental or emotional disability.
Unlike a service animal, an ESA is not individually trained to perform a specific disability-related task. Its therapeutic benefit comes primarily from companionship, affection and emotional support.
A licensed healthcare professional must evaluate whether a patient has a qualifying condition and whether the animal provides support related to that condition. An ESA letter is not simply a pet registration or online certificate.
- Private evaluation with a licensed physician
- Review of your health history and current symptoms
- Assessment of your need for an emotional support animal
- Documentation when medically appropriate
Our ESA Evaluation Process
We keep the process clear, respectful and confidential from your first call through the completion of your medical evaluation.
Schedule Your Visit
Contact our Miami office to arrange an appointment for your emotional support animal evaluation.
Meet With the Doctor
The physician will review your health history, discuss your symptoms and evaluate how your animal supports your condition.
Receive Documentation
When medically appropriate, the physician can provide documentation explaining your disability-related need for an emotional support animal.
ESA vs. Service Animal
Emotional support animals and service animals serve different purposes and are treated differently under federal law.
Frequently Asked Questions
Learn more about ESA evaluations, documentation, housing accommodations and the difference between emotional support and service animals.
What is an emotional support animal?
An emotional support animal is a companion animal that provides comfort and therapeutic support to a person with a qualifying mental or emotional disability. The benefit generally comes from the animal’s presence and companionship rather than specialized task training.
What are the requirements for obtaining an ESA letter?
A licensed healthcare professional must evaluate whether you have a disability and whether the animal provides support that helps alleviate symptoms related to that disability.
Documentation is provided only when the healthcare professional determines that it is medically appropriate following an evaluation.
Do I need to bring my animal to the appointment?
Yes. Our office requires you to bring your animal to the scheduled appointment so the doctor can complete the evaluation.
What is the difference between a service dog and an ESA?
A service dog is individually trained to perform specific work or tasks related to a person’s disability.
An emotional support animal provides comfort through companionship but is not trained to perform a specific disability-related task.
Does an emotional support animal require special training?
No specialized disability-related task training is required. However, the animal should remain under the owner’s control and behave safely around other people and animals.
Can an ESA be allowed in housing with a no-pets policy?
In housing covered by applicable fair-housing laws, a person with a qualifying disability may request an emotional support animal as a reasonable accommodation.
Approval depends on the property, the accommodation request and applicable law.
Can a person qualify for more than one ESA?
More than one animal may be considered when there is a separate documented disability-related need for each animal.
Can I take my ESA into restaurants or stores?
Emotional support animals do not automatically have access to restaurants, stores, medical offices or other public places. An ESA letter does not convert an animal into a service animal.
Can my emotional support animal fly with me?
Airlines may treat emotional support animals as pets and apply their standard pet rules, fees and restrictions. Contact your airline before traveling because policies may vary.
Is an online ESA registration or certificate enough?
Purchasing an identification card, registration or online certificate by itself does not establish a disability-related need for an emotional support animal.
Speak With a Miami Physician About an ESA Evaluation
Contact 420 Miami Doctor to schedule a confidential evaluation and learn whether emotional support animal documentation may be appropriate for your situation.
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