My Search For An ESA Letter To Live With Milo 🐶
If you have a pet, you know they’re more than just animals—they’re a part of the family. Finding pet-friendly housing can be challenging, as I discovered when apartment hunting with my dog, Milo. Many places rejected us, but I learned that an Emotional Support Animal (ESA) letter could legally secure our living situation.
To help others navigate this process, I’ve reviewed seven companies that provide ESA letters, ensuring you and your pet can find a welcoming home without the hassle.
I’ll save you scrolling: Pettable is the best ESA letter service
When I started researching ESA letter services, I found a lot of companies offering the service. The quality of the services available is a mixed bag, but I chose to move forward with Pettable.
I’ll dig into the criteria and research why I chose Pettable over other services as the best choice for me and Milo, but here’s the lowdown on what made it stand out.
- I felt like I could trust them
I instantly found Pettable’s service to be the most trustworthy, as they were happy to offer a 100% money-back guarantee. I’m a young professional living in the city, which can be pretty expensive, so knowing that I could get a refund made me feel a lot more comfortable. And it only got better from there.
- They didn’t try any unnecessary upsells
The only thing you need as proof for an emotional support animal is a letter of recommendation from a mental health professional and that’s exactly what Pettable provides. While other ESA sites offer this as well, they also push people and, in some cases, try to push people into buying completely unnecessary add-ons. Pettable just got me the letter I needed, fast.
They offer a Month-to-Month value bundle
If cost is an issue for you, as it was for me, I found their subscription option helpful. They offer free annual renewal, 24/7 vet access, and member bonuses if you choose this option. I ended up choosing this because I know I'll need vet advice at some point, and if I could save money while getting peace of mind, I'm in!
Need an ESA letter? Keep an eye out for ESA red flags
When you start your search for an ESA letter service, you’ll find a lot of options.
While a lot of them are good, they’re definitely not all equal. In fact, some of them look downright untrustworthy. When I was researching the companies, there were certain red flags that kept cropping up that you should keep an eye out for:
Make sure you actually speak to a mental health professional
If you come across a company that promises you a letter without requiring you to speak to a mental health professional, it’s probably not a legally-binding letter. There are a lot of services offering this, and it’s definitely too good to be true. More and more landlords are learning about these services and rejecting ESA letters from them, so you’ll lose your money, miss out on a new home and have to start the process all over again.
Avoid companies that claim ESA has travel rights
There are a lot of sites that claim an ESA has travel rights — meaning you can bring your furry friend with you on planes and into restaurants. You should definitely avoid these services as they’re not legally binding. Only service animals have public access rights, whereas ESAs are protected by the Fair Housing Act and only have rights in permanent housing.
Steer clear of ESA certifications, registration numbers or ID cards
If you notice that a service is offering add-on services of certifications, registration numbers, ID cards or something similar, don’t trust them. These add-ons sound very reassuring but the only thing you need is an official letter from a licensed mental health professional recommending an ESA. I’d recommend avoiding any service that mentions certifications and registrations, as there’s no official registration system for support or service animals.
With all that in mind, I wanted to find a service that would connect me with a real mental health professional and a legally sound ESA letter. It took a bit of time to review all of the services, but it meant that I could be confident that I could live with Milo wherever I went. I’ve put everything I found in this guide with some handy dos and don’ts so your search should be simple and straightforward.
Get to grips with ESA letter requirements and guidelines
Before you start looking into ESA letter services and different companies, it’s good to know what you need. Besides your eligibility for an ESA, your letter is the most important document. The letter is the one thing that means Milo can live with me wherever I move.
The US Department of Housing (HUD) and the Fair Housing Act (FHA) have guidelines for anyone who wants to apply for an ESA. The guidance also lets you know your rights and an idea for what to look for on ESA sites. Some of the sites I looked into don’t mention the guidance or regulations anywhere which means the letters are probably illegitimate and a waste of your money.
Here’s what you need to know about ESA requirements and your rights:
Get an evaluation by a licensed mental health professional
You need to make sure that you’re connected with a genuine and quality mental health professional when applying for your ESA letter. You’ll need to speak to them in person (this can be a call or on a video call.) HUD accepts telehealth as a legitimate way to get your ESA letter, but you should avoid any service that generates your ESA letter from a quick questionnaire.
Make sure your mental health professional is licensed in your state
Alongside making sure you speak to a genuine mental health professional, they need to be licensed in your state. If they’re not, the letter won’t be valid. You cannot be treated and prescribed an ESA letter if your mental health professional isn’t licensed in your state.
This doesn’t mean that they have to live in your state, just have an active license there. It’s a good idea to find a company that’s got a network of professionals across the country. That way you can get a license for wherever you need it. It’s also handy if you’re moving state as the same company can help you in whichever state you’re moving to.
Learn about accepted license types
When you’re researching companies, it’s good to know what type of medical health professionals can legally write ESA letters. This will help you find legitimate services and avoid untrustworthy options. The HUD states that a variety of mental health professionals can write ESA letters, including:
- Physicians
- Psychiatrists
- Psychologists
- Physician’s assistants
- Nurse practitioners
- Clinical social workers.
Ignore warns about species/breed restrictions
There’s a lot of misinformation about what breeds and species you can have as an emotional support animal, but the HUD states there are no restrictions. To have your furry friend as an ESA, you just need a mental professional to confirm it’s reasonable and justified. This means that your super-friendly pitbull will be absolutely fine as an ESA.
Understand ESA quantity limits
The HUD states that there aren’t any limits on how many ESAs you can have. You just need your mental health professional to find all animals to be reasonable and justified. Understandably, the more animals you have, the harder it is for them to find individual mental health benefits for each animal. Because of this, a lot of ESA services will charge additional fees for 3 or more animals. The decision as to how many animals you can have as ESAs is down to your mental health professional’s discretion.
Take no notice of public access rights
If an ESA service site says anything about how you can take your ESA into hotels, restaurants or airports — they’re misinforming you. The best case scenario is the company is misinformed, worst case, they’re not trustworthy, and you don’t want either. Emotional support animals are only protected by HUD at your permanent residence so they have no public access rights.
Know the difference between ESAs and PSDs
Psychiatric service dogs (PSDs) have public access rights along with the same housing rights as ESAs since they are legally service animals and protected by the ADA. PSDs have to be trained to perform a task directly related to your mental disability, which is different from ESAs, who don’t have to be trained at all.
Find a service with good legal and therapist support
I’ve read tons of nightmarish stories of landlords harassing pet owners even when they have legitimate ESA letters. The experience is stressful and nerve-racking so it’s important to make sure you find a service you can trust to defend you regardless of your situation. Make sure you find a company with a solid legal team and good support.
Make sure you’ve got all the support you need
Finding a service that supports you with additional forms is super important. Landlords will ask you to fill out specific documents and forms, and although they’re not legally required, it’s usually a good idea to comply where you can. Good ESA services will help you fill in the forms and make sure you meet your landlord’s requirements. Some services include this, and others offer it as an additional service.
My complete breakdown of the best ESA letter services for you and your four-legged friend (and one to avoid)
#1 The winner: Pettable — Refund guarantee, great customer service and express service
My experience using Pettable’s service
Why I chose Pettables as the best service
This is the only provider I found that truly put all my concerns to rest, and when it comes to making sure I have Milo by my side, that's a must. The 100% money back guarantee, great service, and fast turnaround time is a plus, and I could not recommend Pettable more.
#2 The runner up: US Service Animals — Great customer services, mental health professionals and turnaround time
.webp)
My experience using US Service Animals’ service
Why US Service Animals is the runner-up
They offer a legitimate ESA letter through a licensed doctor, but they also offer fake registrations and products that make me feel like they are overall, not trustworthy.
#3 — Emotional Pet Support — Good customer service, low cost and great mental health professionals
.webp)
My experience using Emotional Pet Support’s service
Why I didn’t choose Emotional Pet Support
Alongside the lack of a live call with a mental health professional, I also couldn't find anything about legal support and considering my past experience with landlords, this is a non-starter for me.
.webp)
My experience using Support Pets’ service
Why I didn’t choose Emotional Pet Support
No frills means no frills, they are a small shop and what they gain in speed they lose in experience.
They advertise that having an ESA will get you more access to restaurants, hotels, and shops, and we know that according to HUD, this isn’t correct. This along with the fact that they do not offer the option to actually speak with a real therapist makes me question their legitimacy.
#5 — ESA Doctors — Fast service and good price point
.webp)
My experience using ESA Doctors’ service
As I've said over and over again, I'm skeptical of the legitimacy of services that do not offer that. What feels a bit better is you are actually connected with an LMHP and they send you a consent form to sign off on so it feels like the standard is a touch higher, and for $99.99-$129.99 it's a good service for the price.
Why I didn’t choose ESA Doctors
The claims about air travel made me question their legitimacy. However, if you're looking for a good price and quick service, ESA Doctors is a great option. Just not for me.
#6 — Mango Clinic — Easy scheduling and good mental health professionals
.webp)
My experience with Mango Clinic’s service
Why I didn’t choose Mango Clinic
Overall, I’d recommend Mango Clinic if you're looking for a straightforward option that allows you to book pretty easily with a provider, if you are willing to forfeit having access to a knowledgeable staff with up to date ESA information. It didn’t tick all of my boxes and the false claims made me suspicious of their ability to help me get a legitimate ESA letter.
Do Not Recommend — United Service Dog — Lots of upsells, confusing information and no contact with LMHP
.webp)
Why I don’t recommend United Service Dog
This is another service that left me a tad skeptical, as you don't need to connect with a provider on the phone. I reviewed them because they show up EVERYWHERE, so I'm guessing a lot of people interact with this website.
Additionally, I did not like that their website is pretty hard to use. Their information about emotional support animals and service animals was confusing and incorrect. Lastly, the amount of times they try to sell you additional stuff is pretty wild. It just feels like they're looking to grab your $$$.
Take your time finding the right ESA service for you
Finding the right ESA letter service can be tricky, but you should have the knowledge you need to find the perfect fit for you and your furry friend. Here are some things to bear in mind when you start your search:
- Verify credentials to ensure the service connects you with a licensed mental health professional in your state.
- Look for guarantees that offer a money-back promise if your ESA letter doesn’t meet your housing needs.
- Prioritize customer support by choosing a service that is responsive and answers all your questions quickly.
- Avoid unnecessary add-ons like ESA registrations, certifications, or ID cards, which aren’t needed and are usually not to be trusted.
- Look for fast turnaround options if you’re in a hurry, but make sure the quick service doesn’t come at the cost of an illegitimate ESA letter.
- Know your rights by familiarizing yourself with the Fair Housing Act (FHA) and HUD guidelines to tell legitimate services from untrustworthy ones.
A search worth doing to find an ESA letter for me and Milo
During my search, my biggest priorities were peace of mind, great service, and legitimate products.
This process wasn't the most fun, but knowing I don't need to worry about taking Milo with me, is definitely worth the time spent. Big thanks for Pettable for making sure that I never have to worry about whether I can live with Milo again!
Hopefully, this saves you time and makes selecting an ESA provider an easy decision!
