You are here: Home Emotional Well ... Pets 101 Emotional Support ...
Information about all aspects of finances affected by a serious health condition. Includes income sources such as work, investments, and private and government disability programs, and expenses such as medical bills, and how to deal with financial problems.
Information about all aspects of health care from choosing a doctor and treatment, staying safe in a hospital, to end of life care. Includes how to obtain, choose and maximize health insurance policies.
Answers to your practical questions such as how to travel safely despite your health condition, how to avoid getting infected by a pet, and what to say or not say to an insurance company.

The following sample letter from a doctor was prepared by the Judge David L. Bazelon Center For Mental Health. It was written to help someone have a pet in a "no pets" apartment. Your doctor should modify it for your situation.

If the doctor wants to see citations for the medical literature mentioned in the letter, point him or her to: www.bazelon.org/issues/housing/infosheets/fhinfosheet6.html offsite link.

 To Be Written On Stationery of Professional (therapist, physician, psychiatrist, rehabilitation counselor)

[date]

Dear [Housing Authority/Landlord]:

[Full Name of Tenant] is my patient, and has been under my care since [date]. I am intimately familiar with his/her history and with the functional limitations imposed by his/her disability. He/She meets the definition of disability under the Americans With Disabilities Act, the Fair Housing Act, and the Rehabilitation Act of 1973.

Due to [an] illness, [first name] has certain limitations regarding [social interaction/coping with stress/anxiety, etc.] In order to help alleviate these difficulties, and to enhance his/her ability to live independently and to fully use and enjoy the dwelling unit you own and/or administer, I am prescribing an emotional support animal that will assist [first name] in coping with his/her disability.

I am familiar with the voluminous professional literature concerning the therapeutic benefits of assistance animals for people with disabilities such as that experienced by [first name]. Upon request, I will share citations to relevant studies, and would be happy to answer other questions you may have concerning my recommendation that [Full Name of Tenant] have an emotional support animal. Should you have additional questions, please do not hesitate to contact me.

Sincerely,

Name of Professional

To Learn More