Animals Other Than Dogs That You Can Make Your Emotional Support Animal

No one can deny that emotional support animals bring positivity, joy, and happiness to a person’s life. These animals can not only help you deal with your mental and emotional health disorders but also help you enjoy your life to the fullest.

That is why many people think of applying for an emotional support animal registration. But before you consider doing that, there’s something you should know – there is no official registry for an emotional support animal.

It is a misconception that you need to apply for an emotional support animal registration. To make your pet an ESA, all you need is to get a recommendation letter from a licensed therapist.

If you qualify for an ESA letter, the therapist will write the recommendation letter stating that an ESA can be beneficial for your health.

Emotional support animals can help a person deal with a number of emotional and mental health problems, such as anxiety, depression, and more. The therapeutic support an ESA provides can help people manage these conditions and their symptoms.

Here are some of the most common mental and emotional health issues that qualify for an ESA letter – 

• Anxiety
• Depression
• Bipolar disorder
• PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder)
• OCD (obsessive-compulsive disorder)
• ADD (Attention deficit disorder)
• Chronic stress
• Learning disabilities
• Loneliness
• Self-harm
• Sleep problems

Now, when it comes to emotional support animals, dogs are the most popular choice. But dogs are not the only animals that make a great emotional support animal.

In this article, we are going to learn about some of the best animals that can make a great ESA and enhance the overall quality of your life.

Having said that, let’s get into it.

Animals Other Than Dogs That Make Great Emotional Support Animals

• Cats
• Rabbits
• Pigs
• Hedgehogs

Cats

While cats are not as popular as dogs, they are definitely the second most popular choice for an ESA. And trust me on this, cats are as lovable and adorable as dogs. These furballs may seem a little mean, but they can make a loving bond with their human companions from the beginning only.

Cats can bring joy and happiness to your life. They have an affectionate and chill personalities and generally stay calm and chill. All these qualities can help people with mental or emotional health concerns.

Another great advantage of cats is that they are quiet and do not make much noise. So, even your neighbors will not have any problems with your ESA.

Rabbits

Ah, there’s nothing more relaxing than seeing a small, furry, and cute animal hopping around you. These quiet and shy creatures make great emotional support animals, thanks to their personality.

If you live in an apartment, a rabbit can be a great choice as your ESA, but they are small, quiet, and will not require too much space. They have an extremely loving nature and will make a bond with you quickly.

Also, you can easily train these small creatures. In fact, you can even teach your bunny to come running to you when you call his/her name. They will surely make a great addition to your life if you decide to get a rabbit as your emotional support animal.

In addition to all this, you will not have to take your bunny again and again for walks. Rabbits can be a great choice for people with PTSD, anxiety, and depression.

Pigs

You may picture these creatures on a farm mostly, but pigs can make your life even happier and joyful if you make it your emotional support animal. Pigs are becoming more and more popular as an ESA in the United States, because of their intelligence and sensitivity.

Miniature pigs can win your heart in minutes only. These cute and adorable animals can interpret the emotions of humans. Pigs are great companions and you can even train them easily. This makes them a great emotional support animal.

These creatures are even known to help children with autism and can give feelings of calmness. Studies show that pigs can even detect seizures in humans. So, if you are looking to get an emotional support animal, a miniature pig can be a good choice for you.

Hedgehogs

Are you a fan of Sonic the Hedgehog? Well, if you are then you should definitely consider bringing a cute little hedgehog home as your emotional support animal. And even if you are not a fan of Sonic, you will fall in love with the real-life hedgehogs.

You can easily take these little animals to different places. This means, there will never be a problem of shifting your hedgehog from one place to another. You just have to ensure that hedgehogs are allowed in the place where you are taking your ESA to.

A hedgehog can bring joy to your life and help you manage anxiety issues. These little animals can enhance the overall quality of your life.

These are some of the best animals that you can bring home as your emotional support animal. But if you are looking to get an emotional support dog, here are some of the best breeds that you can choose –

• Golden Retrievers
• Labrador Retrievers
• Pugs
• Beagles
• Boxers
• Poodles
• Cavalier King Charles Spaniels