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Thread: Touring with ESA Dog?

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    God/dess indiegirl's Avatar
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    Default Touring with ESA Dog?

    I am going to start touring again soon and I was curious about getting my dog certified as an ESA dog. There was a post on here that my dog could fly for free as an ESA dog. He's now 40 pounds so he's too big to fly in a carrier under my seat. He only can travel in Cargo.

    My problem is I don't have a psychologist to certify him as an ESA dog. I noticed that there many sites online where I can buy ESA certification. Would buying certification from any of these sites work just as well for him to fly free? Anyone have any experience with any of these sites?

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    Default Re: Touring with ESA Dog?

    It does take a statement from MD. Usually a psychiatrist is required but sometimes a family MD will do. It is up to the airlines as an ESA does not completely fit into category
    of service animal as we know it. I had a lot of travel anxiety when I first started traveling alone and so am experienced in traveling with an ESA although it has been a few years. It used to be just the TSA that officially acknowledged them. Not sure if that has changed. I has flight attendants who insisted he stay in his carrier regardless of his ESA status as well as a few hotels that did not acknowledge them. Restaurants and other public businesses were not required to recognize ESA as a service animal. Again, it has been a few years ( I have been hibernating at home since losing mine) so please check on everything before assuming it is okay to have your dog with you. I also always notified the airlines when I made a reservation that he would be with me as they limit the number of dogs on a flight and in cabin classes.

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    Default Re: Touring with ESA Dog?

    I have an ESA and fly with him sometimes, and I second what Sophie ^ said!


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    Default Re: Touring with ESA Dog?

    I'm in the process of getting my dog certified as an ESA for my move to NYC. Because she's so old, flying with me is the only safe way for her to make it across the country. The exact requirements vary by airline, so be sure to call whoever you're most likely to travel with to get their specific requirements. Some airlines now have their own 3rd party verification forms that need to be filled out separately, but most will accept a letter from a licensed mental health professional. From what I found, letters from an MD do not count. That letter must be written within the past twelve months.
    Ironically, I have a Master's in psychology but since becoming disillusioned with the traditional mental health, I do mostly holistic work when I'm not working as a provider. Since I haven't had a traditional therapist for years, I didn't know how to get around that. I found this site , which helps to facilitate a prescription for you an emotional support dog. I just finished taking a battery of tests to assess my degree of mental illness (haha) which will be reviewed by a team of therapists and followed up with a phone call or Skype session to confirm a diagnosis. Once that is confirmed, they submit a letter and not only can your dog fly with you for free, you can use that distinction to move into apartments or stay in hotels that don't allow dogs because to deny an ESA is a violation of the Americans with Disabilities Act. I'm still in the process myself, so I can keep you posted as it goes on.

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    Default Re: Touring with ESA Dog?

    Does size matter? My dog is 45 lbs but I'd like to get him certified since my anxiety has gotten so bad... And I don't want to ever put him in cargo!
    "People jack off with the left hand and point with the right."

    "You can check out any time you like, but you can never leave."

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    Default Re: Touring with ESA Dog?

    There are no size or breed restrictions, although the dog (or miniature horse or potbellied pig- for real) must fit in the space in front of your knees. My dog is about forty lbs. herself so I'm nervous about that but luckily she enjoys small spaces haha. I'm planning to schedule my flight at an off-peak time so there is a greater chance of having a couple seats or even a whole row to myself. I took a Saturday morning 9am flight coming back from NYC last time I went and there were literally only twenty people on the whole flight.

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