What is an ESA Letter and Why You Need One in Canada!
If you plan on getting an emotional support animal in Ontario, you will need an ESA letter.
These letters can only be provided by a qualified mental health professional who can practice in your province.
Essentially, an ESA letter is a legal document that states your need for a support animal and indicates that your emotional support animal is a part of your clinical treatment plan.
An ESA letter gives people with mental or emotional disabilities the right to bring their emotional support animals onto an aircraft. It also gives ESA owners the right to reasonable accommodations in some provinces.
How to Get a Service Dog in Canada
We have had many inquiries about service dogs in Canada over the years. In contrast to the Americans with Disability Act (ADA), which has clearly defined service dogs in the United States, there is no uniform legal definition of a “service animal” in Canada. There is a multitude of regulatory systems in every province, territory, and federal level that either explicitly or implicitly address the use of assistance animals.
Depending on your reason for having a service dog, the steps to getting one in Canada are slightly different. Let’s take a closer look at these so we can identify and respond to concerns about service dogs!
Where to Start the Search for Your Ideal ESA!
If you are planning on getting an emotional support animal in Ontario, Canada, then there are a few places you can go to start your search.
Ontario is a large province that makes an immense effort to care for animals in shelters. For those looking for an emotional support animal in Ontario, we highly recommend visiting the following places: