Are Emotional Support Animals the same as Service Animals?

No. Emotional support animals offer comfort and support to a person with a diagnosed mental or emotional condition and are provided legal protections for housing accommodations. Emotional support animals do not need any special training. In contrast, service animals assist individuals with disabilities, helping with daily tasks or alerting to conditions like seizures or PTSD. Service dogs undergo specialized training and receive certification to perform these functions. Under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Emotional Support Animals are not considered service animals, so they don’t have public access rights in airplanes, restaurants or retail locations.