PSD Letter - ESA Documentation Certified by Healthcare Providers

A PSD LETTER ALLOWS YOU TO TRAVEL WITH EASE, KNOWING YOU AND YOUR PET ARE PROTECTED

A Psychiatric Service Dog (PSD) has housing and travel rights. As a trained Service Dog, a PSD is protected under the Fair Housing Act, the Americans with Disabilities Act, and is in accordance with the Air Carrier Access Act. 

To qualify for a PSD, the owner must have a diagnosed mental health disability and the dog must be trained to perform a specific task that can help alleviate that mental health disability. Our Licensed Therapists at Official Pets will determine your qualifying condition and issue a signed PSD Letter. Having your official PSD Letter can help you establish eligibility and prevent hiccups with housing providers, airlines, or establishment personnel.

A PSD is trained to perform tasks that can help relieve someone’s mental health disability such as anxiety, panic attacks, PTSD, depression, or many others. According to the Americans with Disabilities Act, “People with disabilities have the right to train the dog themselves and are not required to use a professional service dog training program.” You can have your dog professionally trained, or train them yourself to perform a task that aids your mental health in some way. One example of a trained task could be “Therapeutic and Tactile Distraction” which means your dog is trained to sense when you’re feeling anxious and place pressure on your body to encourage emotional regulation, bringing you to a calmer state of mind where you can cope with your daily activities.

PSD Benefits:

Access to flights in the
aircraft’s cabin

Access to public places like stores, businesses, hotels, restaurants, etc.

Exempt from no-pets
housing policies

Exempt from breed, size, and weight restrictions

Exempt from additional fees and deposits from housing providers

OUR PSD LETTER CAN HELP ESTABLISH ELIGIBILITY AND PREVENT COMPLICATIONS, ASSURING THAT YOU TRAVEL WITH EASE KNOWING YOU AND YOUR PET ARE PROTECTED!

HOW IT WORKS

Complete a questionnaire

Fill out our online questionnaire to help determine if you and your pet qualify for an ESA Letter. One of our Licensed Therapists will review your responses and reach out within 24 hours. Your responses will be kept private and confidential.

Connect with a Licensed Therapist

Once you place your order, your assigned Licensed Therapist will contact you within 24 hours. You can choose to connect with your dedicated therapist through phone, video call, or in-person, depending on your preference.

Receive Your Official PSD Letter

Receive a digital copy of your PSD Letter within 24 hours. Your letter provides legal protection under the Fair Housing Act and can be submitted to landlords, HOAs, and Co-Ops. Sometimes landlords will require additional documentation on top of the PSD Letter — don’t worry, we got you covered! We’re here for you, every step of the way.

Get Started

“Major shoutout to Official Pets! They provided me with fast and efficient service for my PSD letter. The website was really easy to navigate, making the process simple. Lots of good educational stuff on the website too that I didn’t know before. The therapist I worked with was incredibly helpful and understanding, answering all of my questions and provided lots of info on psychiatric service dogs. I was informed on how the process works exactly when it comes to flying with my dog. Thanks to Official Pets, I now feel stress-free traveling with my dog everywhere. I been able to board on flights with my dog without any issues. If you’re in need of a PSD letter, I definitely recommend Official Pets for their fast service and supportive staff! They go above and beyond to ensure your peace of mind.”

Noah

WE’RE HERE TO ANSWER ALL OF YOUR QUESTIONS AND WALK YOU THROUGH EVERY STEP OF QUALIFYING YOUR PSYCHIATRIC SERVICE DOG

What is a Psychiatric Service Dog (PSD)?

A Psychiatric Service Dog (PSD) is a trained dog that performs tasks that can help alleviate the individual’s mental health disability (anxiety, panic attacks, PTSD, phobias, depression, and many others). A PSD is a recognized type of Service Dog, protected under the Fair Housing Act (FHA), American with Disabilities Act (ADA), and in accordance with the Air Carrier Access Act (ACAA). Under these federal laws, owners have the freedom to reside and travel just about anywhere with their PSD.

The key distinction between a PSD and an ESA lies in the training. According to the ADA, “People with disabilities have the right to train the dog themselves and are not required to use a professional service dog training program.” An example of a trained task may be “Therapeutic and Tactile Distraction” which means your dog is trained to sense when you’re feeling anxious and place pressure on your body to encourage emotional regulation and bring you to a calm state of mind where you can cope with your daily activities.

What are the requirements for qualifying for a PSD?

To qualify for a Psychiatric Service Dog (PSD), the owner must have a diagnosed mental health disability (anxiety, panic attacks, depression, PTSD, or many others) and the dog must be trained to perform a specific task that can help alleviate the individual’s mental health disability. Our Licensed Therapists at Official Pets will determine your qualifying condition and issue a signed PSD Letter.

What is a PSD Letter?

Having a mental health disability (anxiety, panic attacks, PTSD, phobias, depression, and many others) is a prerequisite to owning a Psychiatric Service Dog (PSD). A PSD Letter is a signed letter from a Licensed Therapist that establishes the client has a mental health disability. The purpose of a PSD Letter is to provide individuals with documentation that reaffirms they have a qualifying condition for a Psychiatric Service Dog. There is increased awareness and concern regarding individuals fraudulently claiming to have qualifying conditions to own a Psychiatric Service Dog. By obtaining a PSD Letter, owners can have additional assurance that they have a legitimate mental health disability, diagnosed by a Licensed Therapist, making them eligible to have a Psychiatric Service Dog. A PSD Letter can help establish eligibility and potentially prevent any complications with housing providers, airlines, or establishment personnel. Our PSD Letter assures that you travel with ease knowing you and your pet are protected!

Can I fly with my Psychiatric Service Dog (PSD)?

Yes! Under regulations issued by The Air Carrier Access Act (ACAA), carriers must permit a Psychiatric Service Dog (PSD) to accompany a passenger with a mental health disability. A PSD is allowed to accompany the passenger in the cabin of planes, and airlines cannot impose any extra charges for their presence. Our PSD Letter ensures that you travel with ease knowing you and your pet are protected!

Can I bring my PSD to public establishments like stores, restaurants, hotels, and other similar places?

Yes! The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) prohibits discrimination against people with disabilities. Under the ADA, state and local governments, businesses, and nonprofit organizations that serve the public generally must allow Psychiatric Service Dogs (PSD) to accompany individuals with mental health disabilities in all areas of the facility where the public is allowed to go. A business with a “no pets” policy may not deny entry to a person with a PSD. PSDs are working animals, not pets. So, although a “no pets” policy is legal, it does not allow a business to exclude a PSD.

Are Psychiatric Service Dogs required to be professionally trained?

No. According to the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), “People with disabilities have the right to train the dog themselves and are not required to use a professional service dog training program.” It is not permissible for an establishment employee, airline personnel, or landlord to request proof of a dog’s training. They also do not have the right to ask you to disclose your specific mental health disability or request a demonstration of your dog’s skills in helping you with your disability.

What questions can an establishment employee ask to determine if a dog is a Psychiatric Service Dog?

According to the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), “In situations where it is not obvious that the dog is a service animal, staff may ask only two specific questions: (1) is the dog a service animal required because of a disability? and (2) what work or task has the dog been trained to perform?” Staff are not allowed to request that the dog demonstrates its task or inquire about the nature of the person’s mental health disability.

Is it necessary to have a certificate, license, ID card, special harness, or vest for my PSD?

No! According to the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), “The ADA does not require Service Animals to wear a vest, ID tag, or specific harness.” Your Psychiatric Service Dog (PSD) does not require a certificate, license, ID card, special harness, or vest. Establishments, airlines, landlords, etc. cannot demand certificates, registrations, licenses, IDs, or vests for your PSD, as these items do not hold any legal status for a PSD. While some owners use them as signals, they are not mandatory or valid forms of proof.

Does a Psychiatric Service Dog need to be registered?

No! Registration is not required for your Psychiatric Service Dog (PSD). Registering your PSD in a database or registry is unnecessary. There is no legally recognized registry for PSDs in the United States. While many fraudulent sites claim that a PSD will need a registration number to validate its status, this isn’t in any way the case and is simply the rhetoric of typical PSD scams or trying to upsell you on items you do not need to qualify your pet as a Psychiatric Service Dog. According to the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), “Covered entities may not require documentation, such as proof that the animal has been certified, trained, or licensed as a service animal, as a condition for entry. There are individuals and organizations that sell service animal certification or registration documents online. These documents do not convey any rights under the ADA and the Department of Justice does not recognize them as proof that the dog is a service animal.”

Can Psychiatric Service Dogs be any breed?

Yes. According to the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), “The ADA does not restrict the type of dog breeds that can be service animals.”

In terms of housing, what legal rights are granted to Psychiatric Service Dogs (PSD)?

Psychiatric Service Dogs (PSD) are entitled to reside in residential buildings that ordinarily prohibit pets. Under the law, PSDs are recognized as Service Animals, granting them exemptions from pet-related regulations, such as pet rent, fees, and deposits. Additionally, PSDs are not subject to restrictions based on breed, size, or weight. PSDs must be accommodated in most housing settings, including rental apartments, condos, co-ops, and HOAs.

Why choose Official Pets?

At Official Pets, we understand the profound impact of Animal-Assisted Intervention on mental well-being. As proud ESA and PSD owners, we know how essential it is to have your pet by your side.

We are dedicated to making the ESA and PSD process transparent and accessible. Every pet owner deserves easy and affordable access to the support they need. Our mission is to advocate for improved mental health care and help you utilize Animal-Assisted Treatment Plans to their fullest potential.

Our clients are our top priority, and providing exceptional support is our guiding principle. We understand the urgency of your needs and offer unmatched assistance through our dedicated client support and healthcare provider teams. We are here to stand by you, advocate for you, and ensure your letter is approved, even in the face of challenges.

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