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. This letter confirms your mental health disability and the fact that having a PSD helps alleviate symptoms of that disability.

The purpose of a PSD Letter is to provide the individual with documentation that reaffirms that the individual has a qualifying condition under relevant disability laws to own a PSD. Some states have become more sensitive to individuals that falsify their need for Service Dogs, and PSD Letters provide additional assurance that a handler has followed the proper steps. Many owners obtain PSD Letters to establish eligibility and prevent any complications with the airline or the establishment personnel. Only a Licensed Mental Health Professional can issue a legitimate PSD letter. Our PSD Letter ensures that you travel with ease knowing you and your pet are protected!

Having a mental health disability (anxiety, panic attacks, PTSD, phobias, depression, and many others), as defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), 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 or emotional disability that can benefit from having a PSD.

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 to accompany individuals with mental health disabilities in all areas of the facility where the public is allowed to go.

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!

To travel with a PSD, you must complete the DOT's Service Animal Form and submit it to your airline. This form requires the handler to confirm that they have a service dog that has received training from either themselves or a third party. It’s a very simple form to complete and if needed our Client Support Team will assist you!

No. 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 establishment employee, airline personnel, or landlord, etc. cannot ask for proof that the dog has been trained. No one has the right to ask you to identify your specific disability or ask that your pet demonstrate their skill.

According to the 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.

No! According to the ADA, “The ADA does not require Service Animals to wear a vest, ID tag, or specific harness.” Your 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. 

No! Registration is not required for your 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."

Yes. According to the ADA, “The ADA does not restrict the type of dog breeds that can be service animals.”

No. According to the ADA, “A service animal may not be excluded based on assumptions or stereotypes about the animal’s breed or how the animal might behave. However, if a particular service animal behaves in a way that poses a direct threat to the health or safety of others, has a history of such behavior, or is not under the control of the handler, that animal may be excluded.”

PSDs 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.

Landlords are legally required to accept PSDs for housing. The PSD Letter serves as proof of your mental or emotional disability, qualifying you under the Fair Housing Act (FHA). The law states that landlords must attempt to make reasonable accommodations for your PSD, even if a property has a “no-pets” policy or breed restriction policy.

Landlords are not permitted to request medical records or conduct a medical examination. The PSD Letter will be provided on your assigned therapist's official letterhead, signed, and dated. It will also include your assigned therapist's licensing and contact details, enabling your landlord to verify their credentials. The letter will contain everything legally required for a PSD prescription within the body of the letter.

No problem, we've got your back!

Our Licensed Mental Health Professionals here at Official Pets are available to get on a call with your landlord should they want to validate the legitimacy of your letter. Should your landlord request a validation of your letter, please have them reach out to your assigned therapist using the contact information on your PSD letter.

In the unlikely event that your letter does not work as intended and we've tried to make it work with the landlord we will refund your purchase 100%.

Absolutely! The United States Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) recognizes and acknowledges “documentation may be reliable where provided by legitimate, licensed health care professionals delivering health care services remotely, including over the internet.” Our team of Licensed Therapists offer their services remotely or in-person so you have the option to choose what’s right for you. Remote therapists serve as a crucial resource for individuals who encounter difficulties in finding an in-person therapist, facing financial constraints, or struggling to fit appointments into their busy schedules. As long as the provider is a Licensed Healthcare Professional with a good understanding of your mental health condition or emotional disability, they can issue a PSD recommendation for you.

Under the United States Department of Transportation (DOT) regulations, “Airlines may require documentation that is not older than one year from the date of your scheduled initial flight.” For housing and establishments, PSD Letters typically do not have an expiration date, but many establishments and landlords request a more recent letter if the one provided is considerably old. We recommend that you renew your PSD Letter annually for a few reasons:

• Landlords or establishments may refuse to accept a PSD Letter that is outdated. A renewed letter allows you to provide current documentation that verifies your need for a Psychiatric Service Dog. 
• Licensed Therapists may not validate a PSD Letter that is expired in the event a landlord or establishment reaches out to verify. An annual consultation with a Licensed Therapist to discuss your needs for a PSD Letter is advised in order to keep recommendations current.

Renewing your letter is easy through our seamless consultation process.

Indeed, certain tenants may require the presence of two or more Psychiatric Service Dogs, and a single PSD Letter can encompass multiple Psychiatric Service Dogs. Your request for multiple animals must be "reasonable". An example of an unreasonable request is if you want five Mastiffs as your PSDs and you live in a studio apartment. In order to make sure we're meeting the standard of "reasonable", Official Pets is able to accommodate up to three pets per letter as long as you meet the criteria to warrant a PSD Letter. At the end of the day it is a judgment call but we want to make sure that you are covered in any situation you're in, which is why we've set this policy.

We truly understand the power of Animal-Assisted Intervention and recognize the strong impact a pet’s love can have on your mental well-being. We are proud ESA and PSD owners ourselves and know what it feels like to need your animal by your side, wherever you go! We bring transparency and accessibility to the ESA and PSD Process. We believe every pet owner in need of an ESA or PSD should have easy and affordable access to the support they need. We’re here to advocate for improved access to mental health care and support individuals with mental health conditions. We know the power of Animal-Assisted Treatment Plans and want to help our clients use it to its fullest potential. We are on your side and want to help you navigate the ESA/PSD process as easily as possible.