If you have been sitting in the Campus Center recently, you may have looked out the window and noticed a student walking a dog. Possibly, you strolled past Lamson Hall and perhaps saw a cat in someone’s window. In recent years, there has been a rise in the number Emotional Support Animals (ESAs) in the United States and this happens to also be reflected on campus. ESAs are among the three classes of assistance animals. The other two classes are service dogs and therapy dogs. Service dogs are not always recognizable but some will display some sort of identification. They are specifically trained to assist only their owners and are allowed in all establishments.
Therapy dogs are generally trained to work with a variety of people but are not allowed in all establishments. They are not protected by law when it comes to housing, meaning they can be barred from certain housing, like an apartment. Meanwhile, an ESA is meant to emotionally support their owner through companionship. ESAs cannot be banned from any housing situation, including a dormitory.
The process of getting an ESA requires a licensed professional such as a psychologist or psychiatrist. The health professional works with a client or patient and decides whether or not an ESA would be beneficial in the situation. An official diagnosis of something such as anxiety, depression, or PTSD is also required. If an ESA is deemed appropriate, the client or patient has a plethora of animals to choose from. Acceptable ESAs include cats, dogs, ponies, mice, birds, and the list goes on.
It may seem like fun to have an animal in your dorm room, but it should also be noted that it can be a challenge as well. Abi Lopez (senior, psychology) owns an ESA and lives in the dorm. Her ESA is a small dog named Harry and they have been together for approximately a year and a half. When asked exactly what Harry does, Abi explained that he assists in relieving anxiety by getting her outside more, brightening her day and allowing her to hold him when things are at their worst. She explained that Harry helps to calm and refocus her.
However, there are also some challenges that he brings. At times, Harry can be distracting since he is so fun to play with and traveling can present the occasional difficulty. Abi also explained the stigma can be hard to handle by saying, “People always say, ‘Wow, I didn’t know you could have pets in the dorm.’ I have to explain to them what an ESA is and then they ask if anything is actually wrong with me.” Instead of worrying about what people think of her, Abi said that she chooses to look at how she is feeling better emotionally, mentally, and physically with Harry’s help.
If you do not have an ESA but see or know someone who has one, do your best to reserve judgement. Each one of us is fighting some sort of battle and we all seek help a little differently. In fact, seeking help can even be considered commendable. If you are struggling and believe an ESA could be beneficial to you, begin by visiting Student Success or the Counseling and Testing Center. Also, connect with friends, professors, or family members for added support in difficult times. The bottom line is that you should never be afraid of asking for or receiving help, no matter what form that help comes in.
The Student Movement is the official student newspaper of Andrews University. Opinions expressed in the Student Movement are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the editors, Andrews University or the Seventh-day Adventist church.