Do I need ESA identifying clothes or a harness?

Does my Emotional Support Animal (ESA) Need Identifying Clothes or Harness?

Under the Americans with Disabilities Act, service animals must be under control. This requires them to be leashed or harnessed unless these restraint devices interfere with the person’s disability or the service dog’s work. Additionally, service animals do not require any special identification cards or training documentation when in public.

Emotional Support Animals do not need to wear any type of clothing or harnesses. However, we strongly encourage a well-trained pet to walk in public with harnesses or leashes. This helps you and your companion to obey local laws and respect the community, making you a responsible dog owner.

A service animal is not an emotional support animal. Emotional support animals can be required to provide documentation for travel. Touch ESA offers Emotional support letters for airlines or apartment housing, now with low monthly payment options.

To learn more about service animal laws covered by the Americans with Disabilities Act, visit the ADA National Network.

To learn more about training your pet, companion animal or emotional support animal, visit the AKC and consider training your pet for the Canine Good Citizen test, to ensure your emotional support animal is always under control and well-behaved.