ESAs, Psychiatric Service Animals, and Service Animals: Expectations and Clarifications
August 22, 2025
Jane E. Jarrow
Disability Access Information and Support (DAIS)
This presentation was in response to a conversation on the ICU listserv discussing the overlap and confusion between ESAs, service animals, and psychiatric service animals. Because this was intended as a very focused response to the questions/issues raised on the listserv, there were some parameters set regarding what would NOT be discussed in the session.
Recognizing that there is a six week course entitled “Fantastic Beasts and Where NOT to Find Them” that covers a great deal of information regarding animals on campus in depth, it was made clear that these topics were not on the agenda for the Zoom session: policy and procedures, how to research and apply your state laws (especially in regards to service animals in training), documentation in support of ESAs, what to do when policy isn’t followed, how to have an animal removed, or individual questions regarding current difficult circumstances.
Quick Recap: A comprehensive discussion on the handling of Emotional Support Animals (ESAs) and psychiatric service animals on campus, covering evaluation processes, varying documentation requirements, proper procedures for approval, and language to use if the animal will not be approved. Guidance was provided on how to address various scenarios involving service animals, including the distinction between ESAs and trained service animals, emphasizing the importance of following Department of Justice guidelines. The session concluded with clarification on service animal tasks and responsibilities, as well as advice on handling requests and maintaining appropriate behavior standards for service animals.