You Don't Need An Emotional Support Animal. You're Just Needy.
Start writing a post
Health and Wellness

You Don't Need An Emotional Support Animal. You're Just Needy.

It's a pathetic grab for attention that diminishes the legitimacy of people who actually need a service animal for a physical or mental condition.

960
You Don't Need An Emotional Support Animal. You're Just Needy.
Flickr

The latest craze seems to encompass people registering their typical, untrained (albeit, much loved) pets as emotional support animals.

The process is quick, inexpensive, and easy. All you have to do is fill out an application online, pay a small fee, and voila, you receive a kit and a license certifying that your pet is essential for your emotional wellbeing and that you should be afforded a number of unnecessary privileges as a result.

Once your pet is registered, you can get all sorts of special treatment that people with normal animals can't get. Landlords can't refuse to rent to you for fear of discrimination, even if the building has a "no animals" policy. Your pet also gets to fly with fewer restrictions than traditional, non-support animals.

These animals do not have to have any sort of training or experience, which can ultimately be dangerous if they don't know how to behave in public. Airports, in particular, are having a lot of issues surrounding the increase in animals being registered as service animals and misbehaving while there.

Registering your pet as an emotional support animal because you can't bear the idea of being away from them or because you want to get special treatment is a pathetic grab for attention that diminishes the legitimacy of people who actually need a service animal for a physical or mental condition.

Not only are the cases of people registering their pets as emotional support animals attention-grabbing and illegitimate, but they're starting to get ridiculous. For example, earlier this week, a woman tried to bring her emotional support peacock on a flight.

Delta Airlines reported that they've seen "comfort turkeys, gliding possums known as sugar gliders, snakes, spiders and more." The same study reports that "since 2016, there has been an 84 percent increase in people flying with animals in the cabin. "

If you're thinking about registering your pet as an emotional support animal you don't need, please reconsider.

Consider the people who are disabled and rely completely on the animal that they've had trained and certified.

Consider the people who could be harmed by your decision if something goes wrong.

Consider the landlords, the airline employees, and other workers who are put in a tough spot every time you ask for privileges you don't deserve.

Consider following the rules and not simply going for the most convenient option, like the rest of us.

You don't need an emotional support animal. You're just needy.

Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
a man and a woman sitting on the beach in front of the sunset

Whether you met your new love interest online, through mutual friends, or another way entirely, you'll definitely want to know what you're getting into. I mean, really, what's the point in entering a relationship with someone if you don't know whether or not you're compatible on a very basic level?

Consider these 21 questions to ask in the talking stage when getting to know that new guy or girl you just started talking to:

Keep Reading...Show less
Lifestyle

Challah vs. Easter Bread: A Delicious Dilemma

Is there really such a difference in Challah bread or Easter Bread?

10343
loaves of challah and easter bread stacked up aside each other, an abundance of food in baskets
StableDiffusion

Ever since I could remember, it was a treat to receive Easter Bread made by my grandmother. We would only have it once a year and the wait was excruciating. Now that my grandmother has gotten older, she has stopped baking a lot of her recipes that require a lot of hand usage--her traditional Italian baking means no machines. So for the past few years, I have missed enjoying my Easter Bread.

Keep Reading...Show less
Adulting

Unlocking Lake People's Secrets: 15 Must-Knows!

There's no other place you'd rather be in the summer.

942347
Group of joyful friends sitting in a boat
Haley Harvey

The people that spend their summers at the lake are a unique group of people.

Whether you grew up going to the lake, have only recently started going, or have only been once or twice, you know it takes a certain kind of person to be a lake person. To the long-time lake people, the lake holds a special place in your heart, no matter how dirty the water may look.

Keep Reading...Show less
Student Life

Top 10 Reasons My School Rocks!

Why I Chose a Small School Over a Big University.

119815
man in black long sleeve shirt and black pants walking on white concrete pathway

I was asked so many times why I wanted to go to a small school when a big university is so much better. Don't get me wrong, I'm sure a big university is great but I absolutely love going to a small school. I know that I miss out on big sporting events and having people actually know where it is. I can't even count how many times I've been asked where it is and I know they won't know so I just say "somewhere in the middle of Wisconsin." But, I get to know most people at my school and I know my professors very well. Not to mention, being able to walk to the other side of campus in 5 minutes at a casual walking pace. I am so happy I made the decision to go to school where I did. I love my school and these are just a few reasons why.

Keep Reading...Show less
Lots of people sat on the cinema wearing 3D glasses
Pinterest

Ever wonder what your friend meant when they started babbling about you taking their stapler? Or how whenever you ask your friend for a favor they respond with "As You Wish?" Are you looking for new and creative ways to insult your friends?

Well, look no further. Here is a list of 70 of the most quotable movies of all time. Here you will find answers to your questions along with a multitude of other things such as; new insults for your friends, interesting characters, fantastic story lines, and of course quotes to log into your mind for future use.

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments