Emotional Support Animals Vs Service Animals. While a service animal is there to do a specific job, an emotional support animal is there to provide a source of therapy. Esas offer emotional support and companionship to their owners, sometimes helping with symptoms such as anxiety, depression and several kinds of phobias.

The key to understanding the differences between these types of dogs is studying the definitions of each. While emotional support animals are often included as part of a medical treatment plant or are used as therapy dogs, they cannot be classified as service animals. Emotional support animals are not usually trained for specific tasks.

One important thing service dogs and emotional support animals have in common is their ability to change the lives of their owners, enabling their human companions to successfully navigate everyday life.

Unlike service animals, esas do not have special training requirements and can be owned even by persons without disabilities, and so the ada does not grant them legal protection. While a service animal is there to do a specific job, an emotional support animal is there to provide a source of therapy. Any animal that provides comfort, support, positive vibes, affection, and companionship can qualify to be an emotional support animal. Emotional support animals and service animals can both provide amazing benefits to the individuals who need them.