Assistive Animal Documentation
What it controls: Whether our team reviews service animal and ESA letters for validity.
Options:
Yes: Our team reviews all service animal documentation
No: Accept all service animal claims without review
⚠️ Recommendation: Select "Yes"
What Our Team Does
When "Yes" is selected, our team follows HUD guidelines to review:
For Emotional Support Animals (ESAs):
Provider Verification:
Licensed healthcare provider (doctor, psychiatrist, therapist, etc.)
Not a family member
Active license in their state
Verifiable identifying information (name, license number, state)
Letter Contents:
Confirms applicant has a disability
States the animal is necessary to support their disability
From a legitimate healthcare practice (not a pay-for-play website)
Red Flags We Watch For:
Letters from "ESA registration" websites
No verifiable healthcare provider information
Missing disability or necessity statement
Provider not licensed in applicant's state
For Service Animals: Much simpler - we can only ask two questions:
Do you have a disability?
What is your animal trained to do?
Note: Service animals require specialized training to perform tasks related to a disability. Documentation is not required, and we cannot ask for proof of training.
The Gray Area
⚠️ Important Reality: Some ESA letters exist in a gray area:
Legitimate online tele-health appointments with real doctors
Technically valid letters that meet minimum requirements
Situations where it's unclear if the provider has an ongoing relationship with the applicant
Our Approach: We verify to the best of our ability within legal limits. We share copies of all documentation with you, and ultimately, you decide whether to approve.
What You Receive
When an application includes a service animal or ESA:
Copy of the letter/documentation
Our team's assessment of validity
Notes on any concerns or red flags
Included in your application summary email
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