Mental health professionals could face legal trouble if they certify Emotional Support Animals

Researchers at the University of Missouri are exploring outcomes of what could happen to mental health professionals if they certify emotional support animals.

Emotional support animals are not recognized by the Americans with Disabilities Act, unlike service animals who have to go through training to get certified.

Emotional service animals have little or no training. While some may truly need ESA animals to help with their daily lives, others have figured out that they could lower their bills by getting their animals registered.

Landlords can not deny renters from having an ESA animal and they are not allowed to charge them for the pet.

Professionals who do certify ESA animals could face legal trouble if the animal misbehaves in anyway leading to a law suit. They could be called to the stand and asked why they certified the animal in the first place.

Researchers at the University recommend that therapeutic psychologists do not certify any ESA animals and leave that for forensic psychologists.