Emotional Support Animals in Apartments ?advice?

I want to get a cat as an emotional support animal to live with me in my "no pets allowed" apartment. I have gotten the letter of recommendation from my t. Under state law the landlord has rentals in a building that she does not also live so esa rules apply.

I really want to take this step. I inially wanted a psd (psychiatric service dog) but I can't consistantly take care of me, i wouldn't be able to do all that is necessary for a dog and it's training and care.

I don't want to rock the boat with my landlord. I have a safe place to live with the most rent i can afford to pay in this high rent county. I know my rights but my social skills are lacking and I feel this situation calls for a diplomatic approach.

Have any of you gone through the process of getting an emotional support animal??????

Are you sure that a letter from T is enough? From the research I've done, and depending upon how strict your landlord is, establishing your mental disability may require a law suit.

Very interested to find out how this turns out, please keep us informed.

The only thing I can think of is to cheat! Sneak in the cat if you have to. But don't do that if it just means trouble.

As I understand it, the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 states that if you have a note from your doctor stating that you have need for a emotional support animal, the landlord has to by law let you have a cat even if the apartment is "no pets."

I had to reformat my computer, so I'm unable to post the actual URLs, but if you google "emotional support animals" you'll find the same sites I did.

While no one would dream of denying a disabled person a pet that increases the quality of their lives, there were concerns (in federal congress) that getting a slip from your T to state that the pet is needed to incease your quality of life would be too easy to obtain.

In that vein there are proceedures set up to by pass the no pets rule. Most of the case studies that I've read that deal with emotional support pets were of animals that had been a part of the family for a number of years .... I do not recall a single case of a new animal being introduced to the home after moving in. (Excepts of course to examples of seeing eye dogs).

Since the OP was from Maryland, I attempted to get specific information from that state. From what I read, Maryland does recognize that animals can dramatically increase the quality of life but there is a proceedure you must follow. Your mental disability has to be well documented and there must be evidence that the animal you suggest bringing in will improve your mental health.

Even if all of these things are established there are still rules that the pet owner must follow. Proper disposal of animal waste, maintaining control of the animal at all time. You cannot interfer with the health, safety, or tranquility of the other residents. For example if your neighbor is allergic to cats and moved into a pet free building in an effort of keeping her contact with the animals at a minimum, you can't bring the cat to common areas putting her at risk for an allergy attack.

The landord still has rights, they may charge a pet deposit and montly maintance fee to keep the pet. Studies (and this surprised me) have shown that cats are more destructive to the dwelling than dogs. You may get a break if you have the animal declawed, they may require that the animal be fixed or be of a certain age (although certification is no longer necessary for all therapy pets.)

Contacting the local housing administration to ask about these things is a good idea.

We went through this when we got Tara, your going to need a letter from your pdoc, Landlord can not refuse
best of luck
Angie

I know that I found an article concerning the fair housing act that a landlord with 4 or less apartments and does not live in one of those apartments falls under the act. so the section of allowing emotional support animals in a "no pets" policy apartment would apply and I should be able to approach the landlord with a letter from my psychiatrist and maybe even an attorney to spell out the legal reasoning.

I tried tonight to find where i read about it and couldn't find it but i'm going to keep on trying to get an animal because living alone with mental illness is not something i can do alone.

what kind of animal should i get? a guinea pig, a cat, (i can't do dog because caring for it would be too much to handle ),. . . any suggestions?????

You should be able to get information from your local housing office. When I worked for them, it was the same office that handles low income housing. Like I said, depending on the state, there are many different things that can effect this; as you mentioned size of apartment building, whether or not the landlord has received grants etc.

There are also legal advocates that will help you in your state. Google emotional support animals, check out your state or county.