Emotional Support Snake?

Hello! I was reading an article someone posted on this forum about a student flushing her ESA hamster (which is horrible :(), and it made me realize that ESA's don't need to be dogs/cats. I have horrible anxiety, and some other stuff I won't really get into, and I've been very stressed out for these last couple years. I feel the most comfortable in my room with my animals. There's something about them that just calms me down 100%. So, I was looking into getting an ESA. I read the website's article about snakes, and I thought about my Geno. I love him more than anything :love: I am thinking about registering him as my Emotional Support Animal. I know I can't bring him into public places such as restaurants/school/stores etc. that's not what I'm getting at. I wouldn't want to anyway. And I don't mean this to draw attention to Geno or myself in any way, shape, or form. Do you think it's okay to do? I don't even know if I'd qualify, but I'd really like to. Geno is a 2-year-old male pastel ball python. He's very very tame and has never had any behavior issues. Thank you!

https://www.emotionalsupportanimalco...support-snake/

(Feel free to move this if it's in the wrong place)

So if you aren't planning to bring him around with you, how would he be any different than a pet? What exactly are you trying to do with him?

The ESA letter approving your pet will allow us to get through "No pets allowed" in houses/dorms, allows him to travel free on planes, and some other things. Basically making it to where you and them will never be seperated :)
(At least thats how I understood it)

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hi GpBp,

from what i understand, u are young and a minor still. u should check in w/ your parents before registering any of your animals as an ESA esp. a snake.

we have several threads on the forum discussing ESA's in different settings; give them a read:
home - https://ball-pythons.net/forums/show...rrel-and-Condo
workplace - https://ball-pythons.net/forums/show...support-animal
airplanes - https://ball-pythons.net/forums/show...nd-her-Peacock

it is easy to register your animal as an ESA but still very difficult to deal with in real life. is it worth it to u or your animal? as an owner of many snakes, many BP's i know they do not do well away from their heat source and hides. they are stressed. do u wanna do that to your snake? it doesn't seem like a very nice thing to do to put your pet in that situation.

Be aware that the only way to get an animal registered as an ESA is to go to a doctor or therapist. There are lots of scam websites where you pay them to send you a certificate but those are not legit. Your letter needs to come directly from a professional that is seeing you.

Please tell me you're not serious about wanting to have Geno travel with you on a plane. Unless you are moving to a new permanent place to live (and even then I hope you're not imagining him curled up on your lap on the plane) I can't see any reason to justify bringing a snake on a who-knows-how-long flight and stressing him out with potential frequent travelling.

It's a nice idea to have Geno be an ESA but you need to think about what's best for Geno and not what you want him to do for you. Honestly everyone else already brought up some fine points and the sites/articles you've read are for sure not legit. Anything that claims you can register an ESA pet is a scam and won't hold up to anything.

As Kira pointed out you need an ESA note from a therapist that has had multiple sessions with you so they can evaluate and be familiar with your issues to see if an ESA is necessary. It's definitely not something you can drop in going "hi can I have an ESA letter for my snake? Thank you and bye!"

I think this idea is more selfish than it is practical and better not pursued. Just food for thought

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Ax01

hi GpBp,

from what i understand, u are young and a minor still. u should check in w/ your parents before registering any of your animals as an ESA esp. a snake.

we have several threads on the forum discussing ESA's in different settings; give them a read:
home - https://ball-pythons.net/forums/show...rrel-and-Condo
workplace - https://ball-pythons.net/forums/show...support-animal
airplanes - https://ball-pythons.net/forums/show...nd-her-Peacock

it is easy to register your animal as an ESA but still very difficult to deal with in real life. is it worth it to u or your animal? as an owner of many snakes, many BP's i know they do not do well away from their heat source and hides. they are stressed. do u wanna do that to your snake? it doesn't seem like a very nice thing to do to put your pet in that situation.

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Thank you. Yes, I am young. I've got my parent's permission, and my mom thinks it would potentially help me (I wasn't about to take an application and "register" him without her saying yes)

Those links are very helpful, I've read them. I guess I didn't really state this but I think the main reason I want to do this is so I'm able to keep Geno with me. I know (hope) this guy will be around by the time I'm in college, I don't think I could live w/o him! I'm not wanting to take him with me everywhere (as in inside/in public places etc.) I go, just something that says we should be together. So, he'd be in his tank with his heat and hides every day.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Kira

Be aware that the only way to get an animal registered as an ESA is to go to a doctor or therapist. There are lots of scam websites where you pay them to send you a certificate but those are not legit. Your letter needs to come directly from a professional that is seeing you.

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Thank you for mentioning! I thought I could just follow the process on Emotional Support Animal Co's website (https://www.emotionalsupportanimalco.com/) but is it not safe? Their process is:

1. Fill out our questionnaire
2. Select your service "We offer different therapy services to you whether you need one for travel or housing situations."
3. Connect with a licensed therapist "A Licensed Therapist will speak with you about your options of owning a therapy pet."
4. Recieve your confirmation

They also say "Here at EmotionalSupportAnimalCo.com, if you do not meet the need for an ESA after therapist review, you will receive a full refund."

Quote:

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Originally Posted by GpBp

I think the main reason I want to do this is so I'm able to keep Geno with me. I know (hope) this guy will be around by the time I'm in college, I don't think I could live w/o him!

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I'm sorry but (IMO) that is an abuse of the ESA system (so you can 'legally' have him live with you in places that do not allow exotic pets; regardless if you have anxiety or not).
Not trying to offend you.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by GpBp

Thank you for mentioning! I thought I could just follow the process on Emotional Support Animal Co's website (https://www.emotionalsupportanimalco.com/) but is it not safe? Their process is:

1. Fill out our questionnaire
2. Select your service "We offer different therapy services to you whether you need one for travel or housing situations."
3. Connect with a licensed therapist "A Licensed Therapist will speak with you about your options of owning a therapy pet."
4. Recieve your confirmation

They also say "Here at EmotionalSupportAnimalCo.com, if you do not meet the need for an ESA after therapist review, you will receive a full refund."

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A refund for what? ESA letters do not cost anything if they are legit. That sounds really sketchy to me.