Getting A Ball Python

[vrp98]

On top of what everyone else has said so far, I'd like to comment on the Emotional Support Animal aspect. Unless you're living somewhere where pets are not allowed, registering your animal as an ESA is not necessary. In fact, there's not really a good registry system for ESAs, since they don't really need to be registered at all, so the whole thing ends up being a giant process where you throw away a lot of money. The main bulk of the process is going through a doctor to be essentially prescribed a pet. I've gone through this process before, and it is costly and not entirely worth it, IMHO.

If you think a pet will help your anxiety and depression, then just get a pet; don't worry about having an ESA. In fact, you'll get a lot more grief than you bargain for if your ESA is anything other than a cat or a dog, even though ESAs can be other kinds of animals, though it is more tricky to get a recommendation for a reptile ESA. If you're living somewhere where pets in general are not allowed, forcing their hand with an official ESA recommendation for a reptile is tricky business. Anywhere that allows pets will generally also allow reptiles that are secured in tanks.

I don't mean to step on any toes here, but in general, I think an animal doesn't really need to be an official working animal unless it is a service animal that will be required to be with you at all times. Otherwise, it's just a pet, doing what pets do, which certainly includes helping with mental disorders! I also have anxiety and depression, and have a lot of pets. They all help, but none of them are ESAs because they just don't need to be.

Animals at my dorms aren't allowed unless they are a service animal or esa! I should have put that, my bad! I have already talked to housing about it and they just told me to get approval from my therapist and of course approval from my roommate (already granted). There is a fumigation fee at the end of the semester ($100 I believe), not sure if it applies to a caged animal or not.