Emotional Support Animals: Sample Letter From Doctor
DONE
The following sample letter from a doctor was prepared by the Judge David L. Bazelon Center For Mental Health. It was written to help someone have a pet in a "no pets" apartment. Your doctor should modify it for your situation.
If the doctor wants to see citations for the medical literature mentioned in the letter, point him or her to: www.bazelon.org/issues/housing/infosheets/fhinfosheet6.html.
To Be Written On Stationery of Professional (therapist, physician, psychiatrist, rehabilitation counselor)
[date] Dear [Housing Authority/Landlord]: [Full Name of Tenant] is my patient, and has been under my care since [date]. I am intimately familiar with his/her history and with the functional limitations imposed by his/her disability. He/She meets the definition of disability under the Americans With Disabilities Act, the Fair Housing Act, and the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. Due to [an] illness, [first name] has certain limitations regarding [social interaction/coping with stress/anxiety, etc.] In order to help alleviate these difficulties, and to enhance his/her ability to live independently and to fully use and enjoy the dwelling unit you own and/or administer, I am prescribing an emotional support animal that will assist [first name] in coping with his/her disability. I am familiar with the voluminous professional literature concerning the therapeutic benefits of assistance animals for people with disabilities such as that experienced by [first name]. Upon request, I will share citations to relevant studies, and would be happy to answer other questions you may have concerning my recommendation that [Full Name of Tenant] have an emotional support animal. Should you have additional questions, please do not hesitate to contact me. Sincerely, Name of Professional |