Benefits of emotional support animals
Qualifying students may be granted permission to have an emotional support accompany them on campus.
“A student would have to provide proper documentation to the Office of Disability Services which is typically some form of a doctor’s note, vet records, etc,” Karen Sommers, assistant director of Residence Life, said.
The Fair Housing act ensures that students who are approved for emotional support animals can have their animal live with them on campus.
Julian Dial, coordinator of Disability Services, said there are many benefits emotional support animals provide students.
“They help with calming and relaxing a student especially when they have a hard day,” Dial said. “They alleviate loneliness especially for incoming freshmen.”
Dial said other benefits include helping students engage socially as well as normalizing heart rates and blood pressure.
“They can’t take the animal with them to their classes, but they can be out in the open with them,” Dial said.
Dogs and cats are the most common animals helping students on campus, but any animal can qualify to provide emotional support.
For more information about the Office of Disability Services, call 304-696-2467 or visit Prichard Hall.
Jonathan Still can be contacted at [email protected].
Isabella Robinson can be contacted at [email protected].
Your donation will help continue the work of independent student journalism at Marshall University. If you benefit from The Parthenon's free content, please consider making a donation.
Gary Henry • Nov 5, 2020 at 12:13 am
There are lots of benefits of having an Emotional Support Animal, specially for those who are suffering from mental depression, anxiety and stress. An ESA helps to overcome depression. I was also suffering from depression and then I got a dog who was helping me to get rid from mental problem. As I was living on rent, my landlord asks for extra rent for my dog, then i get to know about ESA letter, and I certify my pet as an ESA from FastESAletter in just 24 hours and now I can travel via air with my pet in same cabin and there is no need to pay any extra charges to landlord.