An ESA registration is more than just an ESA “letter”. It’s an assurance that you will be able to have your Emotional Support Animal with you when you need them. It represents security, companionship and support.
My ESA MD has helped many individuals keep their Emotional Support Animals by providing them with a letter from one of our professionals. Several have contacted us to tell us what a difference their animal has made in their lives.
We interviewed one of our more enthusiastic ESA owners, who happens to be one of the cofounders of My ESA MD. Here is what she had to say:
How did you become involved in Emotional Support Animals?
I needed a letter to go on a trip with my family in 2020 to stay in a hotel with my ESA dog. I used the first reputable looking ESA company that came up in my Google search. I had to finish a long questionnaire online. I never spoke to a professional counselor or doctor. I didn’t feel good about it and felt in the back of my mind that I could do better.
Because my animal was so important to me during Covid, I decided i wanted to help others with their ESAs. I knew that my uncle was working for an ESA company and I asked him how I could help him.
My uncle suggested that we should open our own ESA company and I jumped at the opportunity. I knew how important my animal was to me and I knew others felt the same way.
How is your ESA company different?
The process I went through to get a letter was stressful and I didn’t want others to go through that. Because I wasn’t in contact with a real person, I didn’t even know if I was going to get a letter. I knew we could create a company that could do better, because we care about our patients and their animals. It’s valuable to be able to speak to a real person who understands the need for an ESA and answer any questions a patient might have. I have spoken to many patients who were relieved to speak to a live person after working with other companies that just had them fill out forms.
How has your ESA dog helped you personally?
During Covid my anxiety was through the roof. I was still recovering after leaving an emotionally abusive relationship and the Covid situation was making it so much worse. Like most people, I didn’t know what was going on in the world and the social distancing and isolation caused from staying at home was creating a huge amount of stress.
The only time I felt safe and secure was when I was with my dog. If she was with me, I was able to sleep. She was always there for me, even when the rest of the world was going crazy. She didn’t know a pandemic was going on – she just knew mommy needed to snuggle a lot; she has such a calm demeanor and thankfully it’s contagious.
She helped me so much that I wanted to help others learn how an ESA could help them. And I wanted to actually speak to the people who were having a hard time so I could answer their questions. I also wanted them to be able to talk personally to and get real help from our doctor, instead of just filling out some long questionnaire online.
So, we built a website, got a toll free phone number and shortly after, we got our first client.
How have your clients been helped?
They have such relief and gratitude when they know they are getting a letter that ensures them the right to be able to live with their ESA. One lady was getting out of a dangerous abusive relationship where she was in physical danger. She had to move for safety reasons but she refused to do so until she knew she could bring her ESA. Knowing that our policy of talking to all of our patients directly made it so we knew her exact needs and were able to get her letter to her within minutes after she was approved by the doctor and knowing we potentially helped this woman save her life makes me happy.
Our patients are very grateful for our services and always tell me how important their animals are for their quality of life.
What would you tell someone who is thinking about getting an ESA?
Give me a call and I will be happy to walk you through it!
