Should Colleges be Mandated to Allow Students to Have ESAs on Campus?

[6 Maci]

Changes in the Fair Housing act have made it so that landlords cannot discriminate against people who have an emotional support animal. This means that all colleges and universities are mandated to allow students to bring Emotional support animals on campus. Various other acts have been made, making it illegal to discriminate against people with mental illnesses, such as the Rehabilitation Act. The only requirement for having an emotional support animal is getting a note from a medical professional saying that you have a mental illness. The emotional support animal does not have to be a standard pet either, it can be any animal (even rats) that “help them cope with stress.” 

I think that there should be a lot more requirements for people who want to bring an emotional support animal to school. As of now, there is no required training for emotional support animals. I also think that it would be easy to get a doctors note in order to bring your pet to college with you. There are even websites that will send these letters to people.  I also don’t think that they should just let any animal be an emotional service animal. Especially animals that people are commonly afraid of or can get out easily. I also think that it might add stress to the roommate because they may have to help take care of the animal and such. 

 

Do you think that colleges should be mandated to allow emotional support animals on campus? Why?

How would you feel if your roommate had an emotional support animal?

 

https://esadoctors.com/emotional-support-animal-college-dorms/ 

https://www.certapet.com/

https://www.hud.gov/program_offices/fair_housing_equal_opp/fair_housing_rights_and_obligations#:~:text=It%20is%20illegal%20to%20discriminate,%2C%20familial%20status%2C%20and%20disability.

[7DanieI]

If land lords have to allow emotional support animals, college campuses should definitely follow suit. It all depends on which animal my roommate chooses. If they had a turtle, I'd love it. A ferret however, would make a terrible pet in a small room.

[6Paola]

No, not at all, I mean I would understand if it was a sevrice pet, but an emotional support animal just seems to have a bit of a stretch. There is no regulation on them and they are not trained. If my roommate had an emotional support animal I would probably switch. You are in this one tinny bedroom already sharing it with another person just to top it with a smelly car or dog that is not potty trained. 

[2 Anthony]

I think that collages should only allow basic pets such as dogs and cats as emotional support animals, but only after a thorough background check on the person. I personally would be fine if they had a support animal as long as it wasn't something weird and I didn't have to take care of it.

[2cade]

I think that students should definetly be able to have emotional support animals on campus I think it would help some students a lot and to be honest the animals wouldn't hurt anything. It could help with them be lonely and help them with stress and whatever they need health with.

[3Kara]

I do believe that college students should be allowed to have emotional support animals. As a college student, it is hard to leave your family and be on your own, for the most part. Emotional support animals can help with lonely students.  It also can help students with depression, which is very common in teens and young adults.

[Mr. Bruns]

Great topic and good summary even though I would like to see it a bit longer. Be sure to comment more frequently next time.

[2Caitlin]

I think that colleges should mandate allowing emotional support animals. People who need emotional support animals should be allowed to have one on campus because college can be very difficult for people and some people don't handle it as well as others. If I were to have a roommate with an emotional support dog I would not mind as long as it did not bother me I would not mind.

[3 Carson Reinig]

I personally do not think that colleges should allow emotional support animals on campus unless they are esential to help the person in everyday life like a blind persons guide dog. I think this because colleges should not have to allow emotional support animals on campus just because sombody is to stressed out or something.

[7Thomas]

I wish colleges and schools in general allowed service pets to be allowed. I think it would improve the mood  of alot of people by just being able to see a pet walking around and just relaxing with the owner as they go through their day. Although people have alot of allergies to tons of different animals so you would have issues of people complaining about allergies and you would have to make sure that the animal is able to use the restroom in a safe place and not just in the mittle of the hall way.

[4Claire]

In my opinion colleges should be mandated to allow emotional support animals on campus. Because college can be very stressful for some and having a emotional support animal could be helpful. I just think it should be limited to cats, dogs and other well trained and behaved animals. Personally if my roomate had a dog for emotional support I would not care.