Who Certifies Emotional Support Animals?

Oliver Knesl, BSc, BSc (Hons), MSc, BVSc, MRCVS, director of major accounts for veterinary professional services in the US Companion Animal Division for Zoetis, explains who certifies emotional support animals.

Veterinarians can't certify animals as emotional support animals — the letter of prescription needs to be written by a licensed mental health professional. The principal role of veterinarians when it comes to emotional support animals would be to work with the mental health professional when determining whether the animal has the right temperment and is healthy enough to be this type of assistance animal.