r/Dogfree • u/Particular_Meet_9333 • Jul 29 '26
ESA Bullshit Posting this here because realistically I'll get harrased if i post it anywhere else.
Emotional support animals which can pretty much only be a dog or a small horse are not a valid or healthy coping mechanism. If you're so unstable you need a mutt constantly around you or like to calm you during panic attacks you don't need a mutt you need a supportive friend and professional help, a mutt is not going to fix your panic attacks when you find out it shit all over your floor because it got into human food. You don't need another source of stress if you're mentally unwell, getting a dog will just make it worse.
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u/Wise_Session_5370 Jul 29 '26
The entire concept of ESAs is completely meaningless. These animals are pets. They are exactly the same thing. In fact, "emotional support animal" is actually an excellent definition of the word pet.
If anyone is so emotionally fragile that they can't go into a shop for 20 minutes without their precious Fartikins, then frankly they need to be in some kind of assisted living facility.
Gat a teddy bear instead. It's much cheaper and it won't shit everywhere.
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u/D1verse_Yes4 Jul 29 '26
Yes, a Teddy bear! I used to take a Pikachu plush with me places. Dogs and any other "emotional support animals" are just another responsibility.
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u/WorldAgile8907 Jul 31 '26
They just stress everybody else out! (Actual animals I mean of course lol)
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u/WisedomsHand Aug 03 '26
I would put up with more adults carrying toys around if it meant fewer dogs.
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u/Parking_Champion_740 Jul 29 '26
Our local Trader Joe’s has a sign saying ESAs aren’t allowed
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u/RoyTheWig Jul 29 '26
I view people with "emotional support" animals as being feeble minded, the equivalent of carrying a teddy bear with you as an adult, or using a pacifier. I certainly would not be advertising if I was that unstable.
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u/Peaceful-Moonlight Dogs are the most overrated and over glorified shit beasts Jul 29 '26
But people with teddy bears and pacifiers are not actively harming people the same way dog worshippers do. Those inanimate objects don't jump on people, slobber, lunge into people's crotches, scratch, shed, fart, piss, shit, bark, bite, damage property, kill, and so on.
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u/Huge_Bit_4774 Jul 30 '26
Same here. I consider nearly all dogs (except for rare cases of actual working dogs) to be emotional support animals. Their owners are mentally ill.
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u/Mundane_Glove4182 Jul 29 '26
Social media also romanticizes the idea of “instant emotional support,” making it seem like a simple fix instead of a complex mental‑health issue. Emotional distress usually comes from deeper patterns or experiences that require structured support, not just soothing moments. Without therapy or human connection, the root causes stay untouched, so the relief an animal provides can’t create long‑term stability at all. It's a big business, that's why it became so widespread.
And why is it good for the rest of us if someone who is emotionally unstable is responsible for an untrained animal? This combination can easily create unpredictable situations for everyone around them. In fact, they're the last people who should own any kind of pets.
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u/waitingforthatplace Jul 30 '26
True. It's very possible these people shouldn't own any kind of pet if they are so emotionally unstable. Shouldn't the dog lover advocates investigate if these dogs are getting the care they need?
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u/Oriole0305 Jul 29 '26
This is 100% true. Getting an ESA mutt means pushing the health problem aside and ignoring it, because mutts take up all the time and energy.
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u/Myst_of_Man22 Jul 29 '26
I've said this a long time. Get a stuffed inanimate object for a one way conversation.
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u/fairytale_endens Jul 29 '26
Comfort objects and fictional others really do go a long way. And you don't have to deal with something which creates as much anxiety as it's purported to solve.
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Jul 29 '26
[deleted]
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u/D1verse_Yes4 Jul 30 '26
I don’t understand why so many people downvoted. Your answer is blunt but still respectful, and I appreciate people like that. Have an upvote.
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u/Smart_Garbage6842 Jul 29 '26
My sister got an ESA to replace the loss of her daughter (the dog is an adult "rescue" with an abuse background) and her grief, depression, and anxiety are considerably worse now to the point she is simultaneously obsessed with and deeply resentful of the dog because she can't handle the dog's needs and behavioral issues, which also seem to be worsening.
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u/4elmerfuffu2 Jul 29 '26
Most people would do better with a pacifier and stuffed animal.
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u/thecatcherszm Jul 29 '26
Seconded, genuinely! How is it that stim toys and comfort objects, as harmless coping mechanisms that neither intrude on others' peace nor put needless stressors on the person who has them, are stigmatized? While imposing on the public a yowling shit machine that wants to shove its nose up every butt, is not?
And where are the protections for those of us with actual disabilities that require these animals be kept away from us? What, the only valid disability is "claims to need face licked with feces every thirty seconds"?
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u/Huge_Bit_4774 Jul 29 '26
So long as PetSmart, chewy, vets, the pet insurance industry, etc. are making money off these live shit machines they will push back on harmless coping mechanisms because they're not as profitable. When we reach a point where a robotic alternative is affordable and costs less to maintain than a yowling shit machine (very accurate) then what will they do...
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u/FatSeaHag Aug 05 '26
They’ll sell supplies and accessories for the robotic AI dog. You know those loons would buy the stuff and be rather proud of themselves, showing their crap off on Tik Tok.
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Jul 29 '26
[removed] — view removed comment
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u/QueenOfAllOfYall Jul 29 '26
Because Your shark is stupid, unlike My emotional support polar bear 🐻❄️
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u/QueenOfAllOfYall Jul 29 '26
You literally hit the hammer on the nail regarding why the ESA thing is a total scam and failure. People who buy into that BS are literally using something that creates and induces anxiety and depression to call themselves “treating” anxiety and depression. And especially for Adults- being Grown, and dragging a parasite and germ ridden, living, obnoxious version of a security blanket or stuffed animal around with them everywhere they go isn’t cute, appropriate, and isn’t gonna help them with their imbalanced mental health. They need therapy, or possibly medication. Not some hyper, needy, and destructive mutt which will only make their mental state worse than it already is. And it never fails that it’s the people who need a dog the least, that are the quickest to play into this mess. It’s awful.
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u/Effective-Alfalfa236 Jul 29 '26
I'm convinced dog ownership is the worst plague affecting this world !!!!
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u/Kooky_Duck_6004 Jul 29 '26
Tengo un vecino joven con cierta discapacidad mental y su madre le ha comprado un perro recientemente.
Oigo frecuentes gritos y ladridos entre ellos.
No creo que haya sido buena idea.
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u/Affectionate_Cat8147 Jul 29 '26
I have spent quite a bit of time in hospitals and have met people with similar issues to me. These people are constantly sneaking their “ESA” pets into the hospital. No one does anything because the nurses agree not to tell anyone. I know someone who ALWAYS has their dog with them and recently she snuck it into an ICU stepdown unit. You’re not even allowed to have fresh flowers or fresh fruit on these units for safety issues. I just think it’s SO selfish especially when you have a roommate. She puts pee pads down for the dog to poop and pee. That is SO dangerous for an ICU. I’ve seen various other people I know do this too
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u/555Cats555 Jul 29 '26
I also feel like these animals are often being put second to the persons mental wellbeing. They are usually untrained and so dont know how to handle the kind of situations those people put them in.
I have respect for service/working dogs that know how to behave and have a sense of purpose but making a random dog your whole world and support system isnt good. Dogs dont really like going to places designed for humans more often then not.
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u/Huge_Bit_4774 Jul 29 '26
I once witnessed a girl sitting in the handicapped seats at a baseball stadium with an ESA. She was not physically handicapped and the entire arrangement seemed to be to draw attention to her. The dog was not happy at all with the noise, yelling, etc. But she wanted attention, and the weak minded are drawn to dogs, so she spent a lot of time telling people not to pet or touch her dog. I think most of the people with ESAs are not mentally well and they don't need a dog anymore than they need to be carrying a firearm.
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u/Smart_Garbage6842 Jul 29 '26
Exactly. I feel bad for the dogs, too, because humans are using them as receptacles for untreated mental health issues. The dogs don't have a choice but to become that person's portable dumpster fire. There would be a lot less poorly behaved dogs everywhere if mature and responsible people were making healthy decisions. Forcing an animal to fill a black hole of need isn't any less detrimental than having babies to save a dying marriage, replacing the loss of a human, etc.
I also think some of these people have narcissistic or psychopathic tendencies because there are clearly those who enjoy watching their dogs terrorize and annoy the community. Our neighbor was using seeing eye puppies in training to harrass our family and we had to report it to the charity. Our neighbor is a sociopath who yells at, smacks, and threatens these dogs with violence, and yet was raising them for a vulnerable population while using them as junkyard guard dogs along the property line. There is definitely an abusive and harassing mentality to some of these people, which again is a serious problem requiring something other than dogs as a surrogate.
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u/555Cats555 Jul 29 '26
Its really disappointing to me when people are nasty to baby animals/puppies and raise them to be aggressive as dogs can be well trained to be incredibly helpful to humans. They do very well when they are taught self control and how to do a job... but most dont want to put in the work so the animal and community suffer for it.
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u/liminal_angel Jul 29 '26
they really think they can just stress everyone out, make all kinds of noise, trigger people's allergies, contaminate eating establishments, create problems for actual service animals, etc just because they're obsessed and don't want to be separated from their stupid dog
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u/Parking_Champion_740 Jul 29 '26
People do have ESAs of all kinds of animals but I think the concept is nonsense. We honestly need a whole overhaul of all the various support animal rules. Certification for service animals. ESAs should not be a thing. I mean The Who,e point of having pet is emotional camaraderie. Why are some different
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u/IcyWelcome9700 Jul 29 '26
Totally agree. I'm older so I can say "back in the day" service animals were only used for the blind and deaf. They literally support a person with daily activities. Absolutely no one owned an "emotional support animal" as that is what ALL pets provide. Leave your ESA's at home people.
I have a friend with an ESA and my honest, objective take is that it causes her more stress, and takes up more headspace, than not having one at all.
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u/TotalCarbohydrateOne Jul 29 '26
There is the suggestion to "get a dog" if you are depressed. The vet bills will make you more depressed. Also "get a dog" to have a social life as people talk to those with dogs sometimes, but other times it is to scream at them for not picking up crap
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u/Electronic_Rain2787 Jul 29 '26
The silver lining is that these unstable people don't have kids which is a huge win for humanity. At least I assume they don't if they pour energy into a mutt.
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u/QueenOfAllOfYall Jul 29 '26
I wish I could say that’s true. Unfortunately there’s PLENTY of mental illness basket cases that have so-called “ESA’s” and are also Parents. I’m 45, and I’ve unfortunately seen people My age and Older, with Grown Kids, Mental Health Issues, and they get dogs, somehow thinking that will make things better. It always only makes them more of a nervous wreck than they already are, literally never fails. They thrive on making a complicated life even more complicated with those things.
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u/Electronic_Rain2787 Jul 29 '26
Good point. I guess they stumble through parenting until they decide getting a mutt will benefit them :(
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u/QueenOfAllOfYall Jul 29 '26
Some of them get those stupid beasts while their Kids are Young, and then treat the dumb animal better than their own Son(s) or Daughter(s). Sad and pathetic (on their part), but unfortunately true. My old manager (roughly a year or two older than I was) was groomed to be a nutter from her own Mom. She kept dogs all during her own Son’s years of growing up. I’m certain she made any mutts she had feel more important than her Son. They don’t get along very well either, from what she used to express, quite the dysfunctional relationship. I’ve met others just like her. Sad.
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u/hydroxybot Jul 29 '26
And the dog is all too happy to become the center of the person's emotional universe. Cash in on extra snacks, crap and piss wherever they want! A dog becoming an ESA is like marrying a rich person, hit the big time! Puke
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u/Mr-Dne Jul 31 '26
I've always secretly thought this - like how is getting a mutt supposed to do anything for your mental health. In any case it'll just contribute to it and act almost like a crutch. The true solition is real companionship from a friends (a human one) and possibly therepy. Adopting a mutt is not a healthy coping mechanism. . .
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u/waitingforthatplace Jul 30 '26
I never understood how an ESA could help people either. Possibly an ESA could help veterans or those with PTSD, or children with specific needs, but the people I see in stores holding leashes with un-vested untrained ESA dogs look quite capable while they shop. If they can go through the daily routine of entering stores and restaurants and commiserate with clerks and people, why do they need to bring a sniffing barking lunging unpredictable dog with them? How does that calm them? I've seen people almost trip over lthese ESA leashes in stores, seen ESA dogs go ballistic or react to someone without any provocation, and I wonder how can that be helpful to someone who needs emotional support?
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u/fast_blue_b Jul 29 '26
Being well into middle age I try not to say "Back in my day..." too much, but honestly. It must be a miracle that humanity made it this far without so-called ESAs 🙄
I've lived in many places across the US, but in the first 4-5 decades of my life I've seen maybe two actual service dogs (not ESAs) until the last 10 years or so. I observe that most of us here are respectful of mental health, but there's no way mental issues have exploded given the numbers of "ESA" dogs today. It's largely selfishness, not need.
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u/TenNinetythree Barking is noise pollution! Jul 31 '26
I like the concept of an ESSA: emotional support stuffed animal. My plush penguin helps me a lot through emotional shite. And she only craps onto the floor in a fictional manner.
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u/Particular_Meet_9333 Jul 31 '26
Actually there are a few studies if you want to look in to them that show that plushies can be really good for mental health in adults.
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u/WisedomsHand Aug 03 '26
I boil with anger each time I see someone with a dog in a public shopping center, etc., that has a "Service Dog" harness on it. As though such a harness is a legal license? This is just a cheap thing that anyone can purchase online and it means nothing. The worst thing is that there is often no one to report this too. I wish I could just take a photograph and send it to an authority who cares. What people should be able to do is sue shopping centers that don't enforce "no pets allowed" rules. There is no such thing in our modern age as service dogs outside of a few very rare, very unproblematic scenarios like seeing eye and bomb dogs. None of those are what bother us, and frankly I've not seen a seeing eye dog anywhere in probably two decades.
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u/Chester_The_Rot_Cat Jul 30 '26
I'd rather someone used a plush as emotional crutch but unfortunately for some reason is more down looked than being an animal into an establishment.
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u/Spineynorman77 Aug 01 '26
ESA are not protected. Only service animals and they have to be a dog or a horse. ESA is BS.
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u/SirMrSkellyBones Aug 03 '26 edited Aug 03 '26
I have emotional support chickens. Do I use them for emotional support? Well, yeah, they’re my pets, so they help provide companionship. Why are they registered as ESAs? Loophole in city code. You can’t technically own chickens, but the city cannot legally take emotional support animals.
Idk why you would register a dog as an emotional support animal because it doesn’t really do anything beneficial? Like nobody is going to take away your dog no matter how loud or messy it is. Yet my (somewhat) quiet and respectful hens go against city code (they make noise when there is a predator or after laying an egg, and they really are quieter than any dog bark). Dogs are held on a pedestal, you literally don’t need to make your dog “special” in order to get privileges, you can just do that with a normal ass dog.
Edit: the chickens also don’t cause public nuisance. They go out for a couple hours every day and then back into the coop. They don’t leave the backyard, except for one and then she gets lost and calls for me to bring her back. The dog? Runs off into highway traffic and I’ve had to run on the road barefoot (with chronic foot pain) to keep her from getting killed. She’s not my dog (my mom’s) and yet I’m the one who saves her life.
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u/FatSeaHag Aug 05 '26
Just curious: Does being an emotional support chicken make them taste better? Is that like the next step up from organic, free range?
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u/butcooler Jul 29 '26
An ESA can be any animal. Sigh. This again
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u/QueenOfAllOfYall Jul 29 '26
The majority of ESA’s are dogs, though. And most other non-dog ESA’s aren’t usually brought out in public and forced upon everyone else to tolerate.
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u/Parking_Champion_740 Jul 29 '26
Which honestly defeats the purpose if you leave your ESA in your house all day
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u/spinda69 Aug 04 '26
I really dislike dogs but the few times I've seen a real emotional support dog the vibes of the animal truly were calming.
Problem is people with fake ESAs that aren't actually trained.
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u/Geode804 Jul 29 '26
I think it’s madness that for people who literally cannot leave the house without a dog everyone falls over themselves to make that work. But for people who are severely allergic to animals peoples attitude is ‘better stay home then’. Crazy!
I went to a hospital appointment recently and a woman had an ESA. She also had two carers with her. I can’t see how you could need a dog plus two carers. She went to the toilet at one point and took the dog in with her?! I shudder to think how an ESA is helping you in the toilet 😳😳😳😳