In the past few years, many individuals going through anxiety and depression have turned to animals for emotional support. Pets have always been a unique source of comfort through companionship and helping people cope with stress. When you feel overwhelmed, they can act as a familiar friend that provides a sense of calmness and reassurance.  

Although cats and dogs are the most common choice, emotional support animals (ESA) can come in all shapes, sizes, and species. It may surprise you, but even the most unusual animals can be excellent ESAs. Recently, reptiles have become a popular choice for therapy animals, especially bearded dragons. 

Are Bearded Dragons Eligible to be Emotional Support Animals?

Yes, they are! In fact, any domestic animal can be eligible for ESA, as long as they don’t cause problems for other people or animals when out in public. What makes bearded dragons great ESA is that they’re easy to carry around and don’t interact much with other animals. They’re also harmless, don’t need as much attention as dogs, and can easily accompany you wherever you go. 

How Can They Help You Emotionally?

Like any other animal, bearded dragons are sentient beings capable of feeling pleasure, suffering, and emotional pain. Moreover, they have compassion, can respond to negative or positive happenings, and can bond with their human companions. These traits can be beneficial for people with anxiety and depression. A bearded dragon’s presence can help provide comfort, alleviate loneliness, and reduce stress, especially during challenging situations. 

Owning a bearded dragon requires responsibility, and caring for them can give you feelings of satisfaction and pride. It gives you a sense of purpose. And when you see your pet thriving, it can also make you feel good about yourself and boost your confidence.

Another benefit of bearded dragons is that they’re excellent conversation starters, making social interactions much more comfortable for their owners. The best part is, when you’re in a social gathering, you don’t have to find the right thing to say to someone. People may simply start talking to you and may ask questions about your reptile friend.   

Care Tips for Bearded Dragons

While reptiles are not as demanding as mammals, they still need some tender loving care. Bearded dragons need live food and a particular habitat to survive. That said, here are some tips on how to care for your bearded dragons.

• Provide the proper vivarium. For one adult bearded dragon, you’ll need at least a 120cm long x 60cm high x 60 cm wide vivarium. Make sure it’s secure, well-ventilated, spacious, and easy to clean. This will keep your bearded dragon safe, especially when you’re not around. 

• Set the right temperature and lighting. Since reptiles are cold-blooded, their vivarium must maintain a temperature that ranges from a hotter (38 to 42 degrees Celsius) bright end to a cooler (22 to 26 degrees Celcius) shaded end. You can use a hygrometer to measure the humidity and keep it low.

• Feed them the proper diet. Feed your bearded dragon with live insects and vegetables. Examples of live foods include crickets, mealworms, and king worms. For vegetables, sweet potato, pepper, kale, and parsley are great options. 

Conclusion

A bearded dragon may not be your first choice, but it can be an excellent emotional support animal. Their small size makes it easier to carry them and accompany you while traveling. They can be adorable creatures, especially if you’re into reptiles. Plus, caring for them is not as demanding as cats and dogs. If bearded dragons can help dissolve some of the loneliness that accompanies your anxiety and depression, then they’re perfect for you. In the end, it doesn’t matter what pet you choose, as long as they can provide you with comfort, love, and companionship.

Do you own an assistance animal? Register your pet today.

The Service Animal Registry of California invites you to have your assistance animal registered in order to designate its status. We also encourage you to take our online classes so you can be fully aware of your rights and gain more knowledge about your support animal.

Finally, we present to you our book entitled, “ASSISTANCE ANIMAL LAWS: LEARN YOUR RIGHTS REGARDING SERVICE ANIMALS, EMOTIONAL SUPPORT ANIMALS, THERAPY PETS, AND OTHER DOGS, CATS, AND ASSISTANCE ANIMALS” to provide you with a complete education on assistance animals.

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