For a lot of students, college can be a very stressful time in life. The idea of having a support animal can be appealing especially to those who suffer from anxiety or depression. Several studies have demonstrated the capacity of support animals to balance a person’s emotions.
But before you rush into getting yourself one, you need to know that owning a support animal is a lot of responsibility. Audra Peterson, an education major at USAO and owner of a support animal, says, “You have to be ready to take care of it. She needs a lot of attention and has to go outside often, even if it is raining or cold.” Peterson also adds that noise can also be a major concern.
The presence of support animals can be good news for other students in campus who happen to be animal lovers. But what about those students who fear dogs and are allergic to cats? Catelyn Perry, director of counseling, disability & career services at USAO, says that service animals should strictly follow guidelines provided by the ADA and that the animal should be prescribed by a physician or mental health professional.
If you think you need a support animal, you have to do your own research. Look for a breed that can live in your apartment or college dormitory. Ask your roommates if they are okay with a support animal around. Most of all, make sure that you are capable of meeting all your animal’s needs and that includes time and attention.
Article source: Trend.usao.edu
Are you an owner of an assistance animal?
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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