Emotional support pets

tiddles85

My 5 year old daughter has emotional delay, learning difficulties & potential adhd. We have pet rats at the moment and they are absolutely amazing for her. They help her stay calm and also help her when she's getting mad to the point of meltdown. Could I register them as emotional support pets?

Sam_Alumni

Hi @tiddles85 welcome to the community! 

@joannarashelle do you know much about emotional support pets? 

I had a search and found this page with member organisation links who are accredited members of Assistance Dogs International (ADI) or the International Guide Dog Federation (IGDF).

@motherscuffer am I right in thinking that you have an emotional support dog? What is your experience of this?

tiddles85

Unfortunately we are allergic to dogs & other animals. We got recommended rats as a substitute for these animals. 

tiddles85

We have no idea about emotional or therapy pets. 

joannarashelle

Hi @tiddles85 I was thrilled to read about your daughters rats and how they help her, animals have always calmed me I've relied on them to carry me through trauma and environments that freak me out, animals know when someone is in emotional pain or angst they sense it through energy they feel, and people call rats vermin eh? 

How wonderful to hear how they help your girl. 

I'm a Dog Psychologist helping troubled dogs be more calm and fulfilled, like they have helped me all my life. 

I hope the link that that was posted for you helps you 


Best wishes to you and your daughter and of course your daughters helpers..

the wondrous rats 

Joanna x 

Sam_Alumni

I am struggling to find much information on whether you can register rats as an emotional support animal.

What would the benefits of them being registered? Do you want to take them out and about with you? 

tiddles85

We are living in a rental property. We have just been rejected a new home because we have them even though we explained the situation and said that we have them for a viable reason. They said to get the property we had to rehome them even though they said pets allowed. I wondered if registering them as emotional support pets they wouldn't cause an issue and my daughter would still have her mental & psychological support. 

tiddles85

My daughters major issues occur within the home so taking them out isn't really necessary. I'm not going to try & registere them just to get a home. 

Alex

Hi @tiddles85

How are you? Were you able to register the rats as emotional support pets?