Individuals eligible for an assistance animal are those with a disability that substantially limits one or more major life activities. Here are the key criteria:
- Disability: The individual must have a physical or mental impairment. This includes but is not limited to visual or hearing impairments, mobility limitations, intellectual disabilities, neurological impairments, and mental health conditions.
- Disability-Related Need: The assistance animal must provide necessary support related to the individual's disability. This support can include performing tasks, providing assistance, or offering therapeutic emotional support to alleviate a symptom or effect of the disability.
While your pet may offer companionship and joy, it is important to remember that the purpose of a reasonable accommodation for an assistance animal is to ensure fair housing for individuals with disabilities. These individuals require their assistance animals to have an equal opportunity to use and enjoy their dwellings.
Eligibility for an assistance animal is determined through documentation from a licensed health professional who has personal and professional knowledge of the individual’s condition and can attest to the need for the animal.
For more information around HUD’s criteria for assistance animal documentation, head here. For any further questions or assistance, please contact our support team at support@ourpetpolicy.com.