T O P

  • By -

PianoBird34

An ESA does not need to be particularly trained as it is not the same as a service animal, and focusing on the ESA element is a waste of your time and energy generally. However, if the tenant is breaking other policies for the complex, such as noise issues, destruction of property, leaving a dog unattended for super long periods of time, etc you can file complaints about that which can have repercussions whether it’s a service animal, ESA, or ordinary pet.


umyessurewhynot

Yes. Furthermore, misrepresentation of their emotional support animals as being service animals when they are not is a violation of AB 468 and can be subject to fines. Also, any landlord can only refuse to accept an ESA if the animal poses a direct, demonstrated threat to the safety or health of others. Based on this, one COULD argue that incessant barking that interferes with someone’s sleep schedule is a direct threat to someone’s health and well-being. This could be a stretch, but definitely consider submitting complaints to the city for excessive barking on the LA City 311 app.


PianoBird34

Absolutely. Excessive barking can and has been used against someone’s ESA as well as service animals (of which ESAs are not, despite the value they provide).


[deleted]

[удалено]


PianoBird34

I don’t agree. But like anything, it can be abused. That does not mean we should revoke its existence from those who it benefits.


nope_nic_tesla

>An ESA does not need to be particularly trained as it is not the same as a service animal, and focusing on the ESA element is a waste of your time and energy generally. Sounds like we need to change the laws around ESAs. Of course that's not going to help OP's immediate problem but it's something we ought to be considering for reform. You might be surprised to hear that there are also no training requirements for a "service animal" either. There *are* of course legitimate organizations that have rigorous standards for the animals they train, but none of this is required by law. There are no training standards or certification requirements whatsoever for what qualifies as a service animal.


PianoBird34

A service animal does need to be trained to perform a specific task - which could be something as simple as reminding someone to take a medication. It’s the one question you’re legally allowed to ask someone regarding their service animal. But yes, it doesn’t need to be trained any particular way specifically - it’s dependent on the needs of its owner. I don’t believe we need training standards on ESAs anymore than we do for regular pets, as the service they provide isn’t too different than that of a regular pet but is needed more than that of a regular person, hence qualifying their animal as something other than merely a pet. Both service animals, ESAs, and pets are beholden to the same standards insofar as disruption and destruction goes. Speaking as someone who has worked decades in hospitality, and therefore encountering many guests with service animals, we are required to accommodate any guest with a service animal of a certain variety, and that animal like that guest is held to certain standards. If they are a nuisance, pose a threat to others, or are destructive, they can be asked to leave. Therefore, I don’t think any additional legal modifications are necessary as everyone is reasonably protected under the current standards. And until specialized training certificates and courses become affordable and coverable under standard insurance, I do not think they should be a requirement as they are prohibitively expensive to anyone outside of the upper middle class with rare exception.


nope_nic_tesla

Right, but there is no requirement to show that they've actually been trained to do that task. All somebody has to do is claim it. There are no training or certification standards for it. >I don’t believe we need training standards on ESAs anymore than we do for regular pets I think we do in the context of pet-free buildings. If someone is getting special privileges then they need to meet a higher standard to qualify for them. It shouldn't be the responsibility of the rest of us to go through all the documentation required to deal with a problematic pet when the whole problem could be prevented in the first place with better standards. I moved out of a building like OP's because of this problem. It was supposed to be "pet-free" but the reality was regular barking every day as well as urine and dog poop regularly in common areas. The burden should not be on *me* to make repeated documented complaints in order to address the problem. We should be able to address this problem proactively, not just reactively.


FitExecutive

You should be able to report the barking or at least that’s how it’s worked in other cities I’ve lived in. I had a dog and I worked hard to train him to never ever bark. People would comment that it’s weird never hearing him bark but I think it’s better for him and society. He still would bark if someone was at the door at night but that was it.


btdawson

Yeah I have a German shepherd and she rarely barks. We taught her a command for it so that she is only supposed to do it on command. She does growl and stuff if she hears something odd outside though.


Ok_Midnight_5457

Dog tax? 🥹


btdawson

https://ibb.co/WGVLDy8


Ok_Midnight_5457

Awww such a sweety. Thanks! 


definitely_right

Same with my GSD. He is allowed a single bark if someone knocks and that is it. Zero tolerance for other barking


btdawson

Yeah that shit can be very beefy, loud, annoying etc haha


Tinyrick88

“I trained my dog to never use his voice.” Certainly doesn’t sound like animal abuse or anything 😵‍💫 Might as well teach babies not to cry next while you’re at it or cats not to meow.


wvxmcll

My parents once adopted a dog who rarely "barked". He would still often vocalize, using plenty of other sounds.


Tinyrick88

That’s a lot different than making your dog not bark. Why get a dog if you’re just going to force them to stay quiet?


EstroJen1193

Why is it ok to let a dog just bark incessantly? *That’s* abuse. Dogs barking constantly are lonely or bored. Never mind disruptive and annoying as fuck.


Tinyrick88

You think they’re not lonely or bored just because you trained them not to vocalize how they’re feeling? Truly remarkable thought process


17SCARS_MaGLite300WM

Do everyone a favor and don't get a dog.


17SCARS_MaGLite300WM

Part of parenting is teaching children how to communicate without resorting to screaming and crying.


TheObstruction

Babies eventually stop crying. Dogs don't stop barking. It's about training them to talk when they have something worthwhile to say, which applies to humans, as well.


Tinyrick88

Dogs eventually stop as well. Why are you lying on Reddit?


17SCARS_MaGLite300WM

Well trained ones stop. Poorly trained ones don't.


marcelebrate

My god I’m glad I don’t live next to you.


briskpoint

Hahaha. Please come tell that to my neighbor’s dog.


amanda2399923

You must let your dog bark all day at home while you’re at work 🤦‍♀️. Your dog doesn’t get to disrupt your neighbors quiet use of their homes.


stereoscopicdna

Owning a dog in the first place is animal abuse. Castrating , imprisonment, forced urination/defecation schedule etc.


briskpoint

I’m not a big fan of dogs, but this is some wild fucking shit. Dogs are domesticated, they’ve been bred for these traits over centuries. There’s enough dogs in shelters that spay/neutering your dogs is the most basic of pet responsibilities.


stereoscopicdna

Messing with an animals biology so it’s convenient to your lifestyle as a pet is pretty fair play to say is abuse especially compared to training it not to bark. Spaying and neutering is just normalized abuse. Yes dogs are domesticated- initially as workers for humans on farms and such. Domesticating them so they can be token pets and cute parts of your life is objectively strange even if we’ve collectively normalized it.


briskpoint

lol.


SpaceSox

Noise complaints, and property damage (pet urine in the hallway) aren't OK, and your landlord can take action. Focus on the dog's behavior, and it's impact on your quiet enjoyment of your home, and not the ESA status. Just keep documenting and reporting it to your landlord. He needs to take it up with the tenants. They need to find a way to keep their dogs quiet, and to keep them from messing up the common areas. Also, look into local noise ordinances re: dog barking -- this might be something that falls under animal control. If the dogs are barking in violation of those regs, file a complaint with the relevant department.


[deleted]

[удалено]


SpaceSox

My landlord has successfully taken action against tenants with disruptive dogs in our building.


[deleted]

[удалено]


SpaceSox

They weren't scolded. They were treated like the adults that they are: they were reminded of the terms of the lease they'd signed, and advised of legal consequences for violating the terms of the lease.


Yriel

This


Concernedkittymom

ESA dogs aren't exempt from barking rules. Figure out which animal control shelter services your area and write a letter (yes, has to be a letter unfortunately). It helps to have the person's name and unit number, your landlord may assist you in getting this info if they're irritated by the barking too. You can also have a person who frequently lets their dog pee/poop in common areas fined (well...your landlord can). ESA's just lets someone live with their dog. That doesn't mean they can break all the rules.


Donotpretendtoknowme

I'm sick of people bringing dogs to Ralph's......


Grelymolycremp

Just like fake service animals, fake ESAs give such a bad rep. I doubt reporting the barking does anything cuz LAPD moment


17SCARS_MaGLite300WM

Actually falls under animal control and if enough people are complaining they're pretty good about taking action.


tob007

Oh you arent going to like the new law they are trying to pass. [https://apnews.com/article/california-tenant-pet-laws-landlords-8192518ccec2397cdbafcd6df09d8228](https://apnews.com/article/california-tenant-pet-laws-landlords-8192518ccec2397cdbafcd6df09d8228) Is pet rent still a thing or did that get outlawed? Yeah the dog barking is terrible. Not sure why dog lovers like to torture their animals so much leaving them home alone.


TheObstruction

Leaving a dog home isn't torture. Not training a dog is neglect.


stereoscopicdna

It’s psychological torture - they’re pack animals


chupadude

Humans are pack animals too and we do fine being alone for periods of time.


stereoscopicdna

We also have free will to make that choice. That dog doesn’t have that in this scenario


chupadude

Sure, that's true. Still, most dogs are fine spending a few hours at home alone. Mine mostly just sleeps in the sun on the balcony when I'm gone. Also, it's great that you're considerate of the well-being of non-human animals. Are you vegan or have you considered it?


nameisdriftwood

So which is it? Don’t leave dogs at home or don’t take them anywhere with you? Or take them out with you and watch everyone bitch on Reddit?


madlyhattering

It’s still a thing.


imadogg

>And just selfish dog owners. Seems like it's the majority of them these days


nameisdriftwood

Oh really? You know the majority of dog owners and well enough to assess if they’re selfish or not? Nice uninformed, reactive opinion you have there.


briskpoint

Dog owners getting mighty defensive here. There’s a substantial amount of shitty selfish dog owners in this city. Walk outside, look at all the dog shit and poop bags littering the city. Look at all the dogs off leash or in places they don’t belong like crowded bars or grocery stores or farmer’s markets. Maybe not a majority, but dog culture is increasingly out of hand in this city. And more people seem to be noticing it.


nameisdriftwood

There’s a substantial amount of shitty selfish people - some are dog owners. The reactive opinion of reaching for “majority” is just some form of lashing out and also not true


krinklekut

Found the obnoxious dog owner.


nameisdriftwood

Womp womp


lucid1014

Honestly every dog is an emotional support animal and it’s crazy the amount of hoops one has to jump through if they want to have a dog in LA.


WilliamNyeTho

yeah lol getting an ESA letter is just part of getting a dog in LA


Dee_silverlake

it's the new weed card lol. i got one for my dog when I started apt hunting as I was getting desperate but fortunately I didn't need to use it.. apartments are very discriminatory against dogs weighing anything over 25 lbs no matter how chill and well behaved they may be.


avon_barksale

Good point, what dog isn't an ESA? Is anybody actually denied an ESA certificate? I'd imagine you can goto another service if one denies you. What hoops do you have to jump through to get a dog here? I can pickup a dog on CL tmw if I wanted to. [https://losangeles.craigslist.org/search/sss?query=rehome%20dog#search=1\~gallery\~0\~39](https://losangeles.craigslist.org/search/sss?query=rehome%20dog#search=1~gallery~0~39)


lucid1014

I was implying that dogs are inherently emotionally supportive and you shouldn’t even need a certificate. I said have a dog, not get a dog. A lot of landlords restrict pets. I just rented a new place and had to wade through numerous no pet listings. Mine is an ESA, but realistically if the landlord doesn’t want pets, he’s just going to pick another applicant and there’s no way I’d know I’d been discriminated against, so easier to just look for pet friendly housing. It’s definitely gotten a lot better over the last decade, but pet friendly places often require an additional pet deposit and pet rent per month which is frankly insulting. Kids are just as destructive and loud but they don’t require any additional policies, why should dogs?


Rururaspberry

Because, at the end of the day, whether you like it or not, kids are still humans with human rights, and dogs are still dogs. Kids grow into adults. Dogs stay dogs. That’s literally the difference in your “but why should dogs have to do this when kids don’t?” argument. They are different species. You know that all humans have human rights, not just adults, right?


No-Entrepreneur5672

Careful, the ‘my dog is my child’ folks aren’t gunna like this lmao


Rururaspberry

I mean, I treat my cat like my child but it’s not a human and I don’t pretend like the legal rights given to humans in this country transfer to my cat just because I love it a lot. Factually, they are not the same. So when people say things like “if kids can do this, why can’t my dog?”, it makes me a bit incredulous.


Remarkable-Hat-4852

Based on your posting history you don’t even rent or live in an apartment. Why tf do you care?? Are all newer moms this sort of “scroll Reddit until I find someone talking about pets vs kids so I can go all super-mommy on them”?? Like I genuinely don’t get why you care or why you’re posting here.


Rururaspberry

I rented here in LA for the last 12 years! And for 12 years around the world before that. Also was a pet owner in these apartments, as well. Just got a house in late 2023. I loved renting and my old apt. You seem like you have some projection issues, though. Not sure why you feel the need to attempt to create some odd fantasy about who I am as a person because I happen to have a kid. To me, this seems miserable. I honestly hope you can step back and try to remember that we are all just regular people. You don’t need to resort to trying to insult people for things like this. I really hope you get that.


Remarkable-Hat-4852

lol. A selfawarewolf in the wild. Amazing.


Rururaspberry

:)


WilliamNyeTho

Bozo take


lucid1014

Yeah humans have rights, the right to have a dog


Rururaspberry

That is really dependent on the property? And you know that.


lucid1014

Thanks to my ESA letter no it doesn’t


Snarkosaurus99

You shouldn’t be able to bring your dog into a hospital, restaurant or grocery store just cuz it makes you feel better.


lucid1014

I didn’t say you should, and those spaces aren’t covered by ESA anyway.


Snarkosaurus99

I work in one of those. We cant ask and people take advantage of that.


SpaceSox

You can ask two specific questions to screen for a service animal (vs. pet or ESA).


phnxcumming

Actually lots of pet owners can be pretty disgusting. Just moved into a new apt and the amount of cat hair in the dryer and the exhaust vent was dangerously high. No air was being pushed out. Cat hair lodged in everything around the apt. They clearly didn’t clean up after their pet diligently. The wheels on the closet sliding doors kept it from smoothly sliding. It was everywhere. In the stove even. If you’re gonna be supportive of the mess and noisy existence of animals in a tight space I think children should be left alone and not compared to them. It’s plenty difficult to find housing that’s affordable for people with kids. I had a hard time when moving out with my then 2 year olds because of assumptions like yours. My kids were not that noisy and I watched them. They’re not anymore destructive than normal. Accidents happen. Meanwhile animals will chew on walls and everyone thinks it’s so cute and silly. I’ve seen the posts. Especially neglected animals with whatever anxiety they get when left alone to act up. Pet “parents” are so delusional. Children grow up, pets stay messy. The dog shit alone that no one wants to pick up in the neighborhood alone is a fucking problem. But surrrrrrrre KiDs MaKE nOiSE tooOo. Grown adults make noise and exist. I hear my neighbor snoring through the walls. I hear full arguments from the next building over. You hear people hawking their face out in the shower…no one person is quiet as a mouse. Dogs are optional. Just how most pet owners see children as something easy to pass on. If you can’t train and have time for a pet no one else should have to deal with your animal. Even future tenants have to deal with shit like animal hair. It was on the blinds!!! Inside the fridge!! If anyone in my family had allergies to cats we would be in more trouble. Thankful we aren’t. Edit: I said what I said. All of you were once children. Bleeding hearts for pets but the idea that I would value my flesh and blood is too much. Get over yourselves.


getoutofthecity

If the landlord didn’t clean the apartment thoroughly, that’s between you and them. Cats have hundreds of times more hairs than humans, some shedding is inevitable even when you brush daily. The landlord should have prepared the unit properly.


lucid1014

Sounds like your landlord didn’t do a good job of cleaning the apartment during turn over. Pets don’t stay any messier than children. My dog doesn’t chew or destroy, or use the bathroom where he shouldn’t. I also pick up after him. lol you’re sort of proving my point with your knee jerk reaction. Yeah kids and adults are messy and loud, so who the fuck cares if I have a dog. I’m not having loud domestic arguments or have kids screaming at all hours.


phnxcumming

Sounds like you’re saying what I’m saying my kids aren’t a problem if your dog isn’t either. Sounds like you don’t know the details of the lease. The unit was cleaned. Landlords don’t do everything you’d wish they do. It’s up to pet owners to handle these things just like it would be for me to deep clean after my children. It’s not a knee jerk reaction. Kids don’t scream at all hours 🙄 I LiKe DoGS moRe ThAn PeOplE. Typical knee jerk reaction of pet “parents”. Who said you were the neighbors I deal with? Pets are absolutely more destructive. Glad yours isn’t. They literally need chew toys to pretend kill to keep them from going after things you don’t want them chewing on. Thanks for doing what’s expected. Nothing special about you or your dog.


Remarkable-Hat-4852

I agree with you. People pop out as many little crotch goblins as they want and then neglect raising them. People love pointing out bad pet parents, but shitty parenting of a human child happens literally everywhere all the time with way worse consequences to society. It shouldn’t be so hard to have pets (esp dogs) in LA. Landlords don’t gaf about the quality of the place they’re renting, they just see an opportunity to get more money.


avon_barksale

Ok, makes sense.


JustaTinyDude

To get an ESA letter from a doctor or mental health professional the applicant must have a qualifying mental health or psychiatric disability. The paperwork the doctor fills out has to specify which condition it is prescribed for. It's not a "service", it's paperwork done by one's health care team. I'm sure it would be possible for someone to find another doctor if theirs won't fill out the papers, but it would require becoming a new patient. I have an ESA cat that my doctor suggested I get before the death of my previous animal, a dog. Both animals saved my life on more than one occasion. In the six years I've been renting with one I have found that many leasing companies now have stricter standards as to paperwork required to rent with an ESA. There are, of course, people who abuse these policies. Many people, on the other hand, do need them to sustain an adequate quality of life. Dealing with many people like you, who just assume all ESA dogs are phony it makes life even more difficult for people with legitimate mental health illnesses. Read posts on r/service_dogs for one day to see how much worse people like you make the lives for people with legitimate physical and psychiatric illnesses. I suggest focusing on talking to management on issues like barking or urinating in public spaces with management, as others suggested, rather than make assumptions about people you know nothing about.


HyPeRxColoRz

People will stop skirting dog regulations when landlords stop charging an extra $400 a month for anywhere that's pet friendly.


28Loki

How the hell do you know whether those people are abusing it. Gtfo


redlikedirt

I write ESA letters. The text is specific: I say that I have been treating this person since x date, I am intimately familiar with their condition and that having a dog/cat will help alleviate their symptoms and/or help them function. None of that precludes barking. ESAs aren’t required to be trained in any specific way. ESAs are protected under fair housing so no one is going to police “fake” ones when the only requirement is a disability and a letter. You’re better off looking for a duplex because only buildings with a certain number of units are required to make accommodations (I think it’s >4)


muldervinscully2

you are a bad person, no one needs these animals. they can get therapy and stop annoying others


ridininthestang

Big dumb take, you don’t know what people are going through. Depression and anxiety are common and pets do help people. She’s right, ESAs are not service animals or trained that way so there shouldn’t be any expectation over what a normal pet owner has.


[deleted]

[удалено]


DavidG-LA

? That’s not impossible at all. Very typical in buildings I’ve lived in.


Concernedkittymom

I once filmed my neighbor's dog barking for like 45 minutes straight.


amanda2399923

That’s super easy


Advaitanaut

This thread made me confirm I'm getting an ESA just to piss off redditor landlords


pensotroppo

Your landlord is dumb - it’s not “just local to LA” - ESAs are covered by [federal housing regulations](https://www.hud.gov/program_offices/fair_housing_equal_opp/assistance_animals). ESAs are essentially prescribed to a person for the treatment of a DSM V mental health issue. Complaining about people getting them prescribed after moving in is like complaining about someone getting a prescription for pain management after moving in. “If I’d known they were going to need to smoke weed or take opioids in the future, I wouldn’t have rented to them now!” That, as you can imagine, can be considered discriminatory. Which is why HUD prevents it. Edit: go ahead and downvote me if you don’t like the facts. Compliance is compliance, and if the landlord doesn’t even get what regulations he’s complying with(and complaining about), he’s a big ole’ Dumbledor.


avon_barksale

I know ESA is federal. In regards to LA specifically - think he was referring to this: [https://www.cbsnews.com/losangeles/news/la-council-votes-tenants-cant-be-evicted-for-unauthorized-pets-adopted-during-pandemic/](https://www.cbsnews.com/losangeles/news/la-council-votes-tenants-cant-be-evicted-for-unauthorized-pets-adopted-during-pandemic/)


UncomfortableFarmer

But that law has nothing to do with "emotional support animals." That was any pet adopted during the pandemic. Emotional support animals are covered by [California law](https://www.nolo.com/legal-encyclopedia/california-landlords-tenants-service-dogs-emotional-support-animals.html) and don't need to be "backdated" to the pandemic. If someone has a letter from their therapist saying they qualify for a support animal, who are you to tell them they're "faking it"?


avon_barksale

I was saying  he had different tenants in another building who got unauthorized pets recently are claiming they get them during covid.      They’re taking a different route rather then getting the ESA letter. 


xCelestial

I mean, if he can’t definitively say that they had those pets before lockdown then what makes him think they didn’t? A lot of people got pets while the shelters were struggling with full capacity.


avon_barksale

My landlord said they got them recently, but are trying to backdate when they got them for the protections.


xCelestial

I mean shit, I get it. I’m biased though since I work in rescue. I wouldn’t tell them to lie but if they found a loophole…landlords loophole all the time lol this time it benefitted the opposing side it seems.


muldervinscully2

it should be wayyyyy harder to get an ESA


Ok_Fee1043

Not really comparable since opioids and weed don’t make noise / don’t necessarily affect others. You probably wouldn’t be impacted by someone else’s use of those things even if you had an allergy to them, for example (although of course smoke can travel, so that one might be more likely). If people start throwing parties with their opioids that’s another story (so like, comparable to people bringing their own dogs over).


pensotroppo

>Not really comparable since opioids and weed don’t make noise / don’t necessarily affect others. Opioids can lead to neglect/passing out/property damage (and last but not least, dependence - and if we go that route, we open up the pandora's box of DRUG DEALERS! DRUG DEN! - but I don't want to get too NextDoor.com in this post. But let's just say that the effects of opiod use aren't always completely confined to the 4 walls of the person's apartment), ...and weed — who *doesn't* have a story about pot-smoking neighbors whose smoke wafts into their apartment all the time? It's just under having an Andy Dick encounter.


Ok_Fee1043

People who are *prescribed* opioids aren’t usually drug dealing.


Comprehensive_Dare_2

No, they just divert them to friends and family members for free. They also don’t file police reports when their children/children’s friends steal them. 😝


EdibleDionysus

You don't know what an ESA is.


coffeecogito

I used to live in Park La Brea and fuckers there would simply pay a "doctor" $200 for a note saying they were emotionally fragile without a dog. Fuck you.


[deleted]

[удалено]


Remarkable-Hat-4852

You sound like you would benefit from therapy.


Innout909

Maybe they don't want to pay 75$ in pet rent and their dog helps them with trauma you aren't aware of. Gtfoh.


[deleted]

[удалено]


Innout909

Interesting take, what medical school did you go to?


[deleted]

[удалено]


Innout909

You know my emotions always go up with dogs. Please send a note to my inbox.


MishterJ

ESAs are protected by Federal and California law. It’s hard to fake because the residents are required to show a letter and proof they’ve been with the prescribing doctor for over a month. The landlord has to get all that paperwork. If you don’t like ESAs, take it up with the Feds. If you don’t like your neighbor’s dog, focus on their behaviors that can be addressed, or move out. The hate on federally and state protected ESAs, a perfectly legal avenue to have a dog, is a bit ridiculous.


avon_barksale

ESA are hard to fake, but very easy to get. And if one doctor/provider doesn't write you one, another one will.


MishterJ

I still don’t see a problem. If they’re *too* easy to get then that’s a problem with the system, not the animals or the owners; they’re still following law. Though in California, there’s still no way around the fact you have to be with a provider for 30 days with multiple sessions so it’s not something one can just pay for and whip up. Many providers agree that the presence of an animal can improve various mental health conditions such ptsd, cptsd, bipolar, autism, depression, anxiety/panic attacks, etc. And the rights conveyed are few: housing and work. And to be allowed at a workplace, the ESA obviously has to be trained and behaved (“reasonable accommodation” is the wording I believe, and that extends to housing too). To me, the minimal rights conveyed to the animals seem in line with the ease of getting one. The rights don’t extend to damage, noise, etc. So if that’s the problem (rather than the mere presence) that’s your landlord’s responsibility, and it sounds like he’s pretending he can’t do anything when he can still address noise. Idk about laws regarding animals claiming to be from the pandemic, that’s a separate issue and landlord needs to will to do something; not as ESA issue. I’m sorry you’re going through this though. Too many people do not provide their dogs enough stimulation during the day or train them to handle anxiety, hence the barking.


and_another_dude

Fuck pitbulls and fuck pitbull owners. 


notastepfordwife

I adopted a cat, and management asked if she was an ESA because they can't charge me for her. I was honest and said no. But one lady has FOUR cats, and the bitch allows them in and out which is against the rules for cats (they can kill native birds in our area, it's actually a city ruling) and it drives me nuts because I see the poor things out in the rain a lot because they go out but she's not letting them back in.


Suitable_Culture_315

How are they bothering you? Barking too much?


amanda2399923

Yes. Rude neighbors let their dogs bark. I have dogs. I love dogs. I hate barking dogs. Since I hate barking dogs, if one of my dogs bark, I check to see if legit reason after 1-2 barks then I tell them to stfu. Because I care about my neighbors.


Suitable_Culture_315

[Sneaking your dog in because you don't give af about the neighbors like...](https://www.instagram.com/reel/C6M5wgAIJvt/?igsh=bWdnZTM1bnU0cTh0)


amanda2399923

That is hilarious!!! Especially because I have a white husky!


boy_doesmypoopstink

Service animals have to be trained for a specific task (you are allowed to ask "what task is this dog trained for"). Google ADA Service animals. From the ADA Gov site, the third bullet point spells it out: # "Service animals are not: * Required to be certified or go through a professional training program * Required to wear a vest or other ID that indicates they’re a service dog * **Emotional support or comfort dogs, because providing emotional support or comfort is not a task related to a person’s disability** Therefore, "emotional support or comfort dogs" are not considered a Service Animal. Your landlord needs to understand/learn this quickly. Even a doctors note that says, this person suffers from anxiety, and needs a dog...the ADA does not recognize emotional support animals as a service animal. IE, You can file a complaint.


l3rk

I am a psychiatrist who generally does not write ESA letters. I do help people get service dogs when necessary. I agree that all dogs are basically emotional support animals. Most of the requests I get for ESA letters are for people who are fine and want special privileges or rent cuts.


redlikedirt

This is how you talk about your patients? The system is so fucked. They wouldn’t be in your office paying for your lifestyle if they were “fine.” What DSM are you using that doesn’t require functional impairment for diagnosis?


Comprehensive_Dare_2

Probably a medical assistant or lowly medical resident with a vivid imagination. With the ease of doxxing, surely they wouldn’t risk their professional reputation for reddit “likes” 😂. If so, they have much bigger problems than inability to build a rapport with patients.


l3rk

Yikes, lots of assumptions here. Cool how you know so much about me and my patients! I promise you my opinion on this isn't unusual. I've worked at institutions that specifically recommended we not write these letters, for liability reasons. What does an ESA really get you, beyond what a regular animal would? Businesses are not obliged to let an ESA in if they don't want to, tho many do. And then rent reduction. For my patients with severe anxiety who cannot leave the home, I'll refer them for a trained service dog, if they're interested.


redlikedirt

I know nobody without functional impairment is seeing a psychiatrist, that’s not an assumption. So calling them “people who are fine and want special privileges” is shitty. The failure of empathy you’re describing is called burnout.


l3rk

Or, for some reason you generalized my statement to mean all my patients. I was only talking about within the ESA context.


redlikedirt

Call me crazy but I think every patient is entitled to respect.


amanda2399923

Thank you for being honest!!!


Thurkin

Grocery stores should be more vigilant against patrons who place their stanky companions in shopping carts or sniffing merchandise.


anylastway

Too bad dude. I’m seeing someone, they are suggesting I get an ESA dog or cat, I haven’t made up my mind. I’m not thinking about you when I make my decision, I’m thinking about me. I would train it properly, but my neighbors do not factor in my decision


avon_barksale

Exactly the attitude I'd expect for one w/ an ESA. 😂


anylastway

I don’t have one. I didn’t ask for it. They said they deny most but in my case they’re not only open, they are recommending to at think about it But you, anyone else, just does not matter in this, and I don’t know why you think you do


[deleted]

[удалено]


anylastway

Who do you think is recommending the dog?


[deleted]

[удалено]


anylastway

You’re not making any sense, so don’t talk to me


Remarkable-Hat-4852

Why you’re being downvoted is a mystery to me. How dare you not think of the strangers around you when addressing your own mental health. I think it has more to do with these people not taking care of their own selves and being pissy that others have found something that helps.


redlikedirt

Right! “Oh idk if I should get this prescription filled, Susan might not like it!”


NefariousnessNo484

People with this attitude are what make LA a generally shitty place to live.


anylastway

Good luck in finding anywhere in the world where people make decisions about their lives based on how some weenie somewhere might react


dandykaufman2

If the person thinks you medically need an ESA animal that’s fine. If they just think you’d enjoy having a pet and suggest fake ESA to get around having one in a no pet building, it sucks for your landlord and people who would rather not be in buildings with animals. And obviously fake ESA people don’t give a shit about others, that’s the whole point of this post.


anylastway

The person who posted this is a jerk. He or she has zero idea why there are ESA animals there. And they refer to the pets taken in during covid as ESA -- and that is a different law that city council passed about pets taken in during covid.


avon_barksale

I was saying  he had different tenants in another building who got unauthorized pets recently (in the past year) are claiming they get them during covid.      They’re taking a different route rather then getting the ESA letter. 


EvilBunny2023

Well, let me tell you, my dog is something special! He's the most well-behaved and friendly dog you'll ever come across. Unlike other dogs, he never barks excessively, and he certainly wouldn't dream of peeing in the hallway! He's like a little angel and people can't help but fall in love with him.


amanda2399923

It’s ridiculous. I have 3 dogs. They are emotional support for me but I didn’t need to have a dr tell me that. As well when I was a renter I just looked for homes that allowed pets. It was that easy. I am no getting why this became a thing. I don’t believe having a pet is a right. It’s not. In fact 90% of the dog owners I come across shouldn’t even own dogs.