Welcome, fellow dog lovers!
My name is Leslie
Lucky is more than my dog - he’s my best friend, my co-pilot, and my buddy on every adventure life throws my way. I know how much support and comfort he brings me, and I want to help others find that same happiness. I’ve taken a close look at the most popular ESA sites and narrowed them down to the very best options!
Best Emotional Support Animal Registration Services 2023
Choosing to register my dog as an emotional support animal (ESA) was one of the best decisions of my life - but I quickly realized how stressful it could be to find an emotional support animal registration service I could trust. While some were extremely helpful, reliable, safe, and affordable, others were no better than scams.
Once they saw how much better I felt with my ESA, I had a bunch of friends ask me how to go through the process themselves - and I know a lot of other people who live with disabilities would benefit from this research as well! So, I’ve reviewed the most popular ESA registration services online so you can know which are worth working with - and which you should avoid.
In a Hurry? Check Out My Top Pick
Get a risk-free consultation with a mental health professional in your state today.
What I liked
The site was founded by lawyers Reliable legal support Friendly, helpful customer support Lots of accurate information about ESAs on the site Affordable pricing A+ BBB rating Sells marked collars, tags, and vests In business since 2015 Valid in all 50 states Discount on ESA letter if you register first
What could be better
Sends out multiple promotional mailers post-registrationMy Favorite ESA Letter Providers
What I Learned About Emotional Support Animal Registration Services
I quickly learned that there are extremely helpful emotional support animal registration services, as well as ones that are not only unhelpful, but possibly dangerous. The helpful ones offered a wealth of services I was grateful for: great information about ESAs in general, supportive legal teams, friendly customer service, and a simple process.
On the other hand, the problematic ones that have inaccurate, misleading info (which was usually designed to try and scare more money out of me), made the process seem incredibly confusing, or would outright try to scam me.
My ultimate aim in obtaining an emotional support animal registration was resolving any disputes with my landlord (or anyone else who may challenge my ESA’s legitimacy) while also generally making me feel informed, supported, and safe - and secure that I can always have my ESA by me when I need them!
In my reviews below, I’ve gone over everything I loved or disliked about each emotional support animal registration provider. That way, registering your own emotional support animal can be an easy process, and you can feel fully confident in your choice!
Why a Trustworthy Emotional Support Animal Registration Service Is So Important
As I said earlier, unfortunately, some emotional support animal registration services take advantage of those in need and will try to scam them for as much money as possible. Some of the other reasons you’ll want to choose a reliable ESA registration service are:
1. They’ll support you if you run into any future disputes.. It’s not legally necessary for you to have your ESA registered; the only thing you must have is a prescription letter from your mental healthcare professional detailing that you need an emotional support animal. That said, I strongly recommend getting your ESA registered, as the combination of a registration and a prescription letter can be extremely helpful in resolving or preventing any disputes.
For instance, some landlords can try to cause issues for you, even though you’re legally allowed to have an ESA in any housing environment. Having your dog registered by a credible service, in addition to your legally-required letter, makes it nearly impossible for your landlord to claim you’re being dishonest. Together, an ESA letter and registration is a fail-safe combo. Plus reliable emotional support animal registration services will typically have a legal team who can back you up in cases like this, so you don’t have to handle any disputes alone!
2. Knowing you’re working with a legitimate service can help you feel confident that you will avoid fines. If a site allows you to claim an emotional support animal as one when it’s not - for instance, if you’ve never been formally diagnosed with a mental health disability by a mental healthcare professional - you can be fined as much as $5,000, depending on the state you live in. I wanted to make sure I decided to work with a service that I could trust met all legal requirements, so that I didn’t have to worry I’d find myself facing fines in the future.
What to Look For in an Emotional Support Animal Registration Service
I wanted to be entirely confident that my emotional support animal registration was legitimate, and I wanted solid customer service and legal support in case I had any questions or ran into issues. When trying to find the best emotional support animal registration services (while avoiding scams), these are the primary things I evaluated:
- The Ability to Be Evaluated by a Mental Health Professional in Your State. As mentioned, to have an emotional support animal, you are legally required to be diagnosed with a mental health disability by a licensed mental health provider in your state, and to have a letter written by that professional prescribing an ESA as part of your treatment. You shouldn’t be able to register your emotional support animal without having this done - and a good emotional support animal registration service will offer the letter-writing service themselves, so that you can get everything done in one place.
- Friendly, Knowledgeable, and Accessible Customer Service. Registering your emotional support animal can feel daunting, and you may have many questions about the process (I know I did). A solid customer support team can help you not feel alone while you do this, and can quickly and thoroughly answer any questions you have or ease any concerns troubling you.
- Ability to Register Multiple Types of Animals. Unlike service animals (which have to be a dog or a miniature horse), nearly any animal can be an emotional support animal, as long as there are no zoning laws against it where you live. I know people with all kinds of ESAs, ranging from cats and dogs to snakes and ferrets - or even tarantulas! You’ll want to choose a service that is willing to register any type of animal, so that you can get the specific type of emotional support you need.
- A Reasonable Price. You’ll want to make sure the emotional support animal registration service you choose is within your budget - but you’ll also want to be mindful of services that are too inexpensive, as it may be a sign they don’t offer everything you need (like legal support). Services that are far too expensive are also a red flag, as they may just be trying to take advantage of you.
- Quick Service. This is especially important if you know you’re moving into a new place soon, or if you feel there may be an issue with your current landlord once you tell them you have an emotional support animal. Once you know you need one, you’ll want to have everything taken care of quickly so that you can enjoy the benefits of your ESA without any additional stress.
- Legal Support. If your landlord does cause you problems and tries to claim you cannot live with your ESA, or that you need to pay (illegal) fees for having one, a legal support team can be there for you to help you defend your rights. Knowing this gave me peace of mind, and helped me feel much more secure and protected.
- Knowledge About Every State’s Laws. Emotional support animals are federally protected, but each state may have differences in the process required - or even offer you additional rights. I wanted to choose a service that was well-versed in each state’s laws, so that I could feel confident no matter where I may move.
Top 8 Emotional Support Animal Registration Services 2023
US Service Animals will refund your purchase 100% if your ESA letter does not work for you.
The site was founded by lawyers Reliable legal support Friendly, helpful customer support Lots of accurate information about ESAs on the site Affordable pricing A+ BBB rating Sells marked collars, tags, and vests In business since 2015 Valid in all 50 states Discount on ESA letter if you register first
What could be better
Sends out multiple promotional mailers post-registrationFar and away, I found U.S. Service Animals to be the most trustworthy, professional, and helpful of the emotional support animal registration services. One of the main things that made me trust them the most was that they were actually founded by lawyers (back in 2015) - so I felt entirely confident they knew what was legally required, and that their legal team knew how to handle any disputes. They also have an A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau, which made me feel even more reassured. And their customer support team was exceptional and helped me through every step of the process.
U.S. Service Animals has a network of mental health professionals that spans all 50 states, so I knew I was covered no matter where I may live or move. It also was extremely reassuring that they’re all real mental health professionals that actually speak with you personally; since this is what is legally required, it made me feel much more confident - and it’s something the scammy sites refuse to offer. And their extremely comprehensive package made the entire process simpler. It’s so much less stressful getting it all done in one place, and especially with a team as reliable and informed as they are. Plus, they’ll let you register any type of animal that you qualify for - so whether you have a dog, rabbit, cat, or bird, you can get the registration you need!
I also loved how affordable their services were - and if you register your ESA with them and need a letter from a mental health professional, they offer you a discount on that as well! Plus, they offer a quick turnaround time. Their site has a ton of helpful information about ESAs, and they sell accessories (like marked collars, leashes, and vests) so that you can make it clear your ESA is one if needed. My only complaint was the amount of promotional mailers they send once you register, but considering all the clear benefits of U.S. Service Animals, this was really a non-issue for me.
I can’t recommend US Service Animals enough. They made me feel entirely confident about the process, were there to support me the entire time, and offered fast service at a great price!
Runner Up
Offers ESA evaluations and letters Digital-only registration package is affordable 24/7 customer support
What could be better
Misleadingly claims that you can register your ESA for life
Some complaints about not hearing back from customer service
Packages are fairly expensive Unclear what type of registration you are receivingMy Experience Using USA Service Dogs
USA Service Dogs made it clear that registering my emotional support animal wasn’t legally required, which I thought was a nice touch - it instantly put me more at ease knowing they were honest about this. However, other elements made me less trusting. They claim your ESA registration is good for life, but this isn’t strictly true; your prescription letter should be updated yearly to remain legal, so this felt misleading (which is doubly concerning, since they do offer ESA evaluations and letters and therefore should absolutely know better and be clear about this). The process itself also confused me, as when I clicked to register my ESA, it wasn’t at all clear if I was getting a service dog or emotional support animal registration.
I did like that their registrations are valid in all 50 states, and that they also offer 24/7 customer support (although there are lots of mixed reviews on their responsiveness). Unfortunately, their packages are fairly expensive, so they weren’t very budget-friendly.
Wrapping Up
There are a lot of good things about USA Service Dogs, including their digital registration package option, but their misleading claim that registration is good for life makes me question their motives, and they don’t make it clear if you’re getting an emotional support animal or service animal registration when you pay.
Quick pre-screening quiz Helpful customer support team
What could be better
ESA letters may be illegitimate Expensive registration packages
Personal info must be given before you can get the pricesMy Experience Using American Service Pets
I didn’t feel entirely confident about American Service Pets, primarily because you don’t have to speak to a mental health professional live if you obtain an ESA letter through them - which is one of the few legal requirements for legally owning an emotional support animal. What they do instead is have you take an (admittedly, very thorough) questionnaire which they send to a mental health professional for approval.
There are some benefits with American Service Pets. Their customer service team is top-notch, which I really appreciated. They also offer a fast pre-screening quiz to see if you qualify, which was also a nice touch. However, their registration packages are very expensive, and they only offer a 30-day refund which doesn’t include their physician evaluation fee, which makes it feel like profits are their primary aim. You also have to give them your personal info before you can even get the prices themselves.
Wrapping Up
American Service Pets is a good option if you’re not sure if you qualify for an ESA and want to find out fast - but their potentially illegitimate letters and high, unclear pricing makes me hesitant to recommend them.
Reasonably priced Allows you to put multiple emotional support animals on one ID tag
What could be better
Website is hard to follow, due to confusing writing
Some of the information on the website is not accurate
Claiming you legally need accessories makes them feel scammy.My Experience Using US Service Animal Registar
If you have multiple companions you need to register as emotional support animals, US Service Animal Registar may be a good choice for you. They offer the option of including two different animal images on their ID cards, along with your signature and the ability to scan the tag to have your registration verified. They’re also reasonably priced.
Unfortunately, there were some major issues with the website that held me back from really trusting this service. There’s poor writing throughout the entire site, which left me feeling confused about the process and what exactly they offered. Even more upsetting is that some of the information they offer is flat-out incorrect - like saying that service dogs must have a leash that says “service dog” to fly on a plane, which is flat out incorrect. It makes me worry that they are a scam - or if not, that they’re very willing to lie to you to get as much money as possible.
Wrapping Up
While I liked that US Service Registar offers the option to register multiple ESAs on a single ID tag, I can’t recommend them comfortably due to their confusingly written website and inaccurate information given
Offers valid ESA evaluations and letters Good customer support
What could be better
Doesn’t offer a stand-alone registration
Pre-screening doesn’t guarantee ESA approval
Offers unnecessary psychiatric service dog lettersMy Experience Using CertaPet
CertaPet is a major player in the field, but unfortunately, they don’t offer emotional support animal registration. However, their ESA evaluations are done through telehealth visits with a mental health professional in your state, so they are legally valid (and it makes me trust the site more, overall). But if you already have an emotional support letter, or you’re only looking to register your animal as an ESA, CertaPet simply doesn’t offer what you need.
They do offer a free screening test, which is a great way to quickly figure out how likely it is you qualify. However, the screening test doesn’t guarantee you’ll be approved for an ESA, so I wouldn’t pin all my hopes on it.
While they do have a fantastic customer service team, I was uncomfortable with them offering psychiatric service dog letters, which are not legally required. This felt really misleading to me, and made me not fully trust their motivations. And again, since there’s no registration option, you’re stuck with having to get a letter if you want to work with them at all
Wrapping Up
CertaPets doesn’t offer emotional support animal registrations on their own, but they offer legitimate ESA evaluations and letters. However, they also offer legally unnecessary letters, which feels very misleading.
Offers ESA evaluations and letters Great customer service team Strong legal support team
What could be better
Long wait times to speak to customer service No satisfaction guarantee
Charges more for fastest turnaround times
No stand-alone registration offered
My Experience Using Pettable
Working with Pettable was a fairly positive experience, thanks primarily to their excellent customer support team. They were very helpful and friendly, although their wait times could be very long - which could make an already potentially-stressful process that much more tense. Their legal team was also very strong, which made me feel at ease, and they’re also budget-friendly. They also offer ESA evaluations and prescription letters, which makes them feel more legitimate.
However, there were a few things that kept me from completely loving Pettable. For one, you have to get your emotional support animal letter through them - you can’t simply register your ESA on the site. They also charge extra for a 24-hour turnaround, and they don’t offer any satisfaction guarantee.
Wrapping Up
While Pettable doesn’t offer stand-alone registrations, they do offer ESA evaluations and letters, and they have a great customer support and legal team. But there’s no satisfaction guarantee and you have to pay more for the quickest turnaround time.
Offers ESA letters Fast pre-screening quiz
What could be better
May be a scam No stand-alone registration
ESA letters may be invalid
Inaccurate info on the websiteMy Experience Using Express Pet Certify
Express Pet Certify also doesn’t offer registrations, and instead makes you receive your ESA letter through them. This could be okay, except that you don’t speak to a licensed mental health professional yourself. Instead, you fill out a form, and then one of their therapists will review your answers. While they will reach out to follow up if they have questions, that’s not enough to legally qualify you both as having a patient-client relationship, which makes the letter legally invalid. This makes their process feel extremely illegitimate, and I knew if my landlord questioned my paperwork, I wouldn’t have the legal protections I would if I had a real ESA letter - and I could end up having to move or give up my animal.
They do offer a fast pre-screening quiz, which I found helpful. But they also were very confusing on their website and stated inaccurate information, like that their ESA letters are accepted by all airlines - when ESA letters no longer legally give your animal the right to fly in the cabin with you. It feels like another site that’s at least verging on a scam, and I wasn’t at all comfortable with them.
Wrapping Up
Express Pet Certify only offers ESA letters without giving you the chance to speak to a mental health professional live, so they are legally invalid. They also make false claims about their letters, which makes them feel like more of a scam.
Quick registration process
What could be better
Reports of customers never getting what they’ve paid for Customer service may never respond to you, even for major issues Potentially impossible to get refunds Seems like a scam ESA letters are likely invalidMy Experience Using United Service Dog
United Service Dog is a massively popular website, which is why I felt as though I needed to include them on here - although there aren’t many reasons to recommend them. They do offer a fast, simple registration process, but they don’t require you to speak live with a mental health professional to be prescribed an ESA letter (as is legally required), which makes me doubt the validity of the rest of their services.
Even worse, though, is that I found a lot of very dangerous red flags while researching United Service Dog. Not only were there multiple reports of people never receiving their documentation from them, but there were also reports that the customer support team would never respond to any issues - which meant it’s all but impossible to receive a refund. This makes me worried they’re actually a scam, which means I cannot recommend them as an emotional support animal registration service. They do offer free shipping, though it’s a moot point if they don’t send you the documentation anyway.
Wrapping Up
Multiple reports of people being scammed make it hard to recommend United Service Dog for anything, despite their fast registration process.
Comparison Chart
Here is a quick cheat sheet if you don't feel like reading above. There are a lot of similarities between the services, but there seems to be a clear front runner with US Service Animals.
| Legit | Turnaround | Experience | Legal Support | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ideal ESA Service |  |
5 | 5 | |
<$300 |
|
US Service Animals |
|
5 | 5 | |
$129-179 |
|
Pettable |
|
4 | 4 | |
$150-200+ |
| Valid ESA Letters | |
4 | 3.5 | |
$149-200 |
| Certapet | |
3.5 | 3.5 | |
$100-200 |
My Overall Thoughts
Thank you so much for letting me give you my detailed thoughts on the major emotional support animal registration services! My goal is to help others who live with disabilities find the support and comfort they need in their ESA, and to find registration services that will help them feel more secure and back them up in case of any potential conflicts. U.S. Service Animals is who I trust most for my own needs, and I hope you find the ESA registration service that works best for you here!If you have any questions whatsoever about registering your emotional support animal, or about ESA themselves, feel free to reach out to me. I would be more than happy to give you additional information to make sure you and your ESA can be as happy and secure as possible!