An emotional support animal provides assistance to people who have mental and/or emotional disabilities.

As medical professionals learn more about mental health, previously overlooked mental health conditions are becoming more easily diagnosed, and in many cases, an ESA is an important part of the coping process. While ESAs are not the same as service animals in that they are not trained to perform a specific task, they can be just as important to a person. ESAs are responsible for providing their owners with a reassuring presence that can aid in the completion of daily tasks. ESAs, like service animals, have legal rights under both state and federal laws.