How Much Does It Cost To Make Your Dog an Emotional Support Dog? A Price and Factors Breakdown

Is your pup helping you ride out the tough days? Whether it calms your anxiety or makes you feel less alone, you might be thinking about getting it officially recognized as your emotional support animal (ESA).

But while making your furry friend an ESA will help you avoid housing drama and pet hassles, the process doesn’t come without its costs.

If you’re wondering, “How much does it cost to make your dog an emotional support dog?” we’ll break down the real expenses so you know what’s non-negotiable and what’s just overpriced fluff.

How Do You Make Your Dog an Emotional Support Animal?

The magic ingredient that transforms your furball from a regular pet to an emotional support animal is an ESA letter. It’s an official document issued by a licensed mental health professional (LMHP) declaring your need for an emotional support animal as part of your treatment for a mental health condition outlined in the DSM-5-TR. 

The letter gives you and your four-legged buddy housing protections under the Fair Housing Act (FHA), which is the federal law that prevents ESA owners from facing housing discrimination. The main perks you’ll enjoy include:

• Living with your pup anywhere, even in housing with no-pet policies 
• Not having to pay pet rent, fees, or deposits
• Having any restrictions on animal breed, type, or size waived

And if a landlord violates these housing protections, you can file a complaint with the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), the institution responsible for enforcing the FHA. 

When a single document grants you this much security, it’s no wonder that it might cost you a pretty penny. But the exact price you’ll pay isn’t set in stone.

How Much Does It Cost To Make Your Dog an Emotional Support Animal?

Unlike service animals, dogs don’t need any training to become an ESA, which means that the main costs associated with the process come from getting an ESA letter. 

The regular way to obtain one is by finding a local LMHP to write it for you. If you’re already seeing a therapist who can issue you the right paperwork, you might be able to swing it under the cost of a single session. In the U.S., this usually means paying $100–$350 for in-person therapy without insurance.

But if you’re not already seeing an LMHP, things get more expensive (not to mention exhausting). First, you’ll need to hunt down professionals in your area who offer ESA evaluations. When you find a suitable option, you must pay a consultation fee, but here’s the twist: this initial cost might not be the only expense lying in wait. Other factors can jack up the cost of getting your ESA letter via the DIY route by hundreds of dollars, including:

1. Mode of consultation
2. State ESA regulations
3. The LMHP’s pricing model

Mode of Consultation

Not all LMHPs offer virtual consultations, so you might need to commute to their location, which, depending on the distance and mode of transportation, can cost a decent sum. 

The LMHP may also schedule follow-up appointments to get a better sense of your state of mind and need for an emotional support dog before writing you a letter, meaning more session fees and transportation costs.

State ESA Regulations

Some states have extra requirements for getting an ESA letter that can make the process drag on and costs pile on.

For example, in California, Louisiana, and Montana, evaluations for an ESA aren’t a one-and-done affair. You can’t just waltz into a consultation, bare your mental health history, and leave with an ESA letter in hand. 

Instead, you have to take the scenic route and establish a professional relationship with an LMHP for at least 30 days before they can process your ESA paperwork. This means coughing up money for multiple appointments in the hopes of eventually getting your dog approved as an ESA.

The LMHP’s Pricing Model

The thing with ESA letters is you’re technically not paying for the paper itself, but for the time and expertise of the mental health professional making the recommendation.

You can’t expect to pay a fixed price for seeing an LMHP across the country, or even in different cities and counties within the same state. That’s because each provider sets their own fees, and like dog breeds, they can vary wildly.

Depending on the LMHP, you may not have to pay a penny more for a letter if you’re approved for an ESA because it’s built into the consultation fee. However, those who bill for ESA letters separately should be prepared to part ways with another $100 or more.

How Much Is It To Make Your Dog an Emotional Support Animal Online?

When they’re above board, online ESA services can lighten the financial load by a lot. The typical one-off price for an ESA letter from a legitimate online provider is between $150 and $200, while potential renewals usually cost between $100 and $200. 

While this option is more cost-effective than the traditional process, it’s still reasonably priced to cover the professional’s time and expertise, so you don’t have to worry about accidentally skimping on any essential requirements.

The only difference between the online option and going to an LMHP directly is the time, effort, and money it saves you.

Here’s what to expect:

Additional ESA Dog Costs To Watch Out For

Though getting an ESA letter is the only requirement for officially making your pup an ESA, there are some related expenses you may have to shoulder for an emotional support dog, including:

• Adoption costs: If you don’t already have a tail-wagging companion, adoption will attract additional charges, but it’s typically less expensive than buying one from pet shops or breeders. The cost of dog adoption from animal shelters is anywhere between $50 and $350+, depending on the location, the dog’s age, and other services such as grooming or pet insurance that may be included
• ESA letter renewal fees: Although federal law doesn’t require renewals for ESA letters, some states, like Arkansas, have a mandatory annual renewal policy. Pesky landlords may also demand that you submit a new letter every year to prove you still have a present need for an ESA

The Myth of Free and Cheap ESA Letters

While exploring your online ESA letter options, you’ll likely come across websites offering overly cheap or even free ESA letters. And the reason why these might sound too good to be true is that they are.

Think about it: how are these services paying the LMHPs if they’re charging nothing or as little as $20 for a letter? The answer is simple: they’re not.

These processes usually don’t involve an actual one-on-one assessment by an LMHP, so what you’re getting is a DIY template that’s as legit as a flying carpet. It’ll serve you and your doggy well to disregard these websites, as using fake ESA letters can result in evictions, rejected rental applications, and even misdemeanor charges and fines. 

The same goes for platforms promising services such as:

• ESA certification or registration: There’s no official “certificate” or “registry” for ESAs
• Guaranteed nationwide acceptance: Letters are only valid in the state in which they were issued
• Instant or guaranteed approvals: After evaluation, LMHPs need some time to review your case and will only write you a letter if they believe you’re a prime candidate for an ESA, so there are no guarantees or instant processing

If evaluating numerous online ESA providers and weeding out scams is too much to handle, don’t worry. Your Service Animal comes to the rescue, with straightforward processes and access to a professional network of LMHPs who can help make your dream of building a happy home with your dog come true.

Get Legal ESA Protections for Your Dog With Your Service Animal

Your Service Animal prioritizes convenience, compliance, and speed to eliminate the challenges of getting an ESA letter and let you live with your beloved pet stress-free. 

You can say goodbye to waiting lists, long commutes for in-person visits, and processes that take weeks or months. Here are the advantages of using Your Service Animal for your ESA needs:

How It Works

When you’re ready to make your furry therapist official, all you need to is:

1. Find out if you’re a good fit for an ESA letter with our online quiz
2. Schedule an online appointment with a licensed mental health practitioner in your state
3. Attend the online call and receive your ESA letter if clinically appropriate
4. Receive a full refund if the therapist doesn’t issue an ESA letter or your landlord rejects your letter