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With so many ESA letter services out there—some reliable, others less so—it’s tough to know who to trust.
My ESA Doctor, operated by California-based Steady Care Medical Clinic, is an online platform that promises quick approvals and legally compliant documentation for your four-legged therapist. But does it deliver?
To find out, we analyzed numerous My ESA Doctor reviews and checked whether the service meets industry standards and legal requirements. In this review, we’ll break down real customer experiences to help you decide whether the platform is worth your time or if you’re better off with another option.

Is My ESA Doctor Legit—Detailed User Reviews Analysis
When evaluating any legit ESA letter service, you should look beyond the marketing claims and see whether you’re actually getting what’s advertised. For our My ESA Doctor review, we’ve summarized verified user experiences across these five key areas:
- ESA letter process
- Letter acceptance
- Additional offers
- Pricing and refund policy
- Customer support
ESA Letter Process
To begin the process, My ESA Doctor requires you to complete a straightforward application as follows:
- Register a free account with details like your name, contact information, and state
- Choose from their available packages and add-ons
- Enter your ESA’s information (name, breed, age, and type)
- Provide payment details and complete your order
After that, the company’s medical staff reviews your application, followed by a phone consultation with a licensed mental health professional (LMHP). If approved, you’ll receive a digital letter via email within 10 minutes, with a hard copy arriving in 1–2 business days. Some customers reported that the entire process took only about an hour.
Notably, unlike many other ESA services like Your Service Animal, CertaPet, or American Service Pets, My ESA Doctor doesn’t require any pre-qualification quiz to assess your mental health needs before you make the payment. Although optional, this initial screening step can help determine if you’re likely to qualify before committing your time and money.
Letter Acceptance
User experiences with the letter acceptance have been mixed. Some My ESA Doctor reviews report positive outcomes, like one Yelp Elite reviewer who secured housing for two apartment applications in Florida without issues.
However, other users have encountered problems with letter acceptance:
- Some reviewers reported that their letter was rejected by their apartment, despite the company claiming 100% acceptance
- Some even faced eviction despite having paid for the service
- One customer of Steady Care Medical (the clinic associated with My ESA Doctor) specifically noted that their landlord identified their letter as fake
Additional Offers
Besides ESA letters for housing, the company’s website promotes travel-related benefits tied to their ESA letter, with claims like “You are allowed to fly with your ESA if you have an ESA letter.”
However, according to current regulations, only service dogs are allowed on a plane with you. These dogs are trained to perform specific disability-related tasks and are protected under the Air Carrier Access Act (ACAA) and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).
On the other hand, ESAs are covered under the Fair Housing Act (FHA), which grants them housing privileges only, such as access to pet-free housing and exemption from pet rent or breed restrictions.
Despite this distinction, My ESA Doctor still uses travel rights as part of its marketing, which could mislead customers into believing ESA letters still hold legal weight for air travel.
The company also sells various pet gear, such as:
- ESA vests
- ID cards
- Collar tags
- Travel carriers
- Pet strollers
- Harnesses and leashes
While these accessories might be useful, none are legally required for an ESA. The only paperwork recognized by the FHA is a valid ESA letter from an LMHP (such as a licensed therapist, psychiatrist, or physician). The good news is that these accessories are optional and don’t inflate the cost of the letter itself.
On the plus side, the company doesn’t promote fake ESA registrations or certifications like many online services do (remember that there’s no ESA registry or certification system in the U.S).
Pricing and Refund Policy
On the official website (myesadoctor.com), you’ll find several packages, as shown in the table below:
Package | Price |
Basic ESA Letter for Housing | $129.99 |
Complete ESA Package (Letter + leash + vest + patches) | $209.99 |
ESA Renewal for 1 Year | $99.99 |
The company charges $49.99 for each additional ESA (up to five extra). While the base price is competitive, costs can add up quickly if you require multiple furry friends.
My ESA Doctor’s refund policy is pretty limited. Once you make the payment, you can get your money back only if:
- Your application isn’t approved
- You didn’t receive your letter on time
However, once you receive your approved letter, there are no refunds—even if your landlord doesn’t accept it. This restrictive policy has caused problems for some users. In one MyESADoctor review, the customer reported paying nearly $370 for a “travel” ESA letter, only to be denied a refund when they discovered the letter was useless. Despite multiple calls and emails, they couldn’t recover their money.
You’ll want to consider whether this service with a strict refund policy is worth it, especially if you need coverage for multiple animals. Many competitors offer more flexible “no questions asked” guarantees that cover landlord rejections, so it’s a good idea to consider alternatives.
Customer Support
My ESA Doctor provides multiple contact options, including:
- Phone
- Live chat
You can also directly reach out to their Steady Care Medical clinic via phone or email. While having these various channels seems convenient, the My ESA Doctor reviews aren’t the most reassuring.
Many users report significant difficulties reaching representatives. One person said they were charged but received no confirmation or follow-up, and when they called for help, they were stuck on hold for 45 minutes before giving up. Another customer noted they couldn’t get through to anyone when calling, despite completing payment.
Several reviewers expressed frustration with unresolved issues even after multiple contact attempts, like a customer who couldn’t get their ESA letter updated with a new pet’s name after their dog passed away.
Communication issues extend to pricing discrepancies as well. One MyESADoctor review detailed a frustrating bait-and-switch experience where the customer was quoted one price ($129) during chat, only to be demanded $179 when it came time to pay. Despite showing proof of the original quote, the company reportedly refused to honor it.
Hopefully, you’ll never need customer service. But when you need help with document updates, billing errors, or landlord disputes, you’ll want a provider known for responsive, helpful support.

My ESA Doctor—Pros & Cons
To summarize, here’s a list of My ESA Doctor’s good and bad sides:
Pros
- ✅ Quick turnaround time
- ✅ Connects you to certified healthcare providers over the phone
- ✅ Affordable base price
Cons
- ❌ Multiple cases of letters being rejected by apartments and landlords
- ❌ Misleading claims about ESA travel rights
- ❌ Limited refund policy that doesn’t cover landlord rejections
- ❌ Additional charges for multiple ESAs ($49.99 each)
- ❌ Numerous reports of unresponsive customer service
Looking for a Better Alternative? Your Service Animal Offers Peace of Mind
While My ESA Doctor looks like a convenient way to obtain ESA letters backed by a real clinic, it has its shortcomings. When you’re already coping with mental health struggles, the last thing you want to deal with is fake paperwork, denied requests, or unresponsive customer support.
If you’re looking for a transparent, stress-free alternative, Your Service Animal addresses these pain points head-on by offering credible letters, clear policies, and support you can rely on.
You can begin the process by completing a free 3-minute assessment quiz that asks questions related to your condition and requirements. This pre-qualification step serves two important purposes:
- It helps you figure out your eligibility before spending a dime
- It helps the platform match you with a licensed mental health professional suited to your specific needs
If you qualify, the platform connects you with LMHPs in your state who can evaluate your condition and prescribe an ESA letter on their official letterhead. This comprehensive medical assessment ensures your letter will stand up to scrutiny from landlords and housing authorities.

What Makes Your Service Animal Special?
The ESA letter provider you choose should remove the headaches and uncertainty from the process, not add to them. With Your Service Animal, you get a service that’s not only simple and fast but also fully in line with all the federal and state requirements.
Here’s what sets Your Service Animal apart from the crowd:
Benefit | What You Get |
Fully remote process | Complete every step—from online payment to virtual consultation and digital letter delivery—right from your phone or laptop, at your own pace |
Compliant letters | Every ESA letter is issued by a vetted LMHP registered and practicing in your state, and contains their National Provider Identifier (NPI) number, official letterhead, and a signed treatment plan recommendation |
Fast turnaround | If approved, you’ll get your ESA letter within 24–48 hours of your consultation—perfect for those last-minute housing needs |
100% money-back guarantee | If your letter isn’t approved or your landlord rejects it, you get a full refund, ensuring you don’t lose money on something you can’t use |
Get a Fully Compliant ESA Letter Now
If you’re ready to move forward with an ESA letter that actually works, here’s all you need to do:
- Find out if you’re a good fit for an ESA letter with our online quiz
- Schedule an online appointment with a licensed mental health practitioner in your state
- Attend the online call and receive your ESA letter if clinically appropriate
- Receive a full refund if the therapist doesn’t issue an ESA letter or your landlord rejects your letter