Emotional support animals deserve more recognition
ESAs have an undeniable impact on those who have mental health conditions.
By KATE MCQUARRIE
After five years, six different medications, dozens of stuffed animals and about 10 therapists (I’ve lost count to be honest), I’ve finally found a cocktail of coping mechanisms to deal with my chronic anxiety and depression.
The most effective one was not prescribed by any doctors or taught to me in therapy — it was two little kittens named Padme and Ahsoka. I may have originally registered them as emotional support animals to avoid housing fees, but they have truly been one of the greatest emotional supports of my life.
Daily headlines, sent straight to your inbox.
Subscribe to our newsletter to keep up with the latest at and around USC.
I’ve wanted a pet for as long as I can remember, and the moment I no longer had housemates with allergies, I wanted to take the plunge and adopt. Despite the responsibility and warnings from family and friends that it would be a big commitment, when I saw a litter of kittens named after “Star Wars” characters by my favorite Los Angeles rescue, I couldn’t resist.
It was one of the best decisions I ever made. Not only are they incredibly adorable and filling a hole in my heart that I didn’t even know was there, they are sometimes the only thing that gets me out of bed in the morning.
On days when I just want to ignore the world and stay in my cocoon contemplating the oppressive weight of my mental condition, waking up to two hungry kittens meowing at me and jumping on my face certainly gets the job done.
Each day they remind me that I am worthy of unconditional love, making me feel needed in this world when sometimes it seems like everything I do is pointless — and I’m not the only one.
U.S. Service Animals, the official United States service and support animal registry, states “the presence of comforting animals has been proven to enhance dopamine levels. This means that keeping a furry friend at your side can decrease anxiety and stabilize your emotions.”
(Razan Asmar / Daily Trojan)
A 2023 study by CertaPet and The Assistance Dog Center affirms the benefits of emotional support animals, with 99% of participants reporting an increased sense of motivation in their everyday lives. A further 97% of participants reported less anxiety and an 89% reduction in panic attacks.
For those of us who suffer from mental health conditions, which the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimate accounts for more than 1 in 5 adults in the U.S., these benefits can be life-changing. With more than 60% of college students meeting the criteria for a mental health condition in 2021, the need for support is even more prevalent on college campuses.
USC organizations regularly host puppy events, from the Office of Religious and Spiritual Life’s CommuniTEA Dog Party with therapy dogs this past March to the Humane Society of USC’s Mental Health Awareness Event with therapy dogs last month.
According to Husson University, “For most people, the presence of an animal prompts the body to release serotonin, prolactin and oxytocin … This hormone release can lower symptoms of depression and sadness, helping support good mental health.”
I have at least one friend text me every weekend asking to see the kittens (once four in one day), each of them missing pets at home and the presence of animals in their lives. There’s just something about coming home from a long day of life to a thing that loves you.
Despite all the issues that come with having a pet — from the 2 a.m. zoomies to the spay surgery aftercare — I have never regretted taking on two lives to support along with my own. It is a huge responsibility, but it makes me more responsible. Taking care of them holds me accountable for taking care of myself. But most of all, they are just so cute.
Emotional support animals aren’t just a way to get out of your $100 monthly pet fee or a fake way to get your pet into prohibited spaces. Adopting my kittens has not only made me feel more connected and fulfilled than I have in a long time, they make the people around me happier and lighter. An animal is a true emotional support, and so if you have the opportunity, take the plunge.
