Emotional Support Dog

[Tim Czarkowski]

I had someone send an obviously fake certificate for an"Emotional Support Animal" and of course it was for a pit bull. In fact my assistant found the website selling the exact one for $35. What am I legally allowed to do? I approved someone who had applied before her but if she met all my other requirements, what would I be able to do I? I understand airlines now require a letter from a therapist, proof of some kind of training, and they have to be able to call the therapist office and confirm that the letter is real. Am I allowed to do all that?  Anything else I can do?

I've even seen other websites offering basically all of that... I allow dogs in all my apartments but of course not the breeds excluded by my insurance. What happens if a dog that is disallowed from my insurance is a "Emotional Support Animal" and then attacks someone? Am I covered?

[Dick Rosen]

Talk to your local landlord attorney, they can usually offer a form that needs to be filled out by the tenants doctor, then you can require this form and ignore their form. That same attorney can guide you on other steps to take. REgarding the breed restriction, there have been cases where people have sued the insurance company for breed restrictions and most are taking the restriction out of their policies because of this. Secondly, if it is a trained and certified service dog I highly doubt that it's going to ever attack anyone. The Pit Bull breed is not a bad dog, some people are bad Pit Bull trainers.