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While emotional support animals and service animals share very similar characteristics, it is important to look at the differences to distinguish between the two.

The U.S Department of Justice defines a service animal as any dog that is individually trained to do work or to perform tasks for the benefit of an individual with a disability (DOJ 2011). Service animals are trained to provide services and to perform tasks geared toward a person’s specific disability.

Emotional support animals are defined as any animals that provide support, well-being, comfort, or aid, to an individual through companionship, non-judgmental positive regard, and affection (Von Bergen 2015).

Another animal people get for emotional support are cats. Cats can understand when their owner has depression, anxiety, and more. It all depends on the owner if they want to have a special relationship with their cat. If they do they will get the emotional support that the person needs (Turner, Dennis). Being attached to an animal can help relieve loneliness and can help a person's well being.

There are so many things these days to distract students from doing their work, cell phones, laptops, etc, but what crosses the line where it becoming too distracting? College courses are already hard enough, and having an animal in the room could take the attention from the professor. If the animal is being a distraction how is that fair to other students in the classroom? It is not just that they are distracting, it could be because of different instances such as allergies.

Phillips, Melinda. (2016). Service and Emotional Support Animals on Campus: The Relevance and Controversy. Research & Teaching in Developmental Education, 33(1), 96–99. Retrieved from