User:KJSMSU07/Emotional support animal

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Benefits:

There is a direct tie between humans and animals via the human-animal bond that links for humans capacity for empathy. While there is emotional benefits that come from owning and keeping animals, companion, Emotional Support, and Service Animals, there are also health benefits that have been cited. Lower blood pressure, reduced stress, raised blood oxytocin level and other health benefits can all be cited. The economic benefit of pet ownership can also be seen. It is estimated that $72.1 billion will have been spent on pets in 2018. Currently 68% of homes in the United States owns some type of pet animal, equating to approximately 84.6 million homes.

Workplace Controverse:
There is currently a reported 8% of employers who currently allow pets into the workplace in some fashion, which is up from 5% in 2017. With the increase in animals in the workplace there is also raised concerns for people who have registered their emotional support animals and to a degree registered service animals that enter the work environment. As laws currently stand registered services animals are protected under the Americans with Disabilities Act as well as companion animals registered at Emotional Support Animals. This may affect potential employers. Under the laws currently in place employers must provide reasonable accommodation for people with disabilities. But it does not discriminate the difference between the two registrations. Current legislation includes Clark v. School Dist. Five of Lexington and Richland Counties, 36 the South Carolina District Court denied the employer’s summary judgment motion. There are additional limitations to employers when requesting information about the need for a person’s service animal. And in some cases, having any animal on the floor may be a cause for concern i.e. safety for the animal, other employee, or customers.

2010 the Americans with Disabilities Act Title 2 and Title 3 was amended to include trained service dogs as covered by this law. There are special provisions for miniature horses in this law. However, they do not have the same full coverage that dogs do. No other animals are currently considered covered under this law as of March 15, 2011.