Emotional support animals at USD
USD School of Law houses new furry friend
Lauren Ceballos / Feature Editor / The USD Vista
USD provides support for its students with furry friends through Emotional Support Animals in dorms.
The University of San Diego allows for Emotional Support Animals for both individuals with disabilities and those who need emotional support. The school emphasizes that these animals are not pets and do not need to be a specific type of animal. USD students are required to make a formal request with the Disability and Learning Difference Resource Center (DLDRC) in order to be cleared for an ESA with campus housing 60 days before the first semester with this request. Students must then submit documentation from a licensed health professional which declares the validity of needing an ESA on campus and then receive a confirmation of approval.
The owner is obliged to follow all regulations pertaining to their ESA and may have to meet with University Housing representatives. According to USD, some rules include: ESAs are only allowed in student’s housing, other than when they are being transported, or walking with a leash or harness, ESAs cannot be left unattended overnight and they must be completely house-trained.
USD sophomore Isabela Nakatani, did not discover her connection with wanting an ESA until moving to college. She grew up with a dog and came to realize how much support he actually gave her.
“I started thinking about getting an emotional support cat since I met one of my friends who… had an emotional support cat as well. I started going over to her dorm every time I was anxious or had a lot in my mind, just to get some ‘kitty therapy’,” explained Nakatani.
After acknowledging that experience, Nakatani began the process to have her very own Emotional Support Animal at USD.
Nakatani felt that the process was “not too hard” at USD. The initial training of her cat caused some chaos; however, it was “the best decision that [she] could have made.”
“The amount of joy, peace, and love that she brings me every day makes the first months very very worth it,” said Nakatani.
Nakatani is very happy with her experience with her ESA, but expressed one flaw at USD.
“I love having an ESA at USD. She’s very well received, and I haven’t had a bad experience with the admin part. The only thing I will say is that I wish that ESAs were allowed in the classroom with us, like how service animals are, because sometimes classes are a big part of the stress in our lives, which I believe could be improved if we had our emotional support animals with us.”
USD senior Cade Lyons has “an emotional support animal, but he is a service dog in training,” who is a miniature goldendoodle.
“I did study abroad and when I came back, I knew that I wanted a service dog… and it’s really a gigantic change in my life… I don’t think I would have been able to go to at least a third of the classes that I’ve had this semester,” Lyons said.
However, she explained how it, at times, can be a struggle with an ESA.
“It makes it really hard for him to behave when there is someone going ‘oh my gosh there’s a puppy’… and it just makes it a little harder for him to be a good boy,” Lyons said.
Lyons continues to relay how at times, this can be the case with some professors as well.
Ultimately, Emotional Support Animals are loyal counterparts who provide beneficial companionship. They are a source of stability, alliance, stress relief and structure. The University of San Diego is working to do its part of providing students with this resource, working with students to allow for a smooth transition into college with their ESA. The Law School is, in turn, collaborating with Canine Companions to provide Service Animals, providing both opportunities for USD students to reap the benefits of comradery with animals.