Emotional Support Animals and Service Animals: Verification, Vests, and Validation

Debunk myths and answer burning questions about ESA registries, training vests, and permissible animals.

Navigating the complexities of assistive animal accommodation can be challenging for housing providers. HUD's Notice FHEO-2020-01 provides essential guidance, but its application can be ambiguous in certain situations, leading to ongoing questions and complaints from housing providers and residents alike.

In this webinar, industry expert Doug Chasick will dissect the nuances of HUD's guidance, focusing on the areas that commonly raise questions and issues. One such area is defining what constitutes a household animal. For example, while a pot-bellied pig might be a common household pet in some areas, its acceptance in other locations, such as Manhattan, could be subject to different interpretations.

Another hot topic is the existence of a national registry for Emotional Support Animals (ESA). Many housing providers are unsure whether such a registry exists and if it can be used to verify the status of an ESA. Additionally, questions about service animals wearing vests, proof of training, and the necessity of DNA registration for all animals further complicate the issue.

Furthermore, amenities for visually-impaired residents raise questions about whether swimming with a guide dog is permissible. These examples illustrate the myriad of questions and uncertainties surrounding assistive animal accommodation in housing.

During this webinar, Doug will provide clarity on these and other pressing issues. By examining HUD's guidance in detail, attendees will gain a deeper understanding of how to navigate the complex landscape of assistive animal accommodation.

Join us to gain valuable insights and practical knowledge that will help you confidently manage requests for assistive animals and ensure compliance with HUD regulations. Doug's expertise and engaging presentation style make this webinar a must-attend for housing providers looking to enhance their understanding of assistive animal accommodation.

Webinar Objectives

• Review the basics of processing accommodations for animals.
• Learn what kind of accommodations we may need to approve.
• Learn how to differentiate between a service animal and a support animal.
• Learn what questions and inquiries may be made regarding the disability and the animal.
• Learn what types of verification and documentation we may require.
• Learn what animals may and may not be allowed as service and/or support animals.
• Learn how to analyze requests for multiple animals.
• Review how to answer questions about why some residents have animals at a no pets property.

Webinar Highlights

• Review of HUD Guidance: A thorough examination of the January 2020 HUD guidance on assistive animal accommodation.
• Definitions: Clarification of key terms and concepts related to assistive animal accommodation.
• Obligations and Requirements: Understanding the legal obligations and requirements for housing providers.
• Processing Accommodation Requests: Steps and best practices for effectively processing requests for assistive animals.
• Permissible Questions: Guidelines on the types of questions that can be asked when evaluating accommodation requests.
• Terms Clarified: Explanation of terms like "readily observable," "disability-related need," "nexus," and others used in HUD guidance.
• Reliable Sources and Documentation: Determining what constitutes a reliable source for information and the documentation that can be requested.
• Verification Process: Understanding the process of verifying the need for an assistive animal.
• Interactive Process: The importance and implementation of the interactive process in accommodation requests.

Who Should Attend

All on-site and multi-site personnel including Regional/Area Managers, Community Managers, Training and HR Professionals.