Dr's note --> City office --> Landlord permits pets? (Nice: apartment, rent)

[mayorhaggar]

Originally Posted by zitsky

It doesn't sound like these are really therapy cats. It sounds like you are trying to rent in a place that doesn't accept cats and you're trying to find a way in. Am I wrong?

So what, anything to get around the nazi landlords here.

[Davachka]

The issue I see is that they find some other reason to say no to renting to you, but really its the animal. I wonder if its possible to sign a lease first, then show them the emotional animal documents prior to moving in?

By the way, I have a letter like that from a dr. for flying. Its worked well at times, and other times, the agent still gave me a hard time.

[dclamb3]

@lisaonthemove

So sorry for the super slow response. It took me a while to get my mother on the horn since she's in the process of moving out of state.

She said that her doctor not only requested she get a pet to care for, but he wrote her a prescription for the cat as part of her treatment, and a letter outlining why she needed the cat.

Whenever my mother was confronted with someone who said no pets allowed (i.e. on the train, Greyhound, etc), she showed her doctor's letter until the cat was issued a service animal ID number via American's with Disabilities, then she showed both the doctor's letter and the cat's service animal id.

I hope this helps. Good luck!

[dclamb3]

To those on this thread that question the validity of service animal cats,

When I disagree with people I typically walk away and agree to disagree without even voicing my opinion (as who has the energy or time to disagree?). However, this is a touchy subject for me since it hits so close to home.

To the naysayers of service animals, I have this to say (and I say it from a place of compassion):

#1 Please be very thankful that you've never encountered this firsthand in your own life. Having grown up with a mother that, when she wasn't hospitalized, was so medicated that she can't even recall your childhood is not easy. Among many other things that I will spare you here, the fact that she is so unstable and unwell that she *is* required to care for an animal as part of her therapy should tell you something, instead of your passing judgement.

#2 Please take this opportunity to learn more about the topic to be a better-informed person in the future.

Warmly,
- D

[Isebiel]

Nothing to add to the original question, but I think the Dr. that prescribed a cat for that situation was brilliant.

[Ultrarunner]

Originally Posted by dclamb3

To those on this thread that question the validity of service animal cats,

When I disagree with people I typically walk away and agree to disagree without even voicing my opinion (as who has the energy or time to disagree?). However, this is a touchy subject for me since it hits so close to home.

To the naysayers of service animals, I have this to say (and I say it from a place of compassion):

#1 Please be very thankful that you've never encountered this firsthand in your own life. Having grown up with a mother that, when she wasn't hospitalized, was so medicated that she can't even recall your childhood is not easy. Among many other things that I will spare you here, the fact that she is so unstable and unwell that she *is* required to care for an animal as part of her therapy should tell you something, instead of your passing judgement.

#2 Please take this opportunity to learn more about the topic to be a better-informed person in the future.

Warmly,
- D

It can be a touchy situation on the Landlord side of things...

After the woman was attacked and killed several years ago in SF... insurance carriers did "Pet" inspections to enforce a list of banned breeds...

One resident immediately provided a Dr. note for a pit bull... the other residents were furious and the insurance company gave notice of cancellation...

However good the intentions are... there are often unintended consequences...

Same goes for Home Day Care in Rentals and Medical Marijuana...

I work in the medical field and there are mountains of proof of benefit a properly matched service animal...

[lisaonthemove]

Originally Posted by zitsky

It doesn't sound like these are really therapy cats. It sounds like you are trying to rent in a place that doesn't accept cats and you're trying to find a way in. Am I wrong?

you are right! i am sociopathic only when my cats are in question. it is REALLY hard to find a place that allows cats in SF, and a lot of people register their dogs with the same ulterior motive. truth is, they are pretty essential to my mental health! and only i can be the judge of that, right?

but if i cannot do it, then that's that.

[lisaonthemove]

Originally Posted by rkwalton

How did I miss this?

Yes, if your pet is a service animal your landlord has to accept it, period. I'm in line for a service animal myself.

Cats are not known for being easy to train though, so I don't think that's going to cut it. Since the animal I'll get eventually is for a different reason, I can't say much more as I've not researched ESAs. I found a page on FB that might help with your questions: Emotional Support Animal.

Good luck.

awesome link, thank you! there's a link to NSAR given by one person, and it says explicitly that cats are not excluded from being Emotional Support Animals. they kinda contradict that by giving a definition of an ESA as a dog...kind of tricky.

[lisaonthemove]

Originally Posted by Davachka

The issue I see is that they find some other reason to say no to renting to you, but really its the animal. I wonder if its possible to sign a lease first, then show them the emotional animal documents prior to moving in?

By the way, I have a letter like that from a dr. for flying. Its worked well at times, and other times, the agent still gave me a hard time.

interesting thoughts there. i have always flown with a cat with no problem. where have you encountered resistance to that??

the landlords might well try to find another reason, and would probably just say that someone else rented the place, because i have really solid rental records/employment/no debt, etc. but of course they will do what they have to do.

[lisaonthemove]

Originally Posted by dclamb3

To those on this thread that question the validity of service animal cats,

When I disagree with people I typically walk away and agree to disagree without even voicing my opinion (as who has the energy or time to disagree?). However, this is a touchy subject for me since it hits so close to home.

To the naysayers of service animals, I have this to say (and I say it from a place of compassion):

#1 Please be very thankful that you've never encountered this firsthand in your own life. Having grown up with a mother that, when she wasn't hospitalized, was so medicated that she can't even recall your childhood is not easy. Among many other things that I will spare you here, the fact that she is so unstable and unwell that she *is* required to care for an animal as part of her therapy should tell you something, instead of your passing judgement.

#2 Please take this opportunity to learn more about the topic to be a better-informed person in the future.

Warmly,
- D

D:
I am a psychologist. I get it so totally, and though I just cannot imagine being happy without my little guys, I am fortunate to not need them in such an extreme capacity. While humans are prone to judge things unfamiliar and therefore seemingly illogical/silly/dismissable on some other grounds, there's no excuse for judging any kind of therapy or comfort for another person. Ridiculous. And you have my respect for saying something! A+