Emotional Support Animals
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When it comes to ESAs, don’t ask a doctor for advice about the law
On July 1, 2026 the American Psychological Association published an article about using animals in therapy. You can find it here. I’m a lawyer, not a doctor, so I don’t have anything to say about most of the article, which deals with how animals can be used by psychologists when interacting with patients. I can… Continue reading
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HUD’s radical change of position on ESA’s
On May 23, 2026, HUD’s Assistant Secretary for Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity announced a dramatic change in HUD’s view of accommodation requests for emotional support animals.² Stripped of the usual bureaucratic word swamp the point of the announcement is simple. HUD will not find reasonable cause to believe discrimination occurred for any case involving… Continue reading
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“Toddler mauled by service dog” – the cost of thoughtless disability letters.
The headline was all too familiar, “Toddler mauled by service dog.” We have seen it before when untrained animals were allowed on airlines or in other public places.(6) When it is passenger passing off a peacock as an emotional support bird it is funny. When it is a child who may be disfigured for life… Continue reading
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What’s bugging HUD – the latest HUD actions based on disability
HUD’s press releases are interesting reading, not because they help you understand the law, but because they help you understand what HUD thinks the law is, and because they are often object lessons in mistakes no housing provider should make. This is a round up of press releases in the last four or five months,… Continue reading
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FHA and ADA Odds and Ends
“Odd and Ends” is the title of a Bob Dylan concert compilation film that was recently released in digital format.³ My odds and ends are probably not as interesting, but I’ve been busy for the last month litigating claims under the FHA and ADA, so this blog is part one of a two part effort… Continue reading