Sample
Letter from Physician or Mental Health Professional to Housing Provider on
Health Care Provider’s Letterhead
Dear _______________:
[patient’s name] is currently under my care and I am
prescribing, as a necessary adjunct to her current treatment and therapy, the
continued use and ownership of her emotional support animal companions in order
to help alleviate the disabling difficulties she has on a chronic basis with
her physical symptoms, chronic anxiety and stress/loss-coping difficulties.
I
am also aware that [patient’s name] is under the care of other health
care professionals and I have reviewed the applicable records and reports. Because of her difficulties, she meets the
definition of having a disability under the Americans With
Disabilities Act, the Fair Housing Act and the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. Medication and other treatments are not fully
and consistently effective and her life functions and coping skills are often
interrupted and impaired. In addition,
her condition often causes her to curtail her plans to travel and visit with
her family in order to stay home for treatment.
This has resulted in severe interruption of her life functions and
plans.
I
am therefore strongly recommending that she continues to utilize her emotional support
animals in residence permanently as part of her treatment and support system
and that she not be separated from her support animals.
[patient’s name]’s support animals’ obvious ability to provide
support, comfort, security and relaxation definitely have proven to enhance the
treatment of patients with [patient’s name]’s conditions and will surely
enhance her ability to live independently and to fully enjoy her dwelling
unit. The therapeutic use and function
of these animals should not and cannot legally or ethically be impinged upon by
any group, organization or individual as per the Federal legislation cited
above, under which protection [patient’s name] now comes, which
supersedes all otherwise restrictive policies.
Further,
[patient’s name]’s right to privacy under law as well as her need to
avoid undue stress precludes any pressure upon her to disclose further details
of her condition should she choose
confidentiality.
In
closing, please note that actions and
speech which “…coerce, intimidate, threaten, or interfere with any person in
the exercise of, or on account of her or his having exercised, or on account of
her or his having aided or encouraged any other person in the exercise…” of
their rights to reasonable accommodation is unlawful. (PART II FAIR HOUSING ACT [ss. 760.20-760.37] of
Yours
truly,
M.D.
or D.O. or Clinical Psychologist or Licensed Mental Health Counselor (or other
appropriately licensed health care professional)