As we navigate the bustling streets of our cities or the tranquil pathways of our local parks, service dogs and emotional support animals are becoming a more common sight. As such, many of us are often tempted to extend a friendly hand towards these animals. But a crucial question arises, “Can I touch a service...Read More

Help from a Florida Service Dog Attorney While service dogs provide essential services to people with various types of disabilities, an increasing trend involving people claiming their emotional support animals (ESAs) as registered service animals has led to numerous problems in Florida and throughout the U.S. While service dogs qualify under the Americans with Disabilities...Read More

Millions of Americans have pets in their households and benefit from the unconditional love they bring. There are also countless health benefits that come with having a companion animal. But not all landlords and condo associations recognize these benefits and allow tenants or residents to keep pets in their units. However, if you require an...Read More

There are countless benefits to having a companion animal — from the unconditional love they provide to encouraging exercise and easing loneliness. But an animal can also help to protect against cognitive decline and alleviate the symptoms associated with certain mental health conditions. In fact, emotional support animals (ESAs) provide numerous therapeutic benefits to individuals...Read More

Are you planning to travel to Florida this winter? As the holiday season is approaching, many people plan on moving to Florida or staying for an extended period of time to get away from snow and cold weather. If you are prescribed an emotional support animal or service pet you will need to take special...Read More

Every day, EMTs, police officers, firefighters, service members, and other first responders rush in to help in dangerous situations, saving lives and taking care of victims who have been injured in traumatic events. Although the job of a first responder comes with many rewards, seeing so many train wrecks, car crashes, fires, floods, and fatalities...Read More

As the coronavirus pandemic continues to ravage the country, feelings of anxiety, stress, and depression have overwhelmed many of us. For some, the emotional toll can be debilitating. As the dramatic rise in pet sales and rescues —“pandemic puppy” has even become part of the COVID lexicon — makes clear, people are once again turning...Read More

In a blow to owners of emotional support animals, the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) has just issued a final rule that will limit the animals on airplanes; disabled travelers can bring service dogs only. Airlines will not be required to permit emotional support animals (ESAs) to accompany passengers.  Set to go into effect in...Read More

State and federal law guarantee certain rights and protections to people who need the assistance of a service animal or an emotional support animal (often referred to as an “ESA”). To take full advantage of these legal rights, however, there are certain steps animal owners must take. This is particularly true if you live in...Read More

Many people seek comfort in the paws of a pet but may not know all the terminology for the various types of animal-owner relationships. Therapy dogs? Emotional support dogs? Service dogs? The various terms may seem like they could be interchangeable, but in reality and under the law, the status of your animal may have...Read More

The companionship and comfort dogs can provide to people suffering from depression is already well known. Service dogs, including psychiatric service dogs, have special training and are typically for people with severe issues. Emotional support animals (ESAs) can help to alleviate the symptoms or effects of depression or other psychological conditions. If you suffer from...Read More

If you are wondering how to get an emotional support animal approved in pet-restricted housing, it is important to understand what is required under Florida law on emotional support animals. Knowing what your Condo Association or Homeowners Association (HOA) is permitted to consider when you make your request, as well as what could raise red...Read More

If you need the assistance of an animal to alleviate the symptoms or effects of a disability (or even to detect covid-19!), it is important to understand that there are different categories of assistance animals, and how your animal is defined will impact how your request for an accommodation for your animal will be treated...Read More

If you live in pet-restricted housing in Florida and are trying to get approval to keep an emotional support animal in your home, you may be tempted to use an online service.  For little cost or effort you can obtain a letter stating that you are qualified to have a support animal and then submit...Read More

As hurricane season gets underway, there are a number of important preparedness steps Floridians should be taking. Creating or updating your family disaster plan, stocking your home and car with emergency supplies, collecting important documents (emergency phone numbers, insurance information), and preparing for a possible evacuation order, are just a few key elements of Florida...Read More

The coronavirus health crisis has impacted all of our lives in ways large and small. As the country continues to deal with the pandemic, we are experiencing a new normal. We are working from home, meeting our friends and family for virtual get-togethers, and many of us have been introduced to telemedicine for the first...Read More

May is Mental Health Awareness month and this year the outbreak of COVID-19 has affected the mental health of many people around the world. Particularly for those who live alone, a shelter in place order can lead to feelings of isolation, loneliness, anxiety, and depression.  Even the CDC has provided guidelines to cope with stress...Read More

Last month, the Florida Senate unanimously passed a bill targeting people who misrepresent their need for an emotional support animal in housing like condominiums and rental buildings.  The bill makes it a second-degree misdemeanor, punishable by up to sixty (60) days in jail and/or a $500 fine, as well as community service, to submit false...Read More

On January 28, 2020, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) released guidance on the process of requesting an accommodation under the federal Fair Housing Act (FHA) for a comfort pet.  The previous guidance put out by HUD (FHEO-2013) is now replaced with this new guidance report.  The FHA provides that disabled persons...Read More

If your request for a reasonable accommodation from your Florida condo association has been denied (such as a request to keep an emotional support animal or service dog in your pet-restricted condo), you may have a viable claim that the association has violated the Fair Housing Act (FHA).  The FHA prohibits discrimination against disabled residents...Read More

If you suffer from a psychiatric disability and rely on your therapy pet to alleviate your symptoms, you may face resistance from a condo association or HOA with a “no pets” policy.  Because use of “emotional support” animals to treat psychiatric disorders is not as well understood as, for example, the use of service dogs...Read More

If you have a comfort pet you wish to bring to your pet-restricted Florida condominium, you can make a formal request to your association.  Federal law allows condo owners with disabilities to seek accommodation for a comfort dog or other pet, referred to as an “emotional support animal.”  The Fair Housing Act prohibits discrimination against...Read More

The law allows people with disabilities who wish to keep their emotional support animals (“ESAs”) in their Florida condos to seek a reasonable “accommodation” from their associations.  Key to the success of your request will be knowing what information you need to provide when you request an accommodation and how to be sure that the...Read More

Many Florida Condominium Associations have made it increasingly more difficult for individuals with assistance animals like Service Dogs and Emotional Support Animals.  Contrary to both State and Federal Laws, some Associations have refused to allow Emotional Support Animals and will only allow individuals with Service Dogs. The main differences between Service Dogs and Emotional Support...Read More

If you have ever walked around any of the high end shopping malls like the Bal Harbor Shops,  Aventura Mall, Town Center Mall in Boca Raton, or the exclusive Waterside Shops in Naples, you can’t help but notice many people with their cute little dogs walking around the Mall or in these cute little baby...Read More

As a Condo Attorney with offices near Downtown Miami, Brickel Avenue, and South Beach Florida,  my practice is focused on representing individuals that have disputes with Condo Associations, Homeowner Associations, and other Owners. I am amazed at how many beautiful new luxury Condominium buildings have been successfully completed recently. It seems like a great place...Read More

I have been getting a considerable amount of calls lately from Condo owners and Homeowners here in Fort Lauderdale, Miami, Aventura, Naples, Sunny Isles and Boca Raton.  The majority of the calls are from individual owners concerned about various Condo Pet Rules and HOA Rules restricting their ability to keep pets as well as Assistance...Read More

Miami Condo Attorney expresses  condolences for Secret Service dog that fell to its death in New Orleans over the weekend. Our thoughts go out to the dog’s handler who lost a close and loyal friend.   According to WWL – TV, an unnamed bomb sniffing dog fell from the roof of a parking deck next...Read More

Individuals wishing to live with an emotional support or service animal may be required to present documentation from a physician, psychiatrist, social worker, or other mental health professional demonstrating that the animal provides support which mitigates at least one identified symptom of a disability.Read More

If you have a Service Dog or Emotional Support Animal and your Association is questioning your need or simply conducting a reasonable inquiry you should consult with an Attorney before responding.Read More

The title of this article is Emotional Support Animals and Service Dogs.  Of course many of you know that I am a Florida Attorney that represents condo owners and homeowners that have disputes with their associations.   I handle all types of cases including condo pet restrictions, mold and water damage cases and cases dealing with 55...Read More