Senior Capstone C/O 2018

5-24-2018

The Pros & Cons of Having an ESA on Campus: An Autoethnography

Zuleima A. Hernandez
Los Angeles Leadership Academy HS, ​zhernandez100541@laleadership.org
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Senior Capstone CO 2018

The Pros & Cons of Having an ESA on Campus: An Autoethnography

Abstract
The overall purpose of this research is to emphasize the issues occurring regarding

Emotional Support Animals (ESAs). All around there are people who are reliant on ESAs, but

usually from a spectators point of view it may seem unlikely. Furthermore, the research sheds a

light to the pros and cons of having an ESA socially, emotionally, and economic wise,

meanwhile they are on a school campus. There is a side to both stories, to tell the truth of what

goes on beyond the closed doors of both opposing sides. It is a form to become enlightened in

the matters of the everyday notions of possessing an ESA.

Keywords: ​emotional support animal, pros, cons, economic, social, emotional, campus
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The Pros & Cons of Having an ESA on Campus: An

Autoethnography

Zuleima A. Hernandez
Los Angeles Leadership Academy HS, Los Angeles, California, USA

Abstract
The overall purpose of this research is to emphasize the issues occurring regarding

Emotional Support Animals (ESAs). All around there are people who are reliant on ESAs, but

usually from a spectators point of view it may seem unlikely. Furthermore, the research sheds a

light to the pros and cons of having an ESA socially, emotionally, and economic wise,

meanwhile they are on a school campus. There is a side to both stories, to tell the truth of what

goes on beyond the closed doors of both opposing sides. It is a form to become enlightened in

the matters of the everyday notions of possessing an ESA.

Keywords: ​emotional support animal, pros, cons, economic, social, emotional, campus
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The Incident
Everywhere all around there was a cacophony of sound. While families boasted about

within cheerfulness, my family and I were in deep distress. Though, New Year's should have

been one of the most joyful days of the year, that time there was nothing to laugh about, as I

intensely stared at the paper. The piece of paper that was received, only moments after my

arrival. When there was a knocking on the door, I opened the door to see who it was, but there

was no one standing there. Although, the first thing I noticed right away was the single piece of

paper taped to the door. To this day, my mind clearly recalls staring at the paper I held in my

quivering hands after having taken it down from my apartments old, rusty, white door and going

back inside to the space I had before found comfort but no longer felt as such.

Vividly recalling how I was heavily exhausted from having just arrived from my

laborious work, and how the grease covered black boots knotted to my feet weighed heavily on

the aches. In the back of my mind there was the faint waft of spaghetti sauce with the aroma of

peppered chicken to accompany it. My Mom was in the kitchen standing in front of the stove as

she cooked, while I stood in the middle of the kitchen doorway and read ​the​ piece of paper I held

in my paling hands, which would change our lives in a matter of seconds. It was a notice, a

notice of eviction. I felt as if my world was wildly spinning out of control. I couldn’t cope with

how to assess the situation at the time. I was really too stunned to react at first; since I had mixed

feelings about that moment: anger, sadness, and a surprising realization. Afterwards, I remember

being furious after having read what the white, thin piece of paper had written on it and the bold

words that will forever be ingrained in my mind . ​EVICTION.

“3 DAYS NOTICE OF EVICTION.

REASON: ​HAVING A DOG IN THE APARTMENT.

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THE DOG MUST BE REMOVED FROM THE APARTMENT(S). OTHERWISE ALL

OCCUPANTS OF SAID APARTMENT(S) WILL BE EVICTED WITHIN THOSE 3

NOTICE DAYS.”

​I had to repeatedly read the notice, until it could really sink in that my Emotional

Support Animal, Jack, was not wanted in the complex we considered our home. It had been

about over seven years to be exact. It was the first place we could call our own after having

moved from a different state various years before.

At that moment I realized I was having an epiphany, I had become dependent on Jack. He

helped me be able to manage my clinical depression along with my sudden panic attacks. A few

months before, I had been diagnosed with severe clinical depression. The doctor had referred me

to a psychiatrist, which had therefore recommend I have an Emotional Support Animal. Jack has

been a great support in helping me with my health, become a better person, and to achieve my

personal goals. He is someone I can rely on to bring me peace and emotional support.

Analysis
Introduction
Not many people know what an Emotional Support Animal (ESA) is or how helpful they

can be to those who are faced with a disability. Overtime, many people, specifically students

have been targeted with anxiety and depression, as author Jan Hoffman states​,’​“Anxiety,

followed closely by depression, has become a growing diagnosis among college students in the

last few years,” (Hoffman, 2015, para. 6). Although, ESA’s may be useful for those in need of

them, for others without disabilities it may be a bother for them to have to deal with people who

are in need of such assistance. It can be an inconvenience to people around them, because

although there are various positive benefits to having an ESA, there are just as much negatives.
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Additionally, as Jan Hoffman wrote,“Research on the therapeutic value of animals is

limited. Some studies have shown that they can provide a short-term benefit, particularly in

reducing anxiety and depression. A long-term therapeutic benefit, however, has not been

definitively established by randomized control trials,” (Hoffman, 2015, para. 20). Even though

the therapeutic benefits may not be long term, it is still effective nonetheless. The reduction of

such overpowering emotions can relieve one from having to carry such a heavy burden.

Study of Focus
Anxiety is the feeling of such unease in which it puts one in a state of endless worry, it’s

a terrifying feeling to experience, as much as depression. Depression is equally hard to control

when it is a severe mental illness, meanwhile the person usually feels severely dejected, so it

may seem like they’re falling headfirst into a pit of darkness. Anxiety and depression has only

increased over time. In fact, America might just be in its most pivotal moment. When it comes to

the topic of anxiety and depression, Sean P. Egen, a publisher of “Elements Behavioral Health”

reports,“Anxiety disorders are the most common mental illness in the United States. According

to the Anxiety and Depression Association of America (ADAA), 40 million Americans over the

age of 18 are affected by anxiety — roughly 18 percent of the nation’s population. Of those 40

million people, almost 7 million of them suffer from GAD, with 15 million suffering from social

anxiety disorder, 14.8 million suffering from major depressive disorder, and 7.7 million affected

by post-traumatic stress disorder,” (Egen, 2015, para. 4).

There has been much protest to coddling those who are looked down upon as weaker,

simply because they are in need of a system of support, and especially because they are various

creatures from four legs to wings and other creature of that nature. As Jan Hoffman wrote in

another article, “​Emotional Support Animals:Readers Tough on Those in Need,” ​cited within the
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context, “Seanathan in New York agreed: “Our nation is raising a generation of over-coddled

weaklings who are going to get eaten in the real world,” ( Hoffman, 2015, para. 9). Although,

there may be people who see those in need of ESA’s as weaklings, it is thoroughly important to

look at the different factors that can affect both sides of the party. Whether one side of the party

has an Emotional Service Animal or if the opposite party is against having any relation to an

ESA.

Therefore, the study of focus are the pros and cons of having an ESA on school campuses

From examining the social, emotional, and economic effects of having an Emotional Support

Animal on campus, it is clear that ESAs have a positive and negative effect on students with

mental and emotional health issues.

Claim #1: EMOTIONAL

ESA’s are thoroughly emotionally beneficial, since they offer their assistance in the form

of their presence. Though their assistance is majorly needed by people with disabilities, they are

also helpful for other people with higher levels of both anxiety and depression. Their presence is

more than enough, because it provides a soothing effect to the receivers who have interactions

with an ESA. In Linda Flanagan’s article “​Making Comfort Dogs an Everyday Part of School,”

Jeff Sindler the head of school maintains that, “Cameron and the other dogs on campus—always

on a leash and with their owner—go a long way toward improving students’ social and

emotional well-being, he said: They reduce tension and soothe anxiety, and elicit happy feelings

from students,”(Flanigan, 2018, para.3). The soothing effect not only is due to interacting with

such creatures, but as well the considerate factor that an ESA isn’t holding anyone accountable
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for their failures and such other issues, but is instead in search of someone to love them

unconditionally without caring for their flaws.

Therefore, after having interviewed the head of the school Jeff Sindler he stated, “They

don’t care if you’re good at basketball, or a great reader, or popular,” Sindler said. “They just

want to be loved—equal opportunity,” (Flanigan, 2018, para.3). It’s the small actions that matter

when it comes to unconditional acceptance, because even though a dog may not be able to speak,

doesn’t mean they don’t care for the well being of one. No matter what a person may think or

say, deep down they long for somebody to just accept them without caring what they have to

offer, whether it’s being academically great, artistically talented, or physically gifted. Most

importantly, they are a great support for college students. It’s vital for college students to receive

help, since levels of depression and anxiety highly rise throughout the long four years. In Jesse

Signal’s recent work ​For 80 Years, Young Americans Have Been Getting More Anxious and

Depressed, and No One Is Quite Sure Why, ​Signal writes about her analysis comparing two

drastically different graphs and the rising levels of depression and anxiety. As a result of Signal’s

study, the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI) questions have been answered

as to what has been influencing people overtly, and the answer is evidently symptoms of anxiety

and depression,” (Singal, 216, para. 5).

Having just argued

that anxiety and depression

has been rising over the

years, I now want to

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complicate the topic by further discussing how anxiety and depression are the greatest cause for

college students to be in a continuous state of a downhill battle. Emotional service animals are

essential as a part of daily life, though it may not equally apply to others without disabilities like

anxiety or depression, nonetheless, ESA’s bring a source of vitality to us. The energy revival we

receive from them is another form of the comfort they provide us as Nicole Towne describes in

Emotional support animals and service dogs: easing life for those who need a companion, ​“Like

service animals, emotional support animals can fulfill a variety of needs for the person they are

serving. Besides providing a source of companionship and comfort, they help people struggling

with anxiety, depression, post-traumatic stress disorder and a variety of other physiological

struggles,” (Towne, 2016, para. 11) The standard way of thinking about Emotional Support

Animal is that it makes a person weak rather than making them stronger, which then makes it

unacceptable to society for one to show weakness. Although, instead of assuming such things,

people should be open to the ideas in how ESA’s are beneficial in general against factors of

anxiety and depression as Lauren Vander, a student at University of Dayton, states,”​College is

stressful and filled with anxiety. Pets are calming. They listen to all of your problems without

question,” (Vanderhorst, 2016, para. 10).

Claim #2:​ ​SOCIAL

In addition, through the emotional assistance ESAs provide, they allow people to be able

to build upon their social skills. ESAs are relatively helpful to the population who do not do well

in socializing and help them become relatively comfortable with such an environment. As the

prominent Karin Brulliard puts it,​“Throughout history, animals gave us some comfort. So if it

works for you and me in a relatively normal environment, maybe it has a special role for

someone who has a depression and stress disorder — that just makes sense,” he said. “The
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literature does show it’s not bad. And that’s just as important,” (Brulliard, 2017, p. 16). In other

words, the comfort of their presence has an instant effect that helps people be able to cope within

a society, and it can be as instantly effective to the youth. In Karin Brulliard’s view,”The authors

did find that children with dogs had lower anxiety based on screening scores than children

without dogs,” (Brulliard, 2017, para. 15).

In contrast, having youth groups become adapted to relying on an ESA is also considered

unhealthy. It's considered by society unhealthy for all ages, due to the fact that a person may

become too dependent of the animal, and they are then looked down upon. According to

Hoffman,”​The most recommended reader comment came from Samuel, a physician in Santa

Barbara: “Life can be hard, but, it’s easier now for the majority of us than it ever has been. Grow

a spine and face life without pharmaceutical or furry crutches,” ( Hoffman, 2015, para. 8)

Ultimately, any person with ties associated to ESAs are looked down on by others, who feel the

need to point out that it may be a sign of defection inside society. In short, the human race is

always quick to notice the idea of a defection within others in a society; though when it concerns

them, only then do they not care to notice.

Admittedly, though it may be a weakness to the recipient of an ESA, it may also

contribute to become a weakness to others around an ESA handler. The actions of an ESA

themselves are typically unknown, and it would be hazardous for us to otherwise assume that an

ESA will always be well behaved. To take a case in point, Brulliard agrees when they

write,​“Another reason, the scientists say, is for the animals’ sake. Crossman pointed to a 2014

incident at Washington University in St. Louis as an example of animal therapy gone wrong. A

bear cub brought to campus during finals week nipped some students, causing a rabies scare that
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almost ended with the animal being euthanized. More generally, Serpell said, the popular idea

that pets make you happier “is not a harmless distortion. … If the public believes that getting an

animal is going to be good for them, many times an unsuitable person will get an unsuitable

animal, and it doesn’t work out well for either,” (​Brulliard, 2017, para. 19). By extension, it is

beyond our knowledge to what extent of savagery they are capable of, for it is in their nature to

act as such accordingly. In fact, the defect typically occurs due to the carelessness of either a

doctor, psychiatrist, or a therapist. Hence, Hoffman advocates, “The need for emotional support

from animals is, of course, ripe for exploitation, including the cyber therapists who crank out the

emotional support letters, for a fee and a quick session. Even a student’s regular mental health

provider may shrug and dash off an approval letter,” ( Hoffman, 2015, para. 12).

Claim #3: ECONOMIC

Furthermore, we should not easily rely on doctors, therapists, and psychiatrists to always

make the correct judgement. Although, they may have the final word when it comes to one of

their patients, they should still take responsibility for the wrongfully prescripted emotional

support letters. Incidentally, while they are carelessly cashing in a bigger check to their bank

account, someone else is more than likely abusing the leverage the letter hands them. The

authority contained on the letter and signed off by a professional, assures that others are not able

to protest the presence of an ESA due to the Fair Housing Act. Hoffman elaborately discussed

matters further when she writes,”​But in 2013, a federal judge ruled that the university’s

residences were bound by the Fair Housing Act, which protects individuals with disabilities from

discrimination. Among the act’s “reasonable accommodations” for residents with psychological

disabilities are animals that provide emotional support,” (Hoffman, 2015, p. 27).
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Along the same lines, it may eventually have a positive outcome to the place of

settlement where the ESA is staying. If the tenant is happy then perhaps they will be complacent,

but for the most part before that can occur, there is a despondent financial crisis. As an

illustration, Vanderhorst asserts, “The University has a maintenance staff and they are not going

to want to clean up a bunch of dog poop in the grass. We cannot forget about the hair; dogs and

cats shed like no other and that would be everywhere. The poor cleaning staff would be

emptying their vacuum bags every five minutes,” (Vanderhorst, 2016, para.3). Vanderhorst is

right to assume that any university’s maintenance will not be willing to clean up after someone

else's mess, when it is clearly not their responsibility. There is more to the catastrophe then

cleaning up their poop and hair they shed, but it also extends beyond the physical damage they

cause on college campuses.

The essence of Vanderhorst’s argument is that,“Animals tend to leave their presence

behind. They have nails and like to use them. The floors would never look the same. Doors

would turn into scratching posts. Furniture will forever have hair embedded in the fabric. The

smell just sticks around forever. Let's just say housing would be charging a lot more for the

upkeep of every living facility,” (Vanderhorst, 2016, para.5). The expenses which are

irreplaceable, will always have the lingering presence of the ESA, even when they are no longer

present. On the other hand, it too can have an indisputable result both socially and economically.

It may not seem like it at first, but having an ESA is worth spending a great amount of money on.

That’s not to say a person should spend expensively on their companion all at once, but rather

that throughout the years they are with a person, obviously costs an immense amount of money.

In Vanderhorst’s view,“They cannot get their own food. Animals are a lot of work and need a lot
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of attention,”(Vanderhorst, 2016, para.12). Therefore, even though it is likely an ESA handler

will have to pay for any property damage done by their ESA, as the possessor of their ESA they

will still nonetheless have to be responsible to pay any other expenses that are necessary to

maintain their companion.​/

Opinion:
Consequently, emotional support animals are a crucial concern for which we must be

aware of. Day to day there are people with disabilities who rely on ESAs ,and it is a necessity

form them to get through the day. Outsiders without knowledge to the matter see it as

incomprehensible, because they don’t understand how and why a person could possibly rely on

something as silly and senseless as an ESA. However, it is neither silly nor senseless since, ESAs

have proven to be valuable because they aid to relieve anxiety and depression. Anxiety and

depression is high amongst everyone, but not everyone may need an ESA to guide them away

from the feasible tragic ending. In conclusion, it would be better for individuals to educate

themselves further on the issue before making any final assumptions on ESAs, and the people

who depend on their assistance.

Conclusion:
Therefore, after having analyzed the social, emotional, and economic effects of having an

Emotional Support Animal on campus, it is clear that ESAs have a positive and negative effect

on students with mental and emotional health issues. Overall, an ESA is most definitely

beneficial to people with mental and emotional issues, since it aids a person to be able to

reconnect with society. Reverently speaking, an ESAs sole purpose is to provide emotional

support through its companionable presence, so it is no surprise that there hardly lies any

questionable counter arguments against the ESAs line of duty. Despite the barely present cons of
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having an ESA; which include the amount of money taken from our own pocket to repair any

damages done to another individuals belongings, it is still more than worth the end result which

comes in the form of a loving ESA.

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References

Brulliard, K. (2017). “Therapy animals are everywhere. Proof that they help is not.” ​The
Washington Post
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/animalia/wp/2017/07/02/therapy-animals-are-eve
rywhere-proof-that-they-help-is-not/?utm_term=.8e74adce1a5a

Egen, S. P. (2015). “8 Facts About Anxiety and Anxiety Disorders.”​Elements Behavioral

Health
https://www.elementsbehavioralhealth.com/mental-health/8-facts-anxiety-anxiety-disorde
rs/

Flanagan, L. (2018). “Making Comfort Dogs an Everyday Part of School.” ​KQED News
& MindShift
https://www.kqed.org/mindshift/50580/making-comfort-dogs-an-everyday-part-of-school

Hoffman, J. (2015). “Campuses Debate Rising Demands for ‘Comfort Animals.’” ​The
New York Times
https://www.nytimes.com/2015/10/05/us/four-legged-roommates-help-with-the-stresses-o
f-campus-life.html?_r=1

Hoffman, J. (2015). “Emotional Support Animals: Readers Tough on Those in Need.”

The New York Times
https://www.nytimes.com/2015/10/07/insider/emotional-support-animals-readers-tough-o
n-those-in-need.html?_r=0

Singal J (2016). “For 80 Years, Young Americans Have Been Getting More Anxious and
Depressed, and No One Is Quite Sure Why.” ​The Cut
https://www.thecut.com/2016/03/for-80-years-young-americans-have-been-getting-more-
anxious-and-depressed.html

Towne, N. (2016). “Emotional support animals and service dogs: easing life for those
who need a companion.”
The Rocky Mountain Collegian
https://collegian.com/2016/05/emotional-support-animals-and-service-dogs-easing-life-fo
r-those-who-need-a-companion/
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Vanderhorst, L. ( 2016). “The Pros And Cons To Having Pets On Campus.”

Odyssey
https://www.theodysseyonline.com/pros-and-cons-to-having-pets-on-campus