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Help for ESA
Fri, 09/29/2017 - 20:23Topic: Women With Epilepsy
I have been living in a small town in South Dakota for 3 years. The apartment I live in is owned by my workplace and is rented out. It has a no-pets policy of which I have always followed. However, just the other week I suffered my first large seizure during work, lasting 20-30 minutes, requiring paramedics. I used to only have myoclonic and absence seizures (possibly focal as well). It was determined that the stress and anxiety I have been enduring has contributed to an increase in seizures, as well as chronic mental conditions. I was prescribed an ESA to combat the anxiety, since it was proven to help.
While one landlord has agreed to the letter (and is very helpful), my other landlord (boss) has denied my letter because of the no-pet policy and is instead saying I need to move to a larger, more expensive trailer if I would like a pet. She has also recommended not to implement a 504 for my workplace.
Do I have the right for an ESA in my apartment, or is she (by law) allowed to refuse in South Dakota?
a service animal is not a pet
Submitted by Amy Jo on Sat, 2017-09-30 - 10:14
a service animal is not a pet. call your local epilepsy foundation affiliate and talk to your doc about what paperwork would need to be noted to support getting one. that said, a service dog can take a few years to get, the waiting list and raising the funds to cover it are both obstacles to anything happening soon.