Emotional Support Animals in University Housing

Reported by: Molly Giesbrecht

Illustrated by: Carla Cieza

You may notice a few furry-footed residents on campus these days. While fish are the only pet generally allowed on campus, some students have other animals living with them as Emotional Support Animals (ESAs). Students with these animals have received special permission from the Disability Service Office (DSO) to have their support animal in on-campus housing for the mental and physical health benefits they provide.

Mental health difficulties can affect anyone, and animal therapy for such challenges comes in all shapes and sizes. Erin Meredith, a first-year Psychology major, owns an ESA bunny named Albert who helps her with anxiety and panic attacks. Brynn Dempster, a first-year Biology major, is in the process of adopting an ESA ferret to help with her depression and anxiety.

“I think it’s really easy to see an animal on campus as just an attachment to a pet, but sometimes it’s much deeper than that and people really need their animals for their own well-being,” Meredith said. Oftentimes mental health gets overlooked because it is not nearly as visible as physical health, but it is important to recognize that mental health is a major issue for some people and to not dismiss it because it is hidden.

When Dempster was preparing to adopt an ESA, she was unable to get a dog because of the maintenance level, and she couldn’t have a cat because of allergies in her family. While a ferret may not be the first animal that comes to mind when thinking about support animals, Dempster did her research and reported that ferrets have proven to bond quickly to their owner, and can be surprisingly cuddly and comforting - all of which are aspects that make for a wonderful ESA.

Meredith said similar things about her bunny. “Albert helps me by just letting me pet him, hold him, or lay with him. He is a very calming presence and it really helps me stay grounded when I am in a panicky state,” she reported. “My roommate loves him! My whole floor actually loves seeing him and asks to come by when they feel overwhelmed just to hold him.”

While owning an ESA is not for everyone, they are one way to bring light to the mental health struggles that may be affecting people around you. If you or someone you know is struggling with mental health, don’t hesitate to reach out. There are resources on campus that exist to help you. The Health and Counseling Center and the DSO are available and will help point you in the right direction.

To those who are struggling, “Seek out the help you need, and never stop fighting,” Meredith said. “The more awareness there is, the easier it will get.”

Health and Counseling Center -

Email: hcc@georgefox.edu

Phone: 503-554-2340

Disability Service Office -

Email: dso@georgefox.edu

rmuthiah@georgefox.edu

Phone: 503-554-2314