Careborne provides confidential telehealth evaluations for people seeking an Emotional Support Animal (ESA) housing letter
Keep Your Pet. Get the Support You Need.
Your pet is more than a pet. For many people, an animal provides comfort, companionship, and meaningful emotional support.
But finding housing that allows your animal can be at times difficult. A landlord may have a no-pet policy, charge pet fees or deposits, or impose restrictions that make keeping your companion difficult.
Don’t give up your pet!
You may qualify for reasonable accommodation under the Fair Housing Act.
Speak to a Careborne provider and find out if your pet qualifies as an Emotional Support Animal (ESA).
Start with a free initial screening. If the provider determines that you qualify, you’ll complete a quick online visit and receive your ESA housing letter electronically.
What Is an Emotional Support Animal?
An Emotional Support Animal is an animal that provides therapeutic emotional support by its presence and helps alleviate one or more symptoms of a person's mental condition.
An ESA is different from a service animal. Service animals are trained to perform specific tasks for a person with a disability. An emotional support animal does not need specialized task training to provide its benefit.
Dogs and cats are the most common examples, although other – at times quite exotic – animals may qualify as ESAs depending on the circumstances.
Under the law, emotional support animals can be recommended to anyone who has a “disability” – a certain physical or mental condition limiting one or several major life activities or activities of daily living.
In laymen terms, an emotional support animal has to provide some sort of therapeutic benefit.
Accepted by landlords in Florida
Issued by Florida-licensed providers
Delivered in 6 hours or less
Backed by federal housing laws
No housing restrictions & no extra fees
How Can an ESA Letter Help?
Under the Fair Housing Act and applicable Florida law, housing providers generally may not treat a qualifying assistance animal like an ordinary pet. The ESA Letter will help you:
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Bypass "no-pet" policies: You will be legally permitted to keep your animal.
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Waive pet fees: Landlords cannot charge pet deposits, monthly pet rent, or application fees.
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Override restrictions: Your animal is exempt from community weight limits, breed restrictions, or building-specific caps.
Of course, an ESA letter is not a guarantee that every housing request will be approved. Housing providers may consider legitimate issues permitted under applicable law, including safety, health, property damage, and certain housing exemptions.
Careborne will provide the clinical documentation. Your housing provider will make the final determination.
Services
Virtual urgent care
Medical weight loss
✓ Official medical letter
✓ 6-hour delivery
✓ HIPAA Compliant
✓ PDF format to submit
✓ Unique Official ID
How to Get Your ESA Letter
1. Free Initial Screening
Complete a quick, secure HIPAA-compliant questionnaire to see if you are a candidate for an ESA.
Answering a few basic questions about your situation helps us determine if a full ESA evaluation makes sense.
2. Live Telehealth Evaluation
Meet with a licensed healthcare provider online – through a secure telehealth platform.
Discuss your symptoms, how they affect your daily life, your relationship with your animal, and the therapeutic support your animal provides.
3. Receive Your ESA Letter
If your provider determines that an ESA letter is appropriate, Careborne will prepare your documentation and deliver it to you via email.
You can then provide the letter to your landlord, property manager, or housing provider as part of your reasonable accommodation request.
Please note: Approval by your housing provider is never guaranteed. Our fees are non-refundable, whether or not your ESA request is ultimately approved.
That’s why we offer a free initial screening. It’s designed to help you determine whether you’re likely to qualify before you spend money or go through the hassle of jumping through hoops – only to find out that an ESA letter isn’t appropriate for your situation.
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Optional:
If you happen to have old therapy notes, prescription bottles, or discharge summaries, uploading them during your registration can give the provider helpful context, but they are not required to get your ESA letter.
Why Pet Owners Trust Careborne
We are legit
Your ESA documentation is based on an current clinical evaluation by a licensed healthcare provider – not an automated questionnaire or an instant online certificate.
We are local
We’re not an out-of-state letter mill. Careborne is a Florida medical practice, and we understand the importance of following Florida-specific requirements when evaluating ESA requests. We see patients both online and in person at our St. Petersburg office, providing a more personal and legitimate approach to ESA evaluations.
We are convenient
No need to drive across town or spend time sitting in a waiting room. Your evaluation can be completed securely online, from the comfort and privacy of your own home.
We’re licensed
All ESA evaluations and letters are provided by healthcare providers licensed in Florida.
We are fast
Your ESA Letter will be ready in less than 6 hours.
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We’re affordable
Your initial screening is free. If we determine that an ESA evaluation isn’t appropriate or that we’re unlikely to be able to help, we’ll tell you upfront – and you won’t pay a penny. If we proceed, the complete ESA evaluation is included with our PlusCare service for $72.
Do You Qualify for an ESA?
If you experience mental or emotional health challenges, you may qualify for an Emotional Support Animal. ESA Letters are commonly approved for people with the following mental health conditions:
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Anxiety
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Depression
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PTSD
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Bipolar disorder
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Autism spectrum disorder
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ADHD
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Certain phobias
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Other mental or physical conditions that substantially affect major life activities
Keep in mind that having a diagnosis by itself does not automatically establish a need for an ESA. What matters is whether your physical or mental impairment substantially limits one or more major life activities and whether your animal can provide some sort of therapeutic emotional support related to this impairment.
Other Benefits of Having an Emotional Support Animal
The benefits of an animal companion can go far beyond simply having someone – or something – by your side.
For many people, spending time with an animal can be calming and grounding, especially during periods of stress or anxiety. Petting, talking to, or simply being near a beloved animal can provide a sense of comfort and help bring you back to the present moment.
An animal can also encourage you to stay connected with the world around you. Taking your dog for a walk, for example, gets you out of the house and creates opportunities for social interaction – even when you don't particularly feel like being around people.
For those who live alone, an emotional support animal can provide companionship and a comforting sense of routine. Having another living being to care for can help ease feelings of loneliness and isolation.
People living with PTSD may also find that having a trusted animal nearby provides a greater sense of comfort, calm, and security.
And sometimes, there is something deeply meaningful about caring for another living being. The daily routines of feeding, walking, playing, and simply spending time together can provide a sense of purpose and connection.
The Careborne Difference
At Careborne, we do things the right way.
You’ll meet directly with a Florida-licensed healthcare provider through secure telehealth, allowing us to establish a legitimate provider-patient relationship and conduct a real clinical evaluation.
Every housing accommodation letter issued through Careborne is personally prepared by a licensed healthcare professional and includes:
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Official letterhead & direct contact information: So your housing provider can verify the letter and contact the issuing provider if needed.
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Florida license credentials: The provider’s license information is included so their credentials can be independently verified.
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Disability & therapeutic connection: The letter documents the qualifying impairment and explains the connection between your disability and your need for an emotional support animal. Your specific medical diagnosis remains private and is not disclosed to your landlord.
No fake certificates. No shortcuts. Just a real clinical evaluation and legitimate documentation when an ESA is medically appropriate.
What Will I Get?
Your ESA letter will address two important things:
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Your Disability: The letter will confirm that you have a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities. Your specific diagnosis does not need to be disclosed to your housing provider.
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The Therapeutic Connection: The letter will explain how your emotional support animal provides therapeutic support that helps alleviate one or more symptoms or effects of your disability. This is sometimes called the “nexus” – the connection between your disability and your need for an emotional support animal.
In other words, the letter doesn’t simply say that you have a pet. It explains why you need an emotional support animal.
Florida Requirements
Florida takes ESA requests seriously – and so do we.
For an ESA letter to be accepted by your housing provider, the documentation must be based on a legitimate clinical evaluation by a qualified healthcare provider with personal knowledge of your disability.
That’s why an online questionnaire or internet-generated ESA registration isn’t enough. A registration or certificate purchased online does not, by itself, establish a disability or demonstrate a disability-related need for an emotional support animal.
At Careborne, you actually meet with a healthcare provider. Your evaluation can be completed securely through telehealth or in person at our St. Petersburg office. We take the time to understand your situation, determine whether an ESA may be medically appropriate, and provide documentation only when supported by a legitimate clinical evaluation.
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No automated questionnaires. No rubber-stamp letters. A real evaluation by a real Florida-licensed healthcare provider.
Frequently Asked Questions
Everything you need to know about emotional support animals
Can My Pet Be an ESA?
How quickly can I get an ESA letter?
A live video or phone evaluation typically takes 20 to 30 minutes. Your licensed healthcare provider will take the time to understand your situation and conduct a thorough, meaningful clinical assessment.
We don’t rush the process or rely on a questionnaire. You’ll have a real conversation with a real healthcare professional who can determine whether an ESA accommodation is clinically appropriate.
After your telehealth evaluation, documentation can typically be completed promptly – usually under 6 hours.
Possibly. Whether your pet can qualify as an emotional support animal depends on your individual circumstances and the applicable housing rules.
Dogs and cats are the most common ESAs, but the Fair Housing Act does not limit assistance animals to a particular species. What matters is not the type of animal – it’s whether there is a legitimate disability-related need for the animal’s emotional support.
In other words, you don’t need to get a new pet just to have an ESA. Your existing pet may qualify if your healthcare provider determines that the animal provides disability-related emotional support and the applicable housing requirements are met.
How much will it cost?
Our PlusCare is $72, which covers the evaluation and the letter, if indicated.
Is an ESA letter from Careborne legit?
Careborne follows the requirements that apply to ESA housing accommodations in Florida. Every letter we issue is prepared by a Florida-licensed healthcare professional following a live, synchronous clinical evaluation.
We don’t sell instant certificates or generate letters from online questionnaires. Your provider evaluates your individual circumstances, establishes personal knowledge of your situation, and determines whether an ESA accommodation is clinically appropriate.
Do I need an existing mental health diagnosis?
Not necessarily. Careborne will evaluate your individual circumstances, including whether you have a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits a major life activity and whether your animal provides disability-related therapeutic support.
What type of supporting paperwork do I need to provide?
You don’t need to have a stack of paperwork ready. While existing medical records or other supporting documentation can be helpful, they are not necessarily required.
Your Careborne provider will conduct their own professional assessment during your appointment and will make an independent determination based on your clinical evaluation.
What happens if there is not enough information to justify the ETA letter?
At Careborne, we believe in fair, straightforward care. If your provider needs more information before making a determination, they may – with your permission, of course – contact a previous healthcare provider or recommend a follow-up appointment to better understand your situation.
In most cases, our free initial screening gives us a good sense of whether we may be able to help before you pay for a full evaluation. This helps prevent you from spending money on an evaluation that is unlikely to result in an ESA letter.
If we can’t help, you don’t pay. That’s the Careborne way.
How long is my Florida ESA letter valid?
There isn’t a set expiration date for an ESA letter under the Fair Housing Act. However, housing providers may ask for current documentation when you request or renew a housing accommodation.
Because your circumstances and disability-related needs can change over time, we recommend a brief annual follow-up to make sure your documentation remains current and accurately reflects your situation.
It’s a simple way to keep your accommodation documentation up to date and avoid unnecessary hassles with your housing provider.
Can I have more than one ESA?
Possibly, but you may be asked to provide information supporting the specific need for each animal. Florida law expressly allows housing providers to request information when more than one emotional support animal is requested.
What if my landlord says "No Pets"?
Don’t assume that a “no pets” policy automatically means you can’t have an assistance animal.
Under fair-housing laws, a person with a disability may request a reasonable accommodation to keep an assistance animal when there is a disability-related need for the animal. Assistance animals are treated differently from ordinary household pets under federal housing law.
What If My Landlord Charges a Pet Fee?
Under the Fair Housing Act, an emotional support animal is generally considered an assistance animal – not a pet. When an accommodation is approved, a landlord or HOA generally cannot charge you a pet deposit, pet fee, or monthly pet rent simply because you have an assistance animal.
That doesn’t mean you’re off the hook for damage. You remain responsible for actual damage caused by your animal, just as you would be responsible for damage caused by other occupants.
In short: no pet fees – but you’re still responsible for your animal’s conduct.
Will my landlord see my specific medical diagnosis?
Florida law limits the extent of the information that can be shared.
Your ESA documentation should provide the information necessary to support the accommodation without unnecessarily disclosing private medical information.
Your landlord may not demand your specific diagnosis, the severity of your disability, or your medical records simply to evaluate an ESA accommodation request.
At Careborne, we respect your privacy. We document what your housing provider needs to know – without unnecessarily revealing what they don’t.
Your privacy matters.
Can my landlord reject my ESA letter?
A housing provider may have legitimate reasons to deny an accommodation under applicable law. An ESA letter supports your request; it does not guarantee the outcome.
Your housing provider must consider a legitimate accommodation request under the applicable laws and circumstances. However, there are exceptions.
Careborne cannot guarantee that every housing provider will approve your request.
Will this letter work if I need to take my pet on a flight?
No. An ESA letter is for housing accommodations – not air travel.
Since 2021, U.S. airlines are no longer required to recognize emotional support animals as service animals. Airlines may allow your pet to fly under their pet travel policies, usually for a fee, but an ESA letter does not give your animal special rights or airline access.
If your animal is a trained service animal that meets the applicable requirements, different rules apply.
Bottom line: An ESA letter can only help with housing accommodations.
Are ESAs considered service animals?
No. ESAs and service animals are not the same thing.
An emotional support animal (ESA) provides therapeutic emotional support through its presence and companionship. ESAs may be protected in housing under fair-housing laws, but they are not service animals under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and generally do not have the same public-access rights.
A service animal, on the other hand, is specially trained to perform specific tasks for a person with a disability. A guide dog for someone who is blind is a classic example.
The simplest way to remember it:
ESA = emotional support.
Service animal = trained to perform specific disability-related tasks.
The rules and protections are different, so an ESA letter should not be used to claim service-animal rights in public places.
Can I bring my ESA to restaurants and grocery stores?
Generally, no. An emotional support animal does not have the same public-access rights as a trained service animal.
Before bringing your ESA into a restaurant, store, or other business, check the establishment’s pet policy. Some businesses may welcome pets, but they are generally not required to admit an ESA simply because you have an ESA letter.
In Florida, ESA protections are primarily related to housing. Florida law provides public-access protections for qualifying service animals, not ESAs.
And one important point: never represent an ESA as a service animal when it isn’t one. Misrepresenting an animal as a service animal in Florida can result in criminal penalties.
An ESA letter can support a housing accommodation – but it does not turn your pet into a service animal.
Do I Need an ESA Registry or Certificate?
No. There is no official government ESA registry, and you don’t need to buy an ESA ID card, certificate, vest, or registration to establish a housing accommodation.
Florida law specifically recognizes that an online ESA registration, ID card, certificate, or similar document is not enough by itself to establish a disability or disability-related need for an emotional support animal.
What matters is legitimate documentation from a qualified healthcare provider who has personally evaluated you and understands your situation.
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That’s why Careborne doesn’t sell instant certificates or rely on automated questionnaires. You’ll have a real, live evaluation with a Florida-licensed healthcare professional, and documentation is provided only when clinically appropriate.
Stay legal. Do things right. Go Careborne!
Where can I find more information?
Want to learn more about your treatment options? Call 941-525-9000.
Don’t fall for out-of-state letter mills. A quick online questionnaire followed by an “instant” downloadable ESA certificate is not a substitute for a legitimate clinical evaluation. In Florida, housing providers can require reliable documentation supporting your disability-related need for an emotional support animal.
Don’t waste your money on ESA “registries” or ID products. There is no government ESA registry. Buying an ID card, certificate, vest, registration, or other ESA merchandise online does not establish a disability or demonstrate a disability-related need for an emotional support animal. Florida law specifically recognizes that an internet-based ESA registration or similar document, by itself, is not sufficient.
The bottom line: You don’t need a registry or a fancy certificate. You need legitimate documentation from a qualified healthcare provider who has actually evaluated you and understands your situation.
Virtual Medical Services from Careborne
Legal Disclaimers
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Under Florida law, emotional support animals (ESAs) and service animals are not the same thing. An ESA does not have the same public-access rights as a trained service animal. ESAs generally do not have the right to accompany their owners into places such as restaurants, grocery stores, or other businesses that do not allow pets.
Florida law also prohibits misrepresenting an animal as a service animal, and doing so can result in criminal penalties.
For housing, an ESA may qualify as an assistance animal when a person has a disability-related need for the animal. However, a housing provider may deny a requested accommodation in certain circumstances – for example, when there is reliable evidence of a direct threat to health or safety or significant property damage that cannot be reduced or eliminated through reasonable measures.
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Careborne provides clinical evaluations for ESA housing accommodations. Our role is to evaluate the individual’s circumstances and, when clinically appropriate, document the disability-related need for an assistance animal. We do not provide a diagnosis simply to obtain an ESA letter, nor do we simply fill out a prescribed form.