How do you handle LEGITIMATE ESAs during a housing hunt?
I (43f) and my partner of 8 years (40m) keep bumping heads about how to handle my ESA (cat). He insists on disclosing during the application process and it's pissing me off. My clinician made it clear that providing the information ahead could lead to discrimination. I have bipolar 1, PTSD and an ADHD diagnosis. He's from Texas and thinks ESAs are something people use to game the system and seems almost embarrassed by the idea that people would assume we are also gaming the system.
It's infuriating because when we met I had an emotional support dog and he had no problem recognizing him as such. I got the cat when my dog was 13 as a replacement and my partner KNEW why. I don't think I would have survived losing my dog if I hadn't attached to the cat ahead of time. I don't want to feel like I'm narrowing our search.
I would love to hear how folks with ESAs have gone about disclosure to potential landlords.
Pictured: redacted letter of recommendation from my NP. My current ESA snuggling with her brother's heart wrapped in the shirt he wore on his last day.