Virginia Man Wins Court Case Allowing Him to Keep Highly Unusual Emotional Support Animal
There's no doubt that Emotional Support Animals can be vital to a person's mental wellbeing, but there's always been some controversy surrounding ESA licensing and rights. After all, Emotional Support Animals are not the same as service dogs, nor do they have the same privileges as service dogs.
Even therapy animals and emotional support animals are subject to local law, which is why one Virginia Beach man had to fight to keep his unusual ESA in his home. Nicholas Olenik's lifesaving companion was considered to be livestock until he appealed to a local court.
Wow--there's a lot to unpack here! Firstly, we are so glad to hear that Olenik was able to find light in a dark time in the form of a feathered friend. We know firsthand just how healing the love of an animal can be. Olenik had adopted Nimbus as a chick, and their bond was so strong.
When a neighbor complained about the bird being raised in the house and yard, though, things got more complicated. And no, the problem isn't that emus can't be emotional support animals!
One of the lesser-known facts about ESAs is that just about any species is eligible to be one. The Americans with Disabilities Act does not define eligibility requirements based on species. If the animal is proven to provide healing, calming, or therapeutic purpose to their owner, it can be an ESA.
As Olenik found out, Nimbus the domestic emu would be allowed to stay with him now that she was proven as an emotional support animal. Before the appeal, the large bird was considered livestock-- not a domestic animal!
During the whole debacle, many emu gurus were concerned that more people would feel compelled to have an emu as a pet. Kymara Lonergan, vice president of the American Emu Association, reported a recent uptick in demand for emus thanks to social media. One hilarious emu named Emmanuel is a viral sensation, but Lonergan worries people are getting the wrong idea.
The jury may still be out on the emu debate, but Olenik and Nimbus won their court case. Still, the huge bird is living out the rest of her life on a farm instead of a backyard. It's all thanks to her new emu boyfriend! Now that she's helped Olenik, he's decided to help her, too.
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