Yes. Under the Fair Housing Act, Texas landlords must accept valid ESA letters from licensed health professionals. This means your ESA letter waives pet fees and breed restrictions statewide.

An ESA letter is written by a licensed mental health professional and confirms your need for an emotional support animal. In Texas, this letter gives you the right to live with your pet in rental housing that normally charges deposits or enforces breed bans, ensuring your companion can stay by your side.

An ESA letter is written by a licensed mental health professional and confirms your need for an emotional support animal. In Texas, this letter gives you the right to live with your pet in rental housing that normally charges deposits or enforces breed bans, ensuring your companion can stay by your side.

Absolutely. A valid ESA letter must be signed by a Texas licensed clinician — not a template or automated approval. In Texas, only letters issued by licensed providers carry legal weight and protect your housing rights.

Yes. Online ESA letters are recognized as long as the evaluation is conducted through a secure telehealth platform and signed by a qualified, licensed Texas mental health professional. The important part isn’t how you meet, but who evaluates your need and issues the letter.

People in Texas living with challenges such as stress, anxiety, PTSD, or depression may qualify. Each case is unique — your provider will review your situation and determine whether an ESA letter is appropriate.

Here’s how it works in Texas:

1. Fill out a short online wellness questionnaire to determine your eligibility.

2. Select the evaluation plan that fits you and complete payment.

3. Get matched with a licensed Texas professional who reviews your information.

4. Once approved, receive your ESA letter digitally — often within 24 hours if received before 4pm CT.

A Psychiatric Service Dog (PSD) letter documents that your dog is trained — or currently being trained — to perform tasks that directly help with your mental health. Unlike ESAs, PSDs are considered service animals and are protected under the ADA.

ESA letters cover housing only, giving your pet the right to live with you even in “no-pet” rentals. PSD letters apply only to dogs, but they go further — since service animals have both housing and public access rights, including travel with you on airplanes.

Yes. A Psychiatric Service Dog must be trained to perform tasks directly related to your mental health needs. The good news is that training doesn’t have to come from a professional school — in Texas, many owners train their own dogs, as long as the animal can follow commands and complete the necessary tasks.

Texans who live with a mental health condition such as PTSD, anxiety, or depression, and who have a dog that is trained (or in training) to help with that condition, may qualify. A licensed provider will evaluate your situation and determine if a PSD letter is right for you.

Our wellness assessment is designed to give you an easy first step. It asks basic questions about your needs so we can show whether an ESA letter might make sense. It’s free because it’s simply a screening tool — there’s no obligation, and no payment is needed until you choose your plan and move forward with a licensed Texas professional.

After you finish the quick assessment, you’ll select a plan and complete payment. Then you’ll be connected with a licensed provider serving Texas who will personally review your information. If you qualify, they’ll issue your ESA letter digitally and securely.

If the licensed provider determines you don’t meet the criteria, you won’t be charged. Our process is completely risk-free: no approval means no payment.

That’s exactly why we built the wellness assessment. It gives you a preview of your likelihood of qualifying, and a Texas provider will make the final decision. You have nothing to lose by checking.

Many companies advertise “instant” or “same-day” approvals that aren’t legitimate. At Just Big Dogs, every evaluation in Texas is reviewed by a licensed professional, not a bot. We focus on compliance, privacy, and making sure your letter will stand up if/when your landlord needs to verify it.

Yes, in many cases. Dogs and cats are the most common, but depending on your provider’s judgment, Texas residents may also qualify with other animals like birds or rabbits (and others!).

To stay valid, an ESA letter must be renewed every 12 months. This ensures landlords know your documentation is current and backed by an active relationship with a licensed professional.

Landlords in Texas: Yes. As long as your letter is written by a licensed provider, Texas landlords must honor it under federal housing law.

Airlines: Most airlines no longer accept ESA letters for flights. If you need to travel with your dog, a PSD letter is usually the right choice.

Yes. A valid ESA letter requires Texas landlords to waive extra pet deposits, monthly pet rent, and breed restrictions. That means even breeds like Pit Bulls, Rottweilers, or German Shepherds are protected under housing law.

An ESA offers emotional comfort and housing protections, but it is not considered a service animal. In contrast, a service animal (such as a Psychiatric Service Dog) is trained to complete specific tasks related to a disability and is recognized under the ADA. This gives service animals broader rights, including public access and air travel, while ESAs are limited to housing protections.

Most Texans receive their ESA letter shortly after their evaluation is complete, that is usually within 24 hours. After finishing your assessment and selecting a plan, your licensed Texas provider will review your information. On occasion, they will reach out to ask questions, schedule a telehealth meeting if necessary and then do your evaluation. Once approved, your ESA letter is typically delivered digitally within 24–48 hours.

Your application is prioritized for review as soon as it’s submitted. Orders before 4 PM CT are usually completed the same day. Orders after 4 PM CT may still be completed that evening if your licensed health professional is available; otherwise, they’re prioritized for processing the next business morning.

In some cases, yes. If more than one pet provides emotional support, your Texas provider may include multiple animals on the same ESA letter. This decision is made at the provider’s discretion after reviewing your needs.

A service animal is trained to perform specific tasks for a person with a disability and is protected under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Emotional support animals are not task-trained but offer emotional and mental health benefits. ESA letters fall under housing protection — not public access.

Yes. ESA evaluations qualify as eligible healthcare expenses, so Texans can use Healthcare Spending Accounts (HSA) or Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA) cards at checkout just like a regular debit or credit card.

Because your evaluation is performed by a licensed clinician, it counts as a healthcare service. This allows you to pay with pre-tax dollars from an HSA or FSA account. If for any reason your HSA/FSA transaction doesn’t process, you can pay with another method and submit your receipt for reimbursement.

At this time, ESA evaluations are not covered by Medicare or Medicaid in Texas. Most clients choose to pay directly, often with a debit/credit card, HSA, or FSA.

JustBigDogs is not a medical provider. Instead, our platform connects you with licensed mental health professionals in Texas who review your case and issue your ESA letter. Every letter is written and signed by a licensed clinician — never automated or generated by software.