Timothy “Chaz” Stevens, a Florida-based activist and founder of ESADoggy (Website), is escalating his campaign against fraudulent Emotional Support Animal (ESA) documentation, including a new lawsuit targeting a Central Florida clinical psychologist, identified as Dr. Carolina Estevez, according to a recent story by Kairi Lowery for Orlando Sentinel.
Stevens alleges that Estevez is operating a “letter mill” by selling ESA documentation to individuals without legitimate disabilities via online platforms such as Fiverr, documents that falsely certify these individuals as eligible for emotional support animals. He is claiming that these letters are issued without proper clinical evaluation, therapeutic relationship, or regulatory compliance, effectively functioning as a shortcut for housing accommodations and misusing disability protections.
In his current legal action against Estevez, Stevens is alleging that her operations misrepresent the nature of emotional support need, evade the clinical rigor required, and undermine legitimate disability protections.
Read Lowery’s full report above for all the details.
But while we’re talking about it, in order to get your dog (or emu, or whatever) qualified as an ESA, you must obtain a diagnosis and evaluation from a Florida-licensed mental health professional. That means you’ll need to be diagnosed as having a mental or emotional disability like anxiety, depression, or PTSD. Something that significantly impacts your daily life. That qualified professional will then provide you with a formal ESA letter on official letterhead, which includes their signature and license number that states your mental health condition, how it affects your ability to function, and a recommendation that you need an ESA as part of your treatment plan.
If you have a legit ESA, that means landlords must provide you with reasonable accommodations, even if they have a “no pets” policy. And they can’t impose pet fees, deposits, or breed/size restrictions (which is why so many people try to get fake letters). It does not grant you access to public places like restaurants, stores, or workplaces under the Americans with Disabilities Act, and those locations can choose whether to allow ESAs or not. Additionally, airlines now generally treat ESAs as pets, rather than service animals, and traveling with them is subject to the airline’s policies.
ESA letters are usually only valid for one year and need to be renewed annually, just like any other prescription.
