Hello! My name's Elliot, and if you wish, I ask you to listen to my story.

The photo for this petition is my cat, Sherbert. She's a registered and trained ESA. I have delt with multiple mental health struggles over the years and suffer from multiple disorders, such as PSTD, ADHD, Autism, Anxiety, Depression, etc. I do not have the time, money, or physical energy to take care of a service dog despite being eligible for one.

Sherbert goes everywhere she can with me. She knows how to fetch my meds, she knows how to sit/stay, she's harness and leash trained, she knows how to help me with PSTD episodes and pull me from my dissociation, and so much more. She's what I'd describe a dog in a cats body. Sherbert has come to school with me before (with permission), she'll join me when I go to therapy, she's been there for me when nobody else has.

Cats are easier to take care of than dogs. For people with physical issues like me who can't take care of a dog, it's a big pro. In some provinces of Canada, cats have the same legal rights as small service dogs if they're trained correctly. Cats purrs are proven to not only heal bones and muscles faster, but also slow down heart rate during panics (or just in general) and reduce the risks of heart attacks.

Yes, cats are extremely independent animals, they wont do things that they don't want to do. However, if you find the right cat, you can train them, and the same goes for any other animal! This is my second time owning a cat, and both cats, despite being very different in personality, helped me with my mental and physical health almost identically because both of them were motivated to do so.

Cats have amazing intuitive and can make great service animals. I know someone whose cat knows to wake them up if they get low BP (blood pressure). Another friend of mine used to have a service dog but passed because the family couldn't afford the medical bills, and made the point that cats are also much less costly. Many think that how trainable an animal is equals how smart they are, partly why dogs and mini horses are the legal service Animals, because they were bred to listen to commands and work.

Cats are more independent on average but are just as smart. You need to find a cat that WANTS to do work, just like how you need to find a dog that can focus on it.