Welcome. This section is for those seeking clarity and support around emotional support animals and housing rights. Whether you're navigating a new lease, facing restrictions, or just learning what ESA protection includes—this page is for you. I’m here to guide you through the process with care and transparency.
🎧 Click below to hear a short welcome message from Dr. Tasha Holland-Kornegay.
Living in the Southeast means warm mornings, wide porches, and pet-friendly communities that often feel like family. But finding ESA-accepting housing here can still be tricky. Whether you’re in North Carolina, Georgia, Florida, or Alabama—start with complexes that list “pet-friendly” but confirm they know ESA laws. Ask for a written policy, stay calm during conversations, and lead with your letter. Need support? I’m here to guide you through it, Southern-style: gentle, honest, and full of care.
As a therapist, gardener, and animal lover, I know how deeply healing it is to share your home—and your heart—with an emotional support animal. That’s why I created this guide for ESA housing in the Northeast. Whether you’re planting roots in a new place or advocating for your furry companion, this resource is for you. It blends compassion with clarity, offering legal insights, listings, and gentle guidance to help you feel more confident and cared for in your search.
🌿 Download the ESA Housing Guide for the Northeast
This is informational only and not legal guidance.
Landlords and leases can become the bane of a pet lover’s existence, but just because your apartment rules out big-breed dogs and maybe even cats doesn’t mean you can’t bring a pet home. In this article, we’re going to look at a few pets who can thrive in smaller, stricter apartments so you can find the companion that’s right for you. Let’s get started!
Some Dogs
Often the most-desired and the least welcome pets in apartments are dogs — especially big ones. Whether it’s a fear that big dogs will scratch up the floors and walls or that irresponsible owners won’t let their pets out in time, getting a dog into an apartment can be an uphill battle.
Typically, so-called “aggressive” breeds are not allowed, often including pit bulls, Rottweilers, Akitas, German shepherds, and so on. The other factor is weight. Even rowdy small dogs tend to be pretty harmless and won’t scratch up surfaces like a 70-pound husky would. Puppies, of course, are quite messy and are often not allowed.
So, what does that leave you with? Small- to medium-sized dogs that aren’t included on aggressive breed lists and aren’t puppies. This might include pugs, bulldogs, beagles, Yorkshire terriers, and a well-trained retriever or lab! Take your apartment’s restricted breed list to a pet rescue and see if you can brighten up a dog’s life.
Most Cats
Cats are an ideal pet for small spaces — primarily because the space isn’t all that small to them. They’ll find nooks to explore, structures to climb, and plenty of fun things to play with and chase. But that doesn’t mean all cats will be a good fit for a small apartment.
Some cat breeds are more amenable to small, quiet spaces than others. For instance, there are some very vocal cat breeds like the Siamese which will howl if you’re gone too long. Then there are bigger and more energetic cats like the Bengal, which need more stimulation to be happy.
Check if there are any breed restrictions for cats in your lease as well as if there are stipulations about being spayed or neutered. Also, remember that your cat needs things to do while you’re away! Window perches, climbing towers, scratching posts, and toys can really help brighten their day.
Gerbils and Guinea Pigs
Much lower maintenance than cats and dogs, gerbils and guinea pigs are great companions in small spaces! As for gerbils, it’s important to know that these social pets need to have a friend, so adopt in pairs. They’re playful, cute, and more amenable to being picked up than hamsters. To avoid having a lot of gerbil babies, it’s best to adopt two males or two females. While they’re known for being a bit messy, it’s nothing a regular cage cleaning can’t take care of!
Guinea Pigs are a similar story. They’re also social are are happiest with a same-sex friend to hang out with. However, they need vertical cages with a few floors rather than horizontal cages. With a big enclosure and lots of snacks and toys, gerbils will be very happy and very cuddly small-apartment pets!
Rabbits
You’ll want to look closely at your lease for this one, but for the most part, if an apartment complex allows big dogs, they’re likely to make an exception for a rabbit too. If it isn’t listed specifically, just send an email or ask the leasing office to make sure! After all, rabbits are wonderful little social pets that you can really form a bond with.
But there are unique considerations for rabbits. First off, some rabbit breeds can be housetrained with a litter box and hop around the apartment freely. But since they’re natural chewers, you absolutely must ensure that all wires are bunny-proofed. That means covered, picked up, and definitely unplugged. Otherwise, your rabbit will chew through them and possibly get electrocuted.
Fish and Reptiles
While you’ll want to check in with your leasing office to see if more unique pets like large-tank fish and reptiles are allowed, these are, for the right owners, ideal small apartment pets. Reptiles are happy sunbathing and hunting in their tanks, and fish are famously low maintenance so long as their water temperature, quality, and food needs are met.
That said, there’s a big difference between a python and a leopard gecko. Smaller reptiles that flourish in small to medium tanks will probably be best for a studio apartment. If you work long hours, many reptile and fish owners are glad to know that separation anxiety isn’t as much of an issue as it would be with cats or dogs. If you’re the type of person who loves these scaly, unique pets, then there are plenty of options to bring them into your studio apartment!
Help a Pet, Help Yourself
Pets are remarkable at keeping us healthy — they get us off the couch, give us plenty of love, and bring us so much joy. If you’re an animal lover, you may benefit from an emotional support animal or exploring animal-assisted therapy. I’d be happy to give you more information. Feel free to read more here or contact me!
Few decisions are as lovely and life-changing as adopting a dog, but should your square footage limit which pup you give a home? Of course not! The truth is, a dog’s size isn’t always an indication of how big a home it needs. Some little dogs just want to run around all day, while some big dogs are couch potatoes.
As long as you’ve done a bit of research and know that your prospective pup’s breed is a good fit for apartment living, then you can adopt them, big or small, and know they’ll have happy lives. A loving home is much better than another month at the shelter, after all. While this is far from a comprehensive list, here are a few pointers when it comes to large dog breeds for apartments.
The Gentle Giant: Saint Bernards
Beautiful and loyal, Saint Bernards are large fluffy dogs who just love a nap. While every dog deserves a long walk or two a day, Saint Bernards will be more than happy between exercise to lay around with their families. These big guys and gals are calm and loving, so you don’t need to worry as much about stubbornness, tantrums, or home-wrecking behavior.
The Coach Potato: Golden Retrievers
You definitely saw this one coming. This classic dog breed isn’t just cuddly, loving, and calm, but they’re also super dedicated to their families and easy to train. As far as big apartment dogs go, you can’t do much better than a Golden Retriever! Most people will still be able to pick up their Goldens when they’re fully grown (maybe with some effort!) for vet trips and car rides, and when the time comes to binge watch on lazy Sundays, you have a sleepy foot warmer who’s just as excited to relax as you are.
The Sleepy Sprinter: Greyhounds
They’re big, tall, and made to run — but Greyhounds are often recommended as great apartment dogs. Why? Because they love a long nap and family time just as much as you do. Famously low-demand pets, Grey Hounds are great apartment companions. Again, all dogs need sufficient exercise every day, but your Greyhound won’t be nearly as antsy and needy as, for instance, a Husky! They might be fast, but they have low stamina, so a quick jog or park visit will make them super happy to lounge around for the rest of the day.
The Lovable Watchdog: Great Pyrenees
Great Pyrenees are big, white, and fluffy dogs weighing up to (and sometimes over) 150 pounds. These lovable bears are very lazy and very family-oriented, so they’ll be happy hanging out around the house when you’re home and holding down the fort when you’re gone. Like the other breeds on our list, Great Pyrenees are calm and can live happy lives in apartments as long as they get outside for a walk a day!
The Perennial Parent: Bernese Mountain Dogs
This big, classic fluffball is widely known as a smart and loving addition to any family. In fact, when it comes to being gentle around children, Bernese Mountain Dogs are at the top of the list! They love hanging out with kids, long lazy afternoons, and a good walk a day. Better yet, they aren’t really barkers, and they’re super friendly around other dogs — which is great news for apartment dwellers who need to worry about their neighbors.
Help a Dog, Help Yourself
Pets are remarkable at keeping us healthy — they get us off the couch, give us plenty of love, and protect our families. When you adopt a dog, they’re rescuing you too. If you’ve been thinking about getting an emotional support animal, training your dog to become one, or exploring animal-assisted therapy, then I’d be happy to give you more information. Feel free to read more here or contact me.
Cat lovers know that their feline friends aren’t nearly as solitary as conventional wisdom would tell them. The truth is, cats also love to socialize, hang out around their people, play with toys, and just explore! But since most pet-owning households are a revolving door of people coming and going from work and other obligations, how long is too long when it comes to leaving your cat alone?
Am I Leaving My Cat Alone for Too Long?
Before we get into it, understand that there’s a very big difference between cats and kittens. If you’re raising a kitten under four months old, then you should never leave them alone for more than three or four hours — they’re just too delicate and needy! By the time a kitten hits six months, it’s ok to leave them alone for the typical eight-hour workday.
Now, adult cats are another story. Since cats don’t need to be walked every day, or let out to do their bathroom business, they’re much lower maintenance. As long as your cat has food available and plenty of fresh, clean water, then leaving your cat alone for a typical 8-hour workday is no big deal. In fact, as long as you’re giving your cat plenty of facetime and stimulation when you’re home, most cats can live perfectly content lives around their pet parent’s full-time schedules.
Where things get more complicated is when you’re going to leave for a day or more (consider a cat sitter, just to be safe). If your cat will be alone for 24 hours, there’s a bit more to take into consideration. For instance, if your cat eats wet food, bugs might get to it within that timeframe, making it unpleasant or inedible. Water may also get dirty, and your cat’s litter box may get too full or smelly to use.
More than that, the home will just feel so empty! You simply being present is stimulating for your pets — and they really, really notice it when you’re gone. So, if you’re going to leave your cat alone for a day or more, make sure you give them plenty of play time, companionship, and entertainment before you go — and make sure you do these five things.
Five Things to Do Before You Leave Your Cat at Home
You can’t take your cat everywhere, unfortunately! While leaving your cat alone for 24 hours at a time is mostly ok, it shouldn’t happen frequently. That said, there are a few things you can do to make your stay-at-home cat as comfortable and happy as possible! Here they are:
Air Conditioning: What’s the temperature going to be while you’re gone — especially if it’s for one to two days? Make sure your set the thermostat to a comfortable level. For your cat’s sake, don’t turn it off! It can get really cold or really hot faster than you think.
Additional Litter Boxes: While you’re gone, there won’t be any litter scooping, so your cat’s litter box can fill up and, more importantly, get really unpleasant really quickly. To make sure your cat can use the bathroom without distress, put out a second litter box in a visible spot a day or so before you leave.
Leave on Music or TV: I know it sounds a bit silly, but cats are social animals just like us. They need stimulation, and there’s nothing more dispiriting than days in an empty, silent household. At a low volume, play a calming music channel or television channel to spice up your cat’s atmosphere. It really does help — just not too loud!
Lay Out Dry Food: Wet food, as I’ve mentioned, can get pretty gross left out in the open for too long — especially if there are bugs around. If you’re going to leave your cat alone for a day or so, make sure you have dry food they’re acquainted with available. It’ll stay fresh, even if it isn’t as tasty as those wet canned foods!
Go Overboard on Water: As a rule of thumb, overestimate how much water you should leave out. Fill up your cat’s typical bowl, and then leave out a few more bowls in different rooms. Automatic water bowls are a nice amenity, but they aren’t necessary as long as your cat has plenty to drink!
Thanks for Taking Care of Your Cat!
It’s hard to part from our furry companions, but they’ll be glad to know that you’re taking care of them even from afar! Did you know they can take care of you too? If you’re a cat lover, then you might be interested in learning about emotional support animals or animal-assisted therapy. Well, I’m here to answer any and all of your questions! Feel free to send a message.
With the holidays just around the corner, it’s time for pet parents to start asking themselves that all-too-familiar question: how are we going to bring our furry friend on our trip? In this article, we’re going to cover everything you need to know to take a pet-friendly hotel holiday — from planning and packing to travel and lodging!
What’s a Hotel Holiday?
Whether you’re visiting family and friends or not, your whole family will love to get away from it all with a quick hotel holiday trip with your pet. It’s pretty self-explanatory — a hotel holiday trip is just a chance to get some new scenery and hang out with family without all the stress of a full-fledged vacation.
That’s perfect for dog owners who might otherwise worry about keeping their pets in someone else’s house or hiring a pet sitter. Instead, you can just hang out in a pet-friendly hotel and explore the area. This is also a great option for longer vacations where it just wouldn’t feel right to leave your dog behind!
Planning Your Dog-Friendly Hotel Holiday
First, figure out where you want to go and what activities your whole family can do once you’re there. I recommend using Google Map’s street view feature to see how walkable the area is. Key things to look for are dog park availability (to get some of that anxious energy out), the dog friendliness of nearby shops (signage and outside water bowls are a good indication), and the availability of dog-friendly hotels.
When it comes to hotels, it can get a bit tricky. Read carefully about what specifications dog-friendly hotels have. Some, for instance, only allow dogs under 50 pounds. Others only allow breeds that they consider “non-aggressive.” It can be a bit frusterating, but make sure your pup will be allowed in once the time comes to check in! That isn’t a surprise anyone wants after a road trip.
Finally, remember to have all of your dog gear packed. That includes medication, potty bags, bowls for eating and drinking, enough kibble to last the whole trip, a leash and harness for walks, a seat cover or blanket for coziness and stain resistance, relevant paperwork like vaccinations, and plenty of treats to reward good behavior!
Tips for a Flawless Holiday with Your Dog
While it introduces plenty of new considerations, if you’re bringing your dog on your holiday trip, then it’s going to be a lot more fun too! Let’s go over a few best practices and pet etiquette tips to make sure your holiday is as smooth as possible.
Bag it Up: Always, and I mean always, have potty bags available. You never know when your dog is ready to go. I find it helpful to tie two to the leash handle so they’re always nearby!
Anxiety Means Exercise: If your dog is being anxious, moody, or high-maintenance, remember that they aren’t just deciding to be that way — they need help and don’t know how to ask for it! Nine times out of ten, my dog just needs to burn some energy to get back to her fun-loving self.
Leashed and Attended: If you’re in public, then never ever leave your dog unattended. Don’t hand them to a stranger while you grab a quick coffee or tie them to a post. It’s scary and could put them in danger (or others if your dog gets reactive from being left alone!)
Make it Home-y: To help your dog settle in at the hotel room, bring a familiar blanket, dog bed, and toys. The familiar smells always help ease my dog’s tension, and it helps them understand that this is going to be home for the next few days.
Restaurant Etiquette: Pretty much all food establishments won’t allow dogs inside, so expect to eat in outdoor seating areas. It’s key to bring treats and long-lasting dog chews in this situation. If your dog is easily distracted, dining during off hours might help too!
Learn More About Service Dogs & Animal-Assisted Therapy
Your dog will be thrilled to come along on your trip—and they’d be happy to help you in other ways too. Animal-assisted therapy is a great way to strengthen your bond with your dog (or a therapy dog!) and learn more about what you need in life to be happy. If you’ve been thinking about getting an emotional support animal, training your dog to become one, or exploring therapy, then I’d be happy to give you more information. Feel free to read more here or contact me.