I'll admit it. I'm a fraud.

I have no medical or psychological need, but I have an emotional service animal (ESA). His name is Capone, and if anything, he actually adds more to my daily stress and anxiety rather than alleviating any of it.

Registering my furry friend did come slightly out of necessity. I live in a city where his breed is restricted, and under the Fair Housing Act that protects ESAs, Capone can't be turned away by property managers or landlords. Still, the move to register Capone as an ESA did come from a self-serving place, even if I haven't taken full advantage of the ESA benefits. He doesn't wear a special vest or sleep at my feet on plane trips, nor does he go to grocery stores or restaurants where he's unwelcome. He did, however, live rent and deposit free at my past apartment, a point I feel OK about given Denver's current rental market.