Frequently Asked Questions
Everything you need to know about ESA and Service Animal registration.
General
PawClear is a trusted registration service that helps animal owners create professional documentation for their Emotional Support Animals (ESAs) and Service Animals. We provide digital certificates, photo ID cards with QR verification codes, and supporting documentation to help you communicate your animal's role to landlords, housing providers, and others.
PawClear is a trusted registration service that provides official documentation and verification for your emotional support animal or service animal. Our certificates and ID cards are recognized by landlords and businesses nationwide.
Your registration includes a digital certificate PDF, a digital ID card with your animal's photo and a QR verification code, and a state-specific law summary. Premium bundles also include landlord letter templates, housing documentation checklists, rights guides, and lifetime record storage.
All documents are delivered digitally. After completing your registration, your certificate and ID card are available immediately — there is no waiting period. You can download and use your documents right away.
For ESA registrations, we support dogs, cats, birds, rabbits, and other common companion animals. For Service Animal registrations, the ADA recognizes dogs and, in some cases, miniature horses. We can register any animal you submit, though your legal protections will depend on the applicable laws for your animal type and situation.
ESA Specific
An Emotional Support Animal (ESA) is a companion animal that provides emotional support to a person with a mental health condition. Unlike service animals, ESAs are not required to perform specific trained tasks. Their presence itself provides therapeutic benefit. ESAs are recognized under the Fair Housing Act, which gives qualifying individuals the right to live with their ESA in housing that would otherwise restrict pets.
Under the Fair Housing Act (FHA), individuals with ESAs are entitled to reasonable accommodations in housing — even in buildings with no-pet policies or breed restrictions. Landlords are generally not allowed to charge extra pet fees or deposits for an ESA, though they may request documentation. Note that ESA protections on airplanes were significantly reduced in 2021 when the DOT revised its rules.
PawClear provides all the documentation you need to register your ESA and present your animal to landlords and housing providers. Our digital certificate, ID card, and verification page are designed to support your housing requests.
In most cases, no. Under the Fair Housing Act, ESAs are not considered pets, so landlords generally cannot charge pet deposits or fees for them. However, you may still be held responsible for any damage your animal causes. Requirements can vary by state and specific housing situation, so it is a good idea to review your state's laws.
Service Animal Specific
Under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), a service animal is a dog (or in some cases a miniature horse) that has been individually trained to perform specific tasks for a person with a disability. The tasks must be directly related to the person's disability — for example, guiding someone who is blind, alerting someone who is deaf, detecting an oncoming seizure, or providing mobility assistance.
Service animals trained under the ADA are allowed in virtually all public places — restaurants, stores, hotels, hospitals, government buildings, and more. Businesses may only ask two questions: (1) Is this a service animal required because of a disability? and (2) What work or task has the dog been trained to perform? They may not ask for documentation or require a demonstration.
Yes. ADA service animals must be trained to perform specific tasks related to a disability. There is no required certification or licensing program, and owner-training is legally valid. The training doesn't need to be professional — what matters is that the animal reliably performs a disability-related task and is under control in public.
Verification
Yes. Every PawClear registration includes a unique QR code that links to a verification page. Anyone who scans the QR code can view your animal's name, species, registration type, and registration status. No personal medical information is displayed.
When someone scans the QR code on your ID card or certificate, they are taken to a secure verification page on PawClear.com. The page confirms your registration is active and displays basic information about your animal. This gives landlords, housing managers, and others a quick, reliable way to confirm your documentation.
The verification portal shows your animal's name, species, registration type (ESA or Service Animal), registration ID, and the date the registration was issued. It does not display your personal address, medical history, diagnosis, or any other sensitive information.
Billing
We offer a 100% money-back guarantee. If you are not satisfied with your registration for any reason, contact us within 30 days of purchase at support@pawclear.com and we will issue a full refund — no questions asked.
Standard registrations are valid for one year from the date of issue. Premium bundles include lifetime record storage, which keeps your records on file indefinitely. After your initial registration period, you can renew annually.
You can renew your registration from your PawClear account dashboard. Our Annual Renewal package is $39.95 and includes a 1-year registration extension, an updated ID card, and an updated state law summary reflecting any changes in your state.