Key takeaway: Support Pets (Support Pets, LLC, of Miami, which runs supportpets.com) is a real company. But the ID cards, certificates, and “Official ESA®” branding it sells give you no legal rights. Support Pets' own website says the trademark is used “for branding purposes” and “does not imply any endorsement, approval, or necessity by any government entity.”[4] Two proposed class actions filed in 2026 allege its marketing misled buyers into thinking those products carried legal weight. Neither case has been decided.[1][3] In housing, the only document that can support an accommodation request is a letter from a licensed clinician who actually evaluated you, and since HUD’s 2026 change even that no longer guarantees federal enforcement for an untrained ESA.
Support Pet (supportpet.org, this site) is a separate, unaffiliated educational resource. We sell nothing.
| Question | Short answer |
|---|---|
| Is Support Pets a real company? | Yes. It is a Florida LLC based in Miami, founded in 2018, and accredited by the Better Business Bureau.[6] |
| Do its ID cards and certificates give legal rights? | No. No federal law recognizes ESA ID cards, certificates, or registrations, and Support Pets says its “Official ESA®” mark has no government endorsement.[4] |
| Is it being sued? | Yes. There are two proposed class actions: Goven v. Support Pets (S.D.N.Y., filed May 20, 2026) and Mclelan v. Support Pets (S.D. Fla., filed July 13, 2026). Both are pending. The claims are allegations, not findings.[1][2][3] |
| What actually works? | A letter from a licensed mental-health professional with real knowledge of your condition, given to your landlord as a reasonable-accommodation request.[7] |
Is Support Pets a real company or a scam?
Support Pets is a real, registered business, so “scam” in the sense of a fake company does not fit. The real question is whether what it sells does what buyers expect, and that is what the lawsuits are about.
Support Pets, LLC is a Florida limited liability company with a principal office in Miami. Its CEO and founder is Andrew Lermsider, according to the complaint in Mclelan v. Support Pets.[1] The Better Business Bureau lists the business as founded on December 27, 2018 and BBB-accredited since September 15, 2020. It holds an A+ rating and shows 223 complaints closed in the last three years.[6]
A BBB rating measures how a company handles customer complaints. It says nothing about whether an ID card or certificate has legal effect. A company can answer every complaint promptly and still sell a product that, legally, does nothing. To judge Support Pets, look at what each product is supposed to do and check it against the law.
What does Support Pets sell?
Support Pets sells two kinds of things. The first is clinician-signed documentation: ESA letters for housing and travel, and psychiatric service dog (PSD) paperwork. The second is branded accessories: ID cards, certificates, tags, and vests.
Its current website lists ESA letters for housing and travel, certificates, a digital ESA ID, a “GeniusPet™” tag, a self-paced PSD training course, and “optional accessories” such as vests and ID cards.[4][5] It markets both lines under the trademarks “Official ESA®” and “Official PSD®.”
Prices are not shown on the homepage. The plaintiff in Mclelan says she paid approximately $125 for an ESA identification card and certificate in about 2023.[1]
The distinction that matters: an ESA letter and an ESA ID card or certificate are different things. A letter signed by a licensed clinician who actually evaluated you can support a housing request, wherever it came from. A card, certificate, tag, or registration number cannot, whoever sells it.
Do Support Pets' ID cards and certificates give you any legal rights?
No. Each federal law that covers assistance animals ignores ID cards, certificates, and registries. Support Pets' own website says its “Official ESA®” mark carries no government endorsement.
| Setting | Federal law | What it says about ESAs | Does a card or certificate help? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Housing | Fair Housing Act (HUD) | A landlord may ask for reliable documentation of a disability-related need. HUD's 2020 guidance said internet-sold “certificates, registrations, and licensing documents” are “not, by itself, sufficient.”[7] | No. Only a clinician's letter can help. |
| Stores, restaurants, hotels | Americans with Disabilities Act (DOJ) | “Dogs whose sole function is to provide comfort or emotional support do not qualify as service animals under the ADA.”[8] | No. ESAs have no public-access right. |
| Flights | Air Carrier Access Act (DOT) | Since January 11, 2021, the DOT rule “allows airlines to recognize emotional support animals as pets, rather than service animals.”[9] | No. ESAs fly under pet policies. |
Support Pets now says much the same thing on its own pages. Its homepage states that ESAs “do not have public access rights under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)” and that “businesses such as restaurants, stores, and hotels are not legally required to allow ESAs.” It also says that “service dog vests, ID cards, and other gear are optional accessories and do not grant or establish legal service animal status or public access rights.”[5] Another of its pages says that “Most businesses are legally permitted to deny entry of an ESA,” and that “Official ESA®” “is a registered trademark of Support Pets for branding purposes.”[4]
A note on the HUD guidance: HUD withdrew its 2020 assistance-animal notice (FHEO-2020-01) on September 17, 2025, as part of a broader withdrawal of guidance documents.[10] On May 22, 2026, HUD went further and said it will only find cause in animal-accommodation complaints involving trained animals. The Fair Housing Act itself, and a tenant's right to request a reasonable accommodation, did not change, and nothing since recognizes ID cards or registries. See ESA housing rights in 2026.
The Support Pets class action lawsuits (2026)
Two proposed class actions filed in 2026 accuse Support Pets of selling ESA and PSD products as “official” when, the plaintiffs allege, they confer no legal rights. Both are pending, and no court has ruled on the merits.
| Case | Court & number | Filed | Core allegation | Status (Oct. 6, 2026) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Goven v. Support Pets, LLC | U.S. District Court, S.D.N.Y., No. 1:26-cv-04226 | May 20, 2026 | Says Support Pets sells “privately branded documentation and accessories with no legal significance” as if official.[2] | Pending. No ruling found. |
| Mclelan v. Support Pets, LLC | U.S. District Court, S.D. Fla., No. 1:26-cv-24775 | July 13, 2026 | Says Support Pets represented that its products “grant owners legal permission to take their pets almost anywhere.”[1] | Pending. No ruling found. |
What the Mclelan complaint alleges
Kristina Mclelan, a California resident, says she bought an ESA ID card and certificate from Support Pets for about $125 so she could keep her dog despite her landlord's pet restrictions.[1] Her 21-page complaint opens bluntly: Support Pets “represented to pet owners that Support Pets products grant owners legal permission to take their pets almost anywhere. It lied.” It adds: “Defendant's secret is this—Defendant's products provide no such special permissions.”[1]
The complaint quotes Support Pets' website as saying its products make it easier to bring your “pet to stores, restaurants, hotels, ride shares & more.” It also quotes the site promising “approval from a board certified medical doctor in 48 hours in your state,” and says the company told owners its products would save them money “by eliminating costly pet deposits and fees.”[1] It brings seven counts, on behalf of a proposed nationwide class of buyers and a California subclass:
- negligent misrepresentation
- fraudulent misrepresentation
- breach of express warranty
- violations of California's Consumers Legal Remedies Act, False Advertising Law, and Unfair Competition Law
- unjust enrichment
It asks for an injunction, restitution, damages including punitive damages, and attorneys' fees.[1]
What the Goven complaint alleges
The earlier New York case was filed by a different plaintiff. It targets Support Pets' ESA and PSD bundles, which include vests, ID cards, certificates, and documentation, and alleges the company “does not follow the protocol required for the ESA Letter it sells to be legally valid.” Its proposed class covers everyone in the U.S. who bought ESA or PSD products from the company within the limitations period.[2]
Important: everything in this section is an allegation. Support Pets has not been found liable for anything in either case. As of October 6, 2026, we found no public record of a ruling, a certified class, a settlement, or a public response from Support Pets. Support Pets' current terms of service (last updated June 17, 2026) require individual arbitration and include a class-action waiver.[11] How those terms apply to these cases is for the courts to decide. If you see a site claiming either case has “settled,” check the court record first.
Is Support Pet (supportpet.org) the same as Support Pets?
No. Support Pet (supportpet.org, singular, no “s”) is an independent educational site about emotional support animals. It has no connection to Support Pets, LLC or supportpets.com.
The names are one letter apart, and people regularly mix them up. We do not sell ESA letters, ID cards, certificates, registrations, vests, or accounts. If you bought something from Support Pets and are looking for your order or a login, you need supportpets.com, not this site. Our login help page explains where to find documents from the company you actually paid.
What to do instead of buying an ESA ID card or certificate
Skip the accessories and get the one document the law recognizes: a letter from a licensed mental-health professional who knows your condition.
- Ask your own provider first. If you already see a therapist, psychiatrist, or counselor, ask them. It is often free as part of a regular visit, and it is the strongest form of documentation.
- If you have no provider, use a real evaluation. Choose a telehealth service where a clinician licensed in your state actually evaluates you, not one that guarantees approval or emphasizes IDs and certificates.
- Check your state's rules. Some states, including California, require an established clinician relationship before a letter can be written.
- Give the letter to your landlord as a reasonable-accommodation request. Keep a copy.
Our step-by-step guide covers the free path in detail: how to make your dog an emotional support dog. Our main guide also lists general warning signs to check before paying any ESA seller.
Already bought from Support Pets? What it means for you
Your ID card or certificate gives you no legal rights. If you also got an ESA letter from a licensed clinician, that letter may still support a housing request. It depends on the clinician and the evaluation behind it.
- Check what you actually have. Is it a signed letter with a clinician's name, license number, and state, or only a card, certificate, or registration number?
- Keep your receipts and order emails. If either class action is certified or settles, class members are typically identified through purchase records.
- Do not rely on the card in public. Stores, restaurants, and hotels can refuse an ESA, and airlines can treat one as a pet.
- Questions about the lawsuits should go to the court record or a lawyer of your choosing. We are not affiliated with either case and do not refer clients.
Frequently asked questions about Support Pets
Is Support Pets a scam?
Support Pets is a real, BBB-accredited company in Miami, so it is not a fake business. But its ESA ID cards, certificates, and “Official ESA®” branding carry no legal rights. Two 2026 class actions allege its marketing misled buyers about that. Those claims are unproven, and both cases are pending.
Is the Official ESA registration real?
“Official ESA®” is a trademark owned by Support Pets, not a government designation. Support Pets' own website says it is used “for branding purposes” and “does not imply any endorsement, approval, or necessity by any government entity.” There is no official federal ESA registry.
Will my landlord accept a Support Pets letter?
It depends on the letter, not the brand. A landlord can ask for reliable documentation of a disability-related need. A letter from a licensed clinician who actually evaluated you can meet that standard. An ID card, certificate, or registration number cannot.
Can I bring my ESA into stores with a Support Pets ID?
No. Under the ADA, emotional support animals are not service animals, so stores, restaurants, and hotels can refuse them. No ID card changes that, and Support Pets' own homepage says businesses “are not legally required to allow ESAs.”
Is there a Support Pets lawsuit settlement?
Not as of October 6, 2026. Two proposed class actions, Goven v. Support Pets (S.D.N.Y.) and Mclelan v. Support Pets (S.D. Fla.), were filed in 2026. We found no public record of a ruling, certified class, or settlement in either case.
How do I get a refund from Support Pets?
Contact Support Pets directly; we cannot process refunds. Its homepage says that if your ESA request is not approved by a licensed clinician, “you will receive a 100% refund, including any evaluation fees,” and that “Once documentation has been issued, no refunds are provided unless required by law.”
How do I cancel a Support Pets renewal?
Support Pets’ terms say automatic renewal plans can be cancelled in your Support Pets account under “Manage Your Subscription,” or by calling (855) 700-PETS, and must be cancelled before the billing date to avoid the next charge. Support Pet (supportpet.org) has no access to Support Pets accounts.
Is Support Pet the same as Support Pets?
No. Support Pet (supportpet.org) is an independent educational site that sells nothing. It is not affiliated with Support Pets, LLC, which runs supportpets.com and sells ESA documentation and accessories.
Sources
We checked every quotation on this page against the source listed here on October 6, 2026. Court filings are allegations, not findings.
- Complaint, Mclelan v. Support Pets LLC, No. 1:26-cv-24775 (S.D. Fla. filed July 13, 2026), Doc. 1, ¶¶ 1, 6, 11, 15, 22–26, 32–33 & Prayer for Relief. PDF via Courthouse News. Coverage: Florida Record / Legal Newsline, “Class action targets invalid support animal documentation” (Aug. 6, 2026).
- ClassAction.org, “Class Action Lawsuit Says Support Pets' Service Animal Documentation Has 'No Legal Significance'” (June 16, 2026), covering Goven v. Support Pets, LLC, No. 1:26-cv-04226.
- Florida Record / Legal Newsline (Aug. 6, 2026), noting that “a similar proposed class action” was filed in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York in May 2026. Article.
- Support Pets, supportpets.com/esa3usa/ (accessed Oct. 6, 2026).
- Support Pets, supportpets.com homepage (accessed Oct. 6, 2026).
- Better Business Bureau, Support Pets, LLC business profile (accessed Oct. 6, 2026).
- U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, FHEO Notice FHEO-2020-01, “Assessing a Person's Request to Have an Animal as a Reasonable Accommodation Under the Fair Housing Act” (Jan. 28, 2020), section “Documentation from the Internet.” Archived PDF.
- U.S. Department of Justice, “ADA Requirements: Service Animals”.
- U.S. Department of Transportation, “Traveling by Air With Service Animals,” final rule, 85 Fed. Reg. 79742 (Dec. 10, 2020), effective Jan. 11, 2021. Federal Register.
- HUD, Notice of the Withdrawal of FHEO Guidance Documents (effective Sept. 17, 2025). Archived PDF.
- Support Pets, Terms & Conditions (last updated June 17, 2026; accessed Oct. 6, 2026).