From cats to bunnies, ESAs making an impact for Wingate students

By Hayleigh Chapman

Staff Writer

College is already stressful, especially for those with disabilities. Wingate offers several supportive services to help these students, including allowing emotional support animals (ESAs) on campus. These animals are licensed to provide comfort and support for students in need.

The process for acquiring an ESA is thorough. Students must complete a New Assistance Accommodation Request, including medical documentation explaining how an animal would help. Next, they participate in an interview to determine if the accommodations are necessary and appropriate.

Emma Buck, a junior from Stanley, N.C., shares her dorm with Chester, an orange cat who provides her with emotional support.

“It was a lengthy process—getting him fixed, getting his shots and tests, talking to my psychiatrist, and completing all the paperwork,” she says. “Once everything was submitted, it didn’t take long for approval.”

Buck lives with another ESA, a white bunny named Bon Bon, who supports Sophia Ackerman, a junior from Holly Springs, N.C. For Ackerman, the process went smoothly thanks to her psychiatrist’s guidance in filling out the forms. Although they have different reasons for having their animals, Buck and Ackerman both find comfort in their pets amid the stress of college life. Bon Bon offers physical support, while Chester helps Emma manage her stress.

“He knows when I’m upset and always knows how to make me feel better,” Buck says.

Both Ackerman and Buck share experiences and challenges with having their animals on campus. For Buck, the hardest part was getting Chester approved and making the dorm safe for him and the furniture. Ackerman faces challenges with Bon Bon during fire alarms.

“Rabbits can have heart attacks from loud sounds,” explains Ackerman, who has created a plan to keep Bon Bon safe during drills and emergencies. Both want other students to know that ESAs deserve as much care and love as they give—perhaps even more, since they provide so much support to their owners.

“If you’re thinking of getting an emotional support animal, think through everything to be sure you’re capable of taking care of another living being,” Buck advises.