While dogs are the most popular choices for emotional support animals, some IU students find mental health relief in more exotic creatures.

Junior Zoë Finley relies on their ball python, Tami, for comfort as they cope with post-traumatic stress disorder, bipolar disorder, anxiety and depression.

“The disorders will get in the way of school,” Finley said. “If I ever have to take time away from school, he’ll help me center myself back.”

Emotional support animals, or ESAs, are not considered service animals under the Americans with Disabilities Act, but they can provide companionship, comfort and emotional support to individuals with mental health conditions. 

Tami peeks out his head during some bonding time with Finley.

Finley cradles their ball python, Tami. Tami is registered as an emotional support animal.

Tami's diet consists of frozen mice.

Finley went to Residential Programs and Services to advocate for a larger enclosure size for Tami.

When they get home from classes, Finley will often take Tami out of his enclosure to cuddle or explore his environment.

At IU, ESAs are not permitted in campus buildings. They may live in student housing with approval from Residential Programs and Services and Accessible Educational Services. 

Accessible Educational Services Coordinator Whitney Jones said new ESA requests continue to increase each semester. 

This academic year, her office received 213 requests, compared to 166 requests the previous year. Jones attributes the rise of ESAs partly to the isolation brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic.

“With everything that was going on, people are looking for other ways to get reacclimated to being on campus and feeling less anxious, less lonely,” Jones said. “I would say COVID plays a piece in that, but we definitely have seen a steady increase every academic year.”

IU currently has many dogs and cats registered as ESAs but also snakes, birds, hamsters, guinea pigs and lizards.

“We don’t necessarily try to limit the type of ESA provided they can give us the documentation that would show how in fact that animal is helping them,” Jones said. 

Jones said students develop a special bond with their animal, and the benefits of an ESA are highly individualized. 

“For a lot of my students with anxiety or depression, [the animal] helps them to feel less worried or anxious,” Jones said. “Those animals can help ground them and just maybe feel less lonely.” 

Finley purchased their snake two years ago at a reptile expo in Indianapolis. Because Tami has been handled since he was a baby, they said, he has an easy-going temperament. 

Finley said Tami helps them regulate their emotions. During moments of panic, they can focus on something outside of themselves. 

“The regulation part of having to take care of something else while also taking care of myself at the same time — it’s nice to have something to share it with,” Finley said. 

Scientists debate how deeply reptiles feel emotions, especially happiness and love. The College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences at Texas A&M University reported that reptiles appear to like some people more than others and may even enjoy human contact.

Finley said they believe Tami recognizes them and is excited to see them.

“There’s a big thing with not knowing if reptiles show love or know that you are you,” Finley said. “But he’ll sometimes come up to the glass if he sees me coming into the room or hanging out. I think he wants food, but sometimes I think he’s saying hi.”