If an animal supports someone with mental health issues but is not trained for specific tasks, what type of animal is it?

The correct answer is that the animal in question is an emotional support animal. This type of animal provides comfort and support to individuals dealing with mental health issues simply through their presence. Unlike service animals, which are specifically trained to perform tasks related to a person's disability, emotional support animals do not require specialized training for specific tasks. Instead, their role is to offer emotional companionship and alleviate symptoms of mental disabilities, such as anxiety or depression.

While therapy animals are trained to provide comfort in group settings (such as hospitals or schools), emotional support animals are focused solely on one individual's emotional well-being. Comfort animals, while similar in purpose, are not formally recognized under the same legal definitions and protections associated with emotional support animals. Thus, the term "emotional support animal" captures the essence of the animal's role as a source of emotional comfort without the need for task-specific training.