[OneMoreTime]

This addresses more than a few of us will confront in time, and HOW we manage to be up front in being honest to ourselves and others will influence whether other emotionally disabled patients face increased acceptance or INCREASED REJECTION.

We asked our psychiatrist to prescribe a psychiatric service dog because we were virtually entrapped in a solitary existence, afraid to leave home, often afraid to even have a neighbor catch a glimpse of us, sometimes unable to even have another human being enter our homes (oh, the horrendous stress getting mentally prepared for a landlord's inspection). And we described the symptoms that went into making us legally disabled and voiced our hopes and expectations that a companion dog, one who could actually go everywhere, might enable us to do what normal people took for granted.

And our therapist considered it, some even reading material we had printed out - and agreed, writing out that precious letter that enabled us to elevate our present of future companion from just "emotional support" (a classification that already guarantees us being able to have them in publicly subsidized housing) to an animal with a higher level of privilege - a Psychiatric SERVICE Dog.

But for some of us, as our condition(s) improve to the point to where the dog we first needed simply to step out the door, go shopping, pick up prescriptions, board public transit, attend medical appointments, we find out dog has actually increased our emotional confidence and sense of security to where we find we can actually regularly (or somewhat regularly) do at least some of these things without that previous total dependence. What a wonderful animal, being able to help effect cures, not just be a crutch. A real medical treatment, not just a bandaid.

But we find that if we try to leave the animal at home when we leave, they are frantic to be with us. That is their job, their reason for being, to live side by side with us, ever present, often touched, held, caressed nearly constantly in order to calm us. It is a temptation to simply continue as if that prescription letter is still fully valid.... It is a temptation to continue to take our dog with us every time we go out, to every place we need to venture, because of the dog's confusion and separation anxiety.

While federal law, as described by government lawyer interpreters of "disability", gives our psychiatric service dog valuable rights, when a person depicts themselves as so disabled that they NEED that dog - when that is no longer true.... Then we would be in violation of that law, subject to be turned in, charged with federal charges, facing a hefty fine for misrepresenting our condition. More importantly, when those we mingle, those who observe us and our dogs, especially when they observe us over time, they may begin to suspect that we are milking the system, taking advantage, unfairly giving our pet a privileged status so we can be special, getting to take our "pets" anywhere we wish to...

I am writing this since I reached that point this past summer, after two years of intense neediness and dependence on my Pekingese, Chewbacca. When I would explain the presence of my dog in a public place to the curious as being "my furry valium", it was exceptionally obvious to all that if I had to drive to get to my destination, then valium (which is prescribed for me) would negate my getting behind the wheel. People see someone having to take a tranquilizers as being worse than depending on a small dog.

Let me point out that a psychiatric service dog of an appropriate size is KEY to wide-spread generous acceptance of psych service dogs for adults. For children who need a dog in order to attend classes, a lab (for all its size) is far more appropriate in terms of gentleness and safety for other children, and his size puts his head in petting reach of the seated child. But for an adult, as a needed companion, a dog that can be carried in an over the shoulder carrier, who can ride quietly and unobtrusively in a basket, using that crate as their "den", it is an avoidable fact that the smaller and less obtrusive the dog, the greater and readier the acceptance. ALL dog breeds bite, but the bigger the dog, the more damage the bite causes. A small dog nips an ankle, a tall dog's mouth is eye-level with a child. A person who fears people, perhaps fears being attacked, will give those unspoken signals to the dog that "strangers are danger" and make a defensive growl or bite more likely... And they pick up on fear and many children and a surprising number of adults have unease or fear when forced to close proximity to a dog. Any dog can smell fear in a person and it causes emotional instinctual behaviors in the dog. I have owned dogs all my life, loved dogs, rescued and rehabilitated dogs, worked for a vet handling a dozen dogs a day.... Enough contact for me to increase my sense of caution when I suddenly see a dog walking a couple of feet away from my knee/thigh, and I always immediately increase the space between us. And as all of us know, there are always those alarming thoughtless people who think we brought our dog into the store for them to meet and greet, pet and play with..

We who need a psychiatric service animal don't need a "protector" -- just that furry valium, always there to touch, squeeze, caress and stroke, helping us achieve some calm, keeping panic at bay.... so we can perform those activities that were impossible or near impossible previously.

We are lucky to live in a nation that has extended "service dog" from only guide dogs for the blind to now encompass a far wider array of disabling conditions. It takes time for the public to get used to each extension of "special rights", for them to understand the essential nature of this special type of psychiatric treatment that does not involve drugs or hours in therapy. When we improve (even if it only involves particular situations or is not consistent under all conditions), we need to be honest with ourselves and begin to determine our dog's role in our lives.

Of course we don't discard them, don't give them away - the bond in their hearts is as strong as ever. They have a job and don't understand why we are now able to do things without taking them along. The answer is not to continue to present our team as still ranking as a psychiatric necessity. Doing so hurts all of those who do now and will in the future hope to access all housing and public settings. Every year, I find more animals in stores with their owners and when it is a large dog on a leash, I DO wonder, "what gives? is this a NEEDED dog?" And I say this as someone who was literally crippled in my extreme dysfunction even 9 months ago.

And I realize I might very well go thru some emotionally trying times - they could hit at any time, and I might very well be back where I started, needing my princess to give me the security and calm she carries in her searching brown eyes. So around our small town, as I now carry on without her presently, I THANK those shop owners, those managers, those clerks who accepted my prior need of her, even if sometimes begrudgingly. I explain to them that their generosity of spirit in allowing me to bring her when she was so desperately needed has helped bring me to this state of feeling relaxed enough in their shop to now manage by myself most of the time.

People can easily see from my demeanor, from my body language, from my not constantly breaking down in tears, that I AM doing better. They appreciate my thanks and my honest behavior. And I know that on those occasions when I do need her, my needs will be respected and acknowledged.

In the meantime, I got a kitten (8 weeks old) for my Chewie for Christmas. They were playing confidently with one another immediately, napping snugly warm against one another. They are giddy with excitement with one another. My princess having her throat gripped with sharp fangs as she lays on her back, being attacked, pounced on, being drug from room to room while Pinky the kitten clings fiercely to a hind leg, gnawing away as if on a drumstick... and Chewie gazes up at me, her eyes saying to me, isn't she WONDERFUL???

Now Chewie no longer frets when I leave. She has a friend, a playmate. I still enjoy her company for drives when I know I can safely leave her in the car in the shade during cool weather... But I can see that I will have to get another harness, this one for Pinky, and then train her to walk on a leash, then take them both out at the park, letting them both enjoy the birds and squirrels.

To get back on topic and to finish this out... There are still a large vocal majority in the actual field of service animal representation who continue to deny that psychiatric disabilities remedied by the company of the right dog IS valid. They continue to demand that only a (professionally) certified dog trained to "fetch pills" and such can possibly qualify as a SERVICE DOG. They are actually, in my experience, the biggest hurdle we have in attaining universal recognition of the reality of psychiatric disabilities and similar recognition that a properly selected adult dog can help us compensate well enough to (hopefully) actually resume normal human activities like grocery shopping and picking up our mail.

We shouldn't have to prove our conditions and needs to others, but as a "hidden" disability, with our dogs not saving us from being hit by cars, not hauling our wheelchairs about, not fetching things we cannot get for ourselves.... Well, we shouldn't HAVE to prove anything, but there is absolutely nothing wrong in our educating others about just WHAT our dogs do. I have so often described my life pre- and post- Chewie, it has been all most people ever needed to hear. And having me explain how she has helped me become more independent is PROOF in their eyes that my dog IS and has been a therapeutic animal that has performed a verifiable and important SERVICE for me, giving me healing that is real.

And on those days when I am walking and I need to pop a valium before I run in to buy some milk and bread, I will TELL them that I am anxious and needed a tranquilizer to come in this day. They will understand and realize if I crash and burn again some day (may it never happen).

So, what do YOU think? Has your animal proved to be a true therapeutic addition to your psychiatric treatment? Has your dog actually helped you change how you (failed to) function for maybe years, decades? Do you find yourself, as I was for awhile, taking your dog because she wanted to come along even on those occasions or in those situations where you knew you would (on that day) feel comfortable without your furry valium?

I hope this starts a dialogue, but even if it only provokes you to ruminate upon it on your own, I hope you can recognize that when a psych SERVICE dog becomes "only" an Emotional SUPPORT dog, it helps our cause to let people know the extent to which the right dog can help an emotionally damaged human being as much as an artificial limb helps a service man returning with war injuries.

OMT

[OneMoreTime]

Well, it is nearly time to leave and head back home. It has been nice to have hours to spend learning. Our local library limits me to a total of 3 hours over 3 afternoons, doled out in 30 and 15 minutes increment, depending on whether someone is signed up behind you, making them bump you off early.

Anyway.....
I wanted to say that I continue to take my dog (not always, but on occasion) to the library since she enjoys the walk and then plunges into her carrier and settles down happily once we are in the outer foyer. She sits at my feet in her mesh-sided back and enjoys the activities and sounds. VARIETY. It is why I let her spend long days on the apartment patio where she has a perch to look over the hedge and keep an eye on main street and all the foot and vehicle traffic, smell the fajitas cooking across the street.

Cats sleep most of their lives away once they are grown, but dogs, always a napper, need lots of things going on, not least of which is being a watch dog. A window perch is not enough - she needs all the smells and the sounds. She knows who belongs on the property and who doesn't and the only times she has ever barked was the time I had a prowler and when a visitor left abruptly from someone else's patio late in the evening.

I had included, but need to, that there WAS a transition time in my decreasing social anxiety when I would (when the weather and/or shade allowed it) leave her in the van when I would pop into the post office, pharmacy or for a short grocery pick up. JUST KNOWING SHE WAS OUT THERE, SO CLOSE was enough to keep the anxiety at bay. She was only steps away.

I am not suggesting that those needing a psych service dog ATTEMPT to get over needing them. Many of us won't. I hadn't even dreamed I would come to this time, be it forever or until my next time of tremendous emotional stress when I will bless the gods again for her coming into my life..... I mean it - each of us are individuals and our worth is not measured by "progress". Many of us will never get to the other side.

I am just saying that JUST as it is wrong for us to lie about being so bad off that we can't leave our homes unless tanked up on tranquilizers or in a constant state of stress that leaves us literally drained, needing a day or more of isolation from others to recharge our batteries...., it is similarly wrong for us to fail to acknowledge when there are times or surroundings when we don't need our service animal glued to our side, often because we feel guilty for not needing them or the animal is distressed by the situation or we maybe just enjoy the pleasure of their company.

I have personally known a man who did NOT need a psych service dog convince a psychiatrist that the huge dog he owned (but had never previously traveled with - who indeed was just fine out on his own) was suddenly a necessity for him to venture out. What he wanted was the privilege of riding the bus and going into public access buildings with his buddy...... This is like the many people who get their doctors to give them handicapped parking permits. People who abuse the system, any system (like getting housing and benefits while having their boyfriend or others living with them, paying unreported income that would diminish those benefits), make it more and more likely that those politicians and judges with a conservative bent might decide to place more restrictions, a higher standard of proof, less rights, maybe no rights, for psychiatric disabilties.

Mental illness is the SYMPTOMS of BRAIN DIFFERNCES, sometimes genetic, certainly all aggravated by the traumas of life, but NOT NEVER NO HOW "just in your head". Mental illnesses as REAL as diabetes, capable of being as INCAPACITATING as virtually any other brain/neurological illness dealt with on this Neurotalk forum. But while "acceptance" slowly grows, we are still fighting an uphill battle with the vast majority of societies everywhere who continue to see most mental illnesses as some sort of personal failing, someone we should deal with by "pulling yourself up by your own bootstraps", by "stop feeling sorry for yourself", and by "grow up and take responsibility for your own life", et al, ad nauseum.

I know all this from experience. My mother is still horrified and embarrassed (my sisters are far more mentally "deranged", but I am the only one who has never been in denial and sought answers, got a diagnosis, then set out to be as open about it as if I had any other non "emotional disorder" illness. My father still considers me lazy for not being able to get or retain employment - something I can only dream of ... and all my family continues to complain of my schizophrenic daughter's symptoms as tho she is in control of her beliefs and behavior, and is only doing, saying and acting as she does because she is Rude, Boorish, and is Inconsiderate of them. They just don't get it. They never will because they refuse to acknowledge facts and current medical understanding of mental illnesses.

Mental illness are BRAIN DISORDERS that manifest via emotions, behaviors and perceptions in such a manner as to interfere with our ability to live a normal life, at work or among family and friends. But so many in our society consider emotions to be more a matter for religion, prayer (if not exorcism) instead of REAL ILLNESSES & CONDITIONS.

It is not easy for us. Hopefully it will be a different world for our grandchildren and their children after them. In the meantime, it behooves us to handle our legal rights with the utmost respect and forthrightness and honesty. Let's not shoot ourselves in the foot for the bullets richocet and harm others.

Hugs to all who can understand and relate... or who are willing to understand and relate....

A wonderful new decade to all of you...
Theresa
OneMoreTime

[lilfarfa]

You are very far off based.

First, your doctor does not make your dog a service dog. Your disability does not make your dog a service dog, and a companion dog is NOT a service dog!
A companion dog can be a ESA and your doctor and your disability can make your dog an ESA, but they are NOT the same thing and do NOT come with the same legal protection.

The difference between an ESA and a SD is the DOG and their training! ESAs are NOT allowed in public places that are not pet friendly other than non pet friendly housing and on airplanes.

For a dog to be a service dog, 3 things (and ALL 3) MUST be true:

1) You must have a life limiting disability
2) Your dog MUST be individually trained to mitigate your disability. psychdog.org has a long list of example tasks.
3) Your dog must be trained to behave properly in public.

There is an important distinction here...The disabled handler has public access rights with the dog, the dog does not have public access rights. This means, if a once disabled person who used a service dog reaches a level of medical treatment so that they are no longer disabled, then they no longer have public access rights with the dog.

I LOVE my service dog! I love going out with him because without him, I couldn't go anywhere. He loves his job, and he knows its his job. He is at my side 24 hours a day, even in the bathroom. BUT as much as that is true, I would give anything to have a cure. I would gladly retire him to pet status if meant I would be cured.

I am going to appeal to you, as a disabled service dog handler, to stop spreading inaccurate information about service dogs and ESAs. There are people who, not knowing any better, may read your posts and thing their ESAs have public access rights, when in fact, they do not. I understand that you do not agree with the law, and you have every right to post that you disagree with the law, but do you do not have the right to advocate or educate towards breaking the law.

[TrueUpPSD]

Originally Posted by OneMoreTime

This addresses more than a few of us will confront in time, and HOW we manage to be up front in being honest to ourselves and others will influence whether other emotionally disabled patients face increased acceptance or INCREASED REJECTION.

We asked our psychiatrist to prescribe a psychiatric service dog because we were virtually entrapped in a solitary existence, afraid to leave home, often afraid to even have a neighbor catch a glimpse of us, sometimes unable to even have another human being enter our homes (oh, the horrendous stress getting mentally prepared for a landlord's inspection). And we described the symptoms that went into making us legally disabled and voiced our hopes and expectations that a companion dog, one who could actually go everywhere, might enable us to do what normal people took for granted.

And our therapist considered it, some even reading material we had printed out - and agreed, writing out that precious letter that enabled us to elevate our present of future companion from just "emotional support" (a classification that already guarantees us being able to have them in publicly subsidized housing) to an animal with a higher level of privilege - a Psychiatric SERVICE Dog.

But for some of us, as our condition(s) improve to the point to where the dog we first needed simply to step out the door, go shopping, pick up prescriptions, board public transit, attend medical appointments, we find out dog has actually increased our emotional confidence and sense of security to where we find we can actually regularly (or somewhat regularly) do at least some of these things without that previous total dependence. What a wonderful animal, being able to help effect cures, not just be a crutch. A real medical treatment, not just a bandaid.

But we find that if we try to leave the animal at home when we leave, they are frantic to be with us. That is their job, their reason for being, to live side by side with us, ever present, often touched, held, caressed nearly constantly in order to calm us. It is a temptation to simply continue as if that prescription letter is still fully valid.... It is a temptation to continue to take our dog with us every time we go out, to every place we need to venture, because of the dog's confusion and separation anxiety.

While federal law, as described by government lawyer interpreters of "disability", gives our psychiatric service dog valuable rights, when a person depicts themselves as so disabled that they NEED that dog - when that is no longer true.... Then we would be in violation of that law, subject to be turned in, charged with federal charges, facing a hefty fine for misrepresenting our condition. More importantly, when those we mingle, those who observe us and our dogs, especially when they observe us over time, they may begin to suspect that we are milking the system, taking advantage, unfairly giving our pet a privileged status so we can be special, getting to take our "pets" anywhere we wish to...

I am writing this since I reached that point this past summer, after two years of intense neediness and dependence on my Pekingese, Chewbacca. When I would explain the presence of my dog in a public place to the curious as being "my furry valium", it was exceptionally obvious to all that if I had to drive to get to my destination, then valium (which is prescribed for me) would negate my getting behind the wheel. People see someone having to take a tranquilizers as being worse than depending on a small dog.

Let me point out that a psychiatric service dog of an appropriate size is KEY to wide-spread generous acceptance of psych service dogs for adults. For children who need a dog in order to attend classes, a lab (for all its size) is far more appropriate in terms of gentleness and safety for other children, and his size puts his head in petting reach of the seated child. But for an adult, as a needed companion, a dog that can be carried in an over the shoulder carrier, who can ride quietly and unobtrusively in a basket, using that crate as their "den", it is an avoidable fact that the smaller and less obtrusive the dog, the greater and readier the acceptance. ALL dog breeds bite, but the bigger the dog, the more damage the bite causes. A small dog nips an ankle, a tall dog's mouth is eye-level with a child. A person who fears people, perhaps fears being attacked, will give those unspoken signals to the dog that "strangers are danger" and make a defensive growl or bite more likely... And they pick up on fear and many children and a surprising number of adults have unease or fear when forced to close proximity to a dog. Any dog can smell fear in a person and it causes emotional instinctual behaviors in the dog. I have owned dogs all my life, loved dogs, rescued and rehabilitated dogs, worked for a vet handling a dozen dogs a day.... Enough contact for me to increase my sense of caution when I suddenly see a dog walking a couple of feet away from my knee/thigh, and I always immediately increase the space between us. And as all of us know, there are always those alarming thoughtless people who think we brought our dog into the store for them to meet and greet, pet and play with..

We who need a psychiatric service animal don't need a "protector" -- just that furry valium, always there to touch, squeeze, caress and stroke, helping us achieve some calm, keeping panic at bay.... so we can perform those activities that were impossible or near impossible previously.

We are lucky to live in a nation that has extended "service dog" from only guide dogs for the blind to now encompass a far wider array of disabling conditions. It takes time for the public to get used to each extension of "special rights", for them to understand the essential nature of this special type of psychiatric treatment that does not involve drugs or hours in therapy. When we improve (even if it only involves particular situations or is not consistent under all conditions), we need to be honest with ourselves and begin to determine our dog's role in our lives.

Of course we don't discard them, don't give them away - the bond in their hearts is as strong as ever. They have a job and don't understand why we are now able to do things without taking them along. The answer is not to continue to present our team as still ranking as a psychiatric necessity. Doing so hurts all of those who do now and will in the future hope to access all housing and public settings. Every year, I find more animals in stores with their owners and when it is a large dog on a leash, I DO wonder, "what gives? is this a NEEDED dog?" And I say this as someone who was literally crippled in my extreme dysfunction even 9 months ago.

And I realize I might very well go thru some emotionally trying times - they could hit at any time, and I might very well be back where I started, needing my princess to give me the security and calm she carries in her searching brown eyes. So around our small town, as I now carry on without her presently, I THANK those shop owners, those managers, those clerks who accepted my prior need of her, even if sometimes begrudgingly. I explain to them that their generosity of spirit in allowing me to bring her when she was so desperately needed has helped bring me to this state of feeling relaxed enough in their shop to now manage by myself most of the time.

People can easily see from my demeanor, from my body language, from my not constantly breaking down in tears, that I AM doing better. They appreciate my thanks and my honest behavior. And I know that on those occasions when I do need her, my needs will be respected and acknowledged.

In the meantime, I got a kitten (8 weeks old) for my Chewie for Christmas. They were playing confidently with one another immediately, napping snugly warm against one another. They are giddy with excitement with one another. My princess having her throat gripped with sharp fangs as she lays on her back, being attacked, pounced on, being drug from room to room while Pinky the kitten clings fiercely to a hind leg, gnawing away as if on a drumstick... and Chewie gazes up at me, her eyes saying to me, isn't she WONDERFUL???

Now Chewie no longer frets when I leave. She has a friend, a playmate. I still enjoy her company for drives when I know I can safely leave her in the car in the shade during cool weather... But I can see that I will have to get another harness, this one for Pinky, and then train her to walk on a leash, then take them both out at the park, letting them both enjoy the birds and squirrels.

To get back on topic and to finish this out... There are still a large vocal majority in the actual field of service animal representation who continue to deny that psychiatric disabilities remedied by the company of the right dog IS valid. They continue to demand that only a (professionally) certified dog trained to "fetch pills" and such can possibly qualify as a SERVICE DOG. They are actually, in my experience, the biggest hurdle we have in attaining universal recognition of the reality of psychiatric disabilities and similar recognition that a properly selected adult dog can help us compensate well enough to (hopefully) actually resume normal human activities like grocery shopping and picking up our mail.

We shouldn't have to prove our conditions and needs to others, but as a "hidden" disability, with our dogs not saving us from being hit by cars, not hauling our wheelchairs about, not fetching things we cannot get for ourselves.... Well, we shouldn't HAVE to prove anything, but there is absolutely nothing wrong in our educating others about just WHAT our dogs do. I have so often described my life pre- and post- Chewie, it has been all most people ever needed to hear. And having me explain how she has helped me become more independent is PROOF in their eyes that my dog IS and has been a therapeutic animal that has performed a verifiable and important SERVICE for me, giving me healing that is real.

And on those days when I am walking and I need to pop a valium before I run in to buy some milk and bread, I will TELL them that I am anxious and needed a tranquilizer to come in this day. They will understand and realize if I crash and burn again some day (may it never happen).

So, what do YOU think? Has your animal proved to be a true therapeutic addition to your psychiatric treatment? Has your dog actually helped you change how you (failed to) function for maybe years, decades? Do you find yourself, as I was for awhile, taking your dog because she wanted to come along even on those occasions or in those situations where you knew you would (on that day) feel comfortable without your furry valium?

I hope this starts a dialogue, but even if it only provokes you to ruminate upon it on your own, I hope you can recognize that when a psych SERVICE dog becomes "only" an Emotional SUPPORT dog, it helps our cause to let people know the extent to which the right dog can help an emotionally damaged human being as much as an artificial limb helps a service man returning with war injuries.

OMT

Your PSD becomes an ESA when your SD no longer is PAT and tasked trained to mitigate you disability.

[desertranger]

Originally Posted by TrueUpPSD

Your PSD becomes an ESA when your SD no longer is PAT and tasked trained to mitigate you disability.

Huh? Is that Harley or Anakin? *Jin barks*

I think a better way to put this is if your dog cannot perform a specific task for your disability and is not capable of passing a PAT (Public Access Test) then it is not an SD. Canine Good Citizenship cert does not count.

There is also the question when does an SDiT (in training) become an SD? The minimum guidlines by Assistance Dog International (ADI) recommends passing the minimum ADI PAT and to be able to perform 3 tasks. The ADA does not specifiy, it just outlines behavior in public and says "...perform tasks...)

[lilfarfa]

Originally Posted by desertranger

Huh? Is that Harley or Anakin? *Jin barks*

I think a better way to put this is if your dog cannot perform a specific task for your disability and is not capable of passing a PAT (Public Access Test) then it is not an SD. Canine Good Citizenship cert does not count.

There is also the question when does an SDiT (in training) become an SD? The minimum guidlines by Assistance Dog International (ADI) recommends passing the minimum ADI PAT and to be able to perform 3 tasks. The ADA does not specifiy, it just outlines behavior in public and says "...perform tasks...)

That was Anakin. I'm Harley!

I think what she meant to say is that your SD ceases to be an SD when:
1) You are no longer disabled (then your dog is no longer as ESA either)
2) Your dog no longer mitigates your disability
OR
3) Your dog is no longer able to behave properly in public.

With both 2 and 3, the dog can be an ESA.

[TrueUpPSD]

Yes, thank you both, that's what I meant.

[OneMoreTime]

ALL of you who tell me and others, over and over and over again that a dog can NOT be a Service Animal unless he "performs" some trained task, some trained action.

Several months ago, when I still only had library access, so no time to come here and post about it, I found the proof (ie, govermental) that my position is correct - that when a dog can lessen a DISABILITY, not just "I'm get anxious, worried or whatever and my dog comes up to be petted and it distracts me, calms me down".

I'm almost certain I bookmarked it - or sent myself an email with the link - but it may be buried deep, no matter where it is. When I find the US government's legal ADA DEFINITION of disability and the other document explaining about the latitude given psychiatric service dogs, I'll post it here. Don't hold your breath, but hopefully it will be up by Valentine's.

Being anxious, nervous, always worried, is not enough to have the federal government give you a psychiatric disability rating (tho you may be mandated federally disabled because of some OTHER condition/illness/disorder you have). But when you have severe dysfunction because of one or more facets of a psychiatric illness, so bad that you cannot function within any parameters of normal - and the company of the dog can enable one to regain normal functions, then that dog is rendering an important psychiatric service.

I do get tired of bombast.

Theresa (OneMoreTime)

[cottonlouie]

OneMoreTime, I am very concerned about your lack of understanding of service dog law. First of all, having your psych prescribe a dog does not elevate that dog's status to service dog. Your SD has to be "individually trained to do work or tasks that mitigate your disability." A furry valium is not individually trained to do work - it is emotional support. More seriously, you advocate a small dog for PSD work since their bite will not cause as much damage. OMG! No service dog should EVER nip, growl, or bite. Ever. *Moderator edit*

[kennysmom]

Originally Posted by lilfarfa

You are very far off based.

First, your doctor does not make your dog a service dog. Your disability does not make your dog a service dog, and a companion dog is NOT a service dog!
A companion dog can be a ESA and your doctor and your disability can make your dog an ESA, but they are NOT the same thing and do NOT come with the same legal protection.

The difference between an ESA and a SD is the DOG and their training! ESAs are NOT allowed in public places that are not pet friendly other than non pet friendly housing and on airplanes.

For a dog to be a service dog, 3 things (and ALL 3) MUST be true:

1) You must have a life limiting disability
2) Your dog MUST be individually trained to mitigate your disability. psychdog.org has a long list of example tasks.
3) Your dog must be trained to behave properly in public.

There is an important distinction here...The disabled handler has public access rights with the dog, the dog does not have public access rights. This means, if a once disabled person who used a service dog reaches a level of medical treatment so that they are no longer disabled, then they no longer have public access rights with the dog.

I LOVE my service dog! I love going out with him because without him, I couldn't go anywhere. He loves his job, and he knows its his job. He is at my side 24 hours a day, even in the bathroom. BUT as much as that is true, I would give anything to have a cure. I would gladly retire him to pet status if meant I would be cured.

I am going to appeal to you, as a disabled service dog handler, to stop spreading inaccurate information about service dogs and ESAs. There are people who, not knowing any better, may read your posts and thing their ESAs have public access rights, when in fact, they do not. I understand that you do not agree with the law, and you have every right to post that you disagree with the law, but do you do not have the right to advocate or educate towards breaking the law.

The laws have changed, the term "Service Dog" now extends to Emotional Support Dogs.

*refer to ADA website*