Well said Anin. As a doctor, the onus is on me to make an accurate judgment in these cases, as the power to decide who should have this credential potentially affects many people.

The Patient
 

A year ago my my cousin lost her 16 old Pom and as her sitter and servant I mourn her to this day. I have had dogs/family in the past but have not done so for the last 6 years or so. I have been in medical care for migraines since the age of 14 and have moved on to fibro and acrute arthritis, among a few other things. In psychiatric care due to the loss of a child since 1985-she actually passed away in 97. I try to mentally disconnect when I can.

I discussed with my current psychiatrist, the last retired, getting a small dog that sheds little and will make me go out more, for the needed walks, just for a walk. He thought it was a great idea; just what what I needed and gave me the needed paperwork for my condo association which I will present in a manner that others cannot abuse.

On further research I find how therapy these pets can provide from what I see on this forum so now I can look forward to maybe letting go of one or six or more meds that I take daily. I could also have a handicap tag but I choose not to, because I dont because while I can I want to keep pushing it. One day I won't have that choice.

Thank you all for all this wonderful information!

A letter from your doctor does not make your dog a PSD, his training does. To have a PSD 3 things MUST be true:

1) you must have a life limiting disability (this is where the doctors letter helps)

2) Your dog must be trained to DO something to mitigate your disability. Just being there and making you feel better does not count. They must have a trained task such as alerting, grounding, finding exits, reminding to take meds, etc...

3) The dog must be trained to behave in public.

This is very important. Without the training, the dog is a ESA and is not allowed in no pet public places.

[QUOTE=OneMoreTime;495899]Someone has (once again) told those on this forum that a SERVICE dog MUST be trained in SPECIFIC TASKS that enable a person with a disability to function more fully in this world, whether at home or in private. They follow this up by explaining that there could therefore be NO psychiatric service dog unless the dog was needed to fetch your medicines along with a bottle of water or (presumably) to knock you down and restrain you (with his vast body weight if not his jaws) if you, as a psychiatric patient, are in the midst of a paranoid wild-eyed state of ranting and raving. :D Just joking - and NOT making fun of the mentally ill - I IS ONE!!

According to Federal Law, the ADA, a Service Dog, no matter what type MUST be individually trained to perform tasks to mitigate the disability of the handler, no matter what type of service dog it is, including PSDs. A dog that is not task trained is a ESA and is not allowed in public places. This is FEDERAL LAW and not open to debate.

Directly from the ADA website:

A: The ADA defines a service animal as any guide dog, signal dog, or other animal individually trained to provide assistance to an individual with a disability. If they meet this definition, animals are considered service animals under the ADA regardless of whether they have been licensed or certified by a state or local government.

Service animals perform some of the functions and tasks that the individual with a disability cannot perform for him or herself. Guide dogs are one type of service animal, used by some individuals who are blind. This is the type of service animal with which most people are familiar. But there are service animals that assist persons with other kinds of disabilities in their day-to-day activities. Some examples include:

_ Alerting persons with hearing impairments to sounds.

_ Pulling wheelchairs or carrying and picking up things for persons with mobility impairments.

_ Assisting persons with mobility impairments with balance.




Now, as to what dogs can do as PSDs: I suggest that you visit **.

They have a list of tasks for PSDs.

PLEASE STOP saying that PSDs do not have to be task trained. That is simply NOT true and by guising a ESA as a PSD, you are breaking the law!

[QUOTE=lilfarfa;624029]
A PSD does not have to be able to bring you meds. A PSD does not have to be able to restrain you.

Task 1 for my dog. Break a dis-associative state. No pills or water needed there.
Task 2 Check the house for security (no one hiding there).
Task 3 Remind me when to take meds 3 times a day.
Task 4 Alert me to my stress and anxiety levels are getting too high.

I don't see any water or pills or anything else there.

Task 5 Make sexy eyes and bow at a pretty girl at the pub. NOT an SD tasks but he's trained to do it.

**. But I[ve been reading here for a few hours and I see much that is incorrect or misunderstood. A couple of my friends and I have come over here and I hpe we can be of some help.

Psychiatric Service Dogs or Emtional Support Dogs
 

How to Find a New Emotional Support Dog
 

Sally,

There are many resources for therapy/emotional support/service dogs. The most important thing is to make sure the dog has the disposition for the tpe of work before making a committment to proceed. Even with an evaluation...all dogs do not work out. I recommend Psychiatric Service Dog Society to start with. (go to "PSD Lifestyle" then "Choosing the right dog") I believe on the same website there is a step by step "test" for evaluating a new dog to train. This evaluation works on puppies and adult dogs. Some dogs are available for free if you dig deep enough. Some individuals are aware that those seeking a SD or ESD are often at the lower end of the income scale. More and more people are training their own dogs, with some input by a dog trainer at one point or another. Check out the website and email me through the community or off line if you like to discuss further.

Dawn & Polar

Tasks for Psychiatric Service Dogs
 

This is a good discussion on emotional vs psychiatric service dogs (PSDs) and what is required for a dog to be legally considered a PSD.

There is a dispute in the PSD community as to whether a PSD has to perform tasks or if work is sufficient. It appears the laws will get stricter for PSDs before they get more liberal. So I have included task training in my work with Polar. I interpret the current ADA regulations to require tasks of all service dogs, not just work. However, the ADA does not specify what tasks a PSD must perform.

When I began training my PSD, I found I could attend my doctor appointments by myself if Polar was with me. Previously agoraphobia kept me in my house for several years unless accompanied by my husband. I have added running a couple of errands on the way to or from a doctor visit, but I don't yet go out just to run errands. (yes, there is a difference!) I have goals to improve my public outings, but for Polar this is her working with me, not performing a task. She is not doing anything other than accompanying me and being available to be picked up and snuggled with.

Now, while I am out, Polar's task is to paw my leg or arm to let me know I am having an anxiety attack or not being conscious of my surroundings.

As with a previous individual, Polar alerts me to take my medication three times a day. This is also a task.

Due to my medications, I used to stay up all night. I could sleep 3-4 hours in any 24 to 36 hour period for a week before I was totally manic...caused by my medications. It just would not occur to me that I should go to bed. My husband would wake up for work, see me on the computer or reading and say "hoot hoot!" (night owl) I would look at the clock, having no idea how much time went by. If I lay down, I can sleep, but I just didn't lay down. Polar now alerts me when it is bedtime (10pm-ish). This is task number three. She finds me at bedtime and twirls in circles to get my attention. (Same thing for the medications.) I look at the clock and realize I again have lost track of time and need to head for bed. This mitigates a symptom caused by the medications I take.

I also forget to eat lunch many days. I could train Polar to alert me to this, but I always eat breakfast and then dinner when my husband comes home from work, so I don't worry about it. If I needed Polar to perform another task, this would be an option.

Each of us is different, so the tasks may be different. When I began training Polar I had no idea what tasks she might perform, other than reminding me to take my medication. This concerned me and made me anxious. The "return from anxiety attack" and bedtime tasks she performs she picked up on by herself. I just had to recognize she was alerting me and integrate it into her training so she is consistent.

Although I began training Polar on my own, after seven months I needed assistance, so found a trainer. I want a trainer as part of my documentation file in case I need to defend my right to have a PSD and am taken to court. This will help in documenting she is a trained PSD, even though it is not required by ADA regulations. Just trying to cover all bases.

When people ask, and gatekeepers are allowed to ask, what my SD does for me I say she is a medical alert dog. I personally am not secure enough to say she is a psychiatric service dog. Some people know, but not strangers. There is a stigma on mental health that remains in our culture. I am willing to educate people on SD, but not ready to battle the mental health stigma. Another response some PSD handlers provide is mobility - assist with dizziness caused by medications. This will not work with Polar and me as she is only 10 pounds!

Part of Polar's training will be to pass a Public Access Test and Delta Society's Canine Good Citizen test. Currently, she is ready for the Public Access Test and almost ready for the CGC test. I have a letter from my psychiatrist indicating part of my treatment program is to have a PSD. Lastly, Polar just finished a series of tests by her vet. Once all the results are in the vet will mail us a letter of health. I have the documentation that she is up on all of her immunizations, including rabies.

All of this has taken 9 months. This is fairly quick. PSDs usually take 1-2 years to train. I started with a very well behaved dog who knew me as she was my pet before becoming my PSDiT.

Enough from me...this became much longer than I anticipated!


dawn & polar

I think a definition of task vs work is needed. A task is something the dog does to mitigate the disability that can be easily demonstrated on command. For example, picking up a dropped object is a task. Work is something that the dog does to mitigate a disability that can not be easily demonstrated on command. For example, altering to a medical condition can not easily be demonstrated as there has to be an episode occurring for the dog to alert. In either case, the dog has to DO something. Just being there making a person feel better does not count because the dog isn't doing anything.

The ADA says that the dog has to do work OR task, and only one is necessary. This is an issue not just for PSDs but also for Medical Alert dogs. My dog is a syncope and seizure medical alert dog. He does have other tasks as well, as most dogs will, but the absolute most important job he has is his work in alerting.

Letter from Psychiatrist
 

Hi everybody!
This is my firs time on forum here.
I have little situation here, and I'm not sure if I am in right place.
I have a condominium and I was away from it for 1,5 years, never thought i will move back there to live. When I was away(had a different life) ,I gotten a puppy ... Now my life situation has changed.I was in very obusive relationship where my puppy grow up with me, and she was the only support and companion for me there. Now i have got out of that hell and i have my baby(dog) with me.She is the closest life creature for me in this country( all my family still overseas) . I have to move back to my condo(cause i cant sell it in this days...) and have to have my dog with me,but....Association rules only allowing 20 lb dogs, and she is 82lb. I have submited letter to association,and it look like -after a moth they still don't have an answer for us. Somebody from building asked me if I am "that person with a dog"...,and sogjested that only way i can bring my "baby" to my condo it is to go to the psychiatrist and get letter from them about -my dog is my therapy dog for me... I have deal on all my problems always by my self ,but here I'm helpless ...
People,please, i need sogjestions ASAP, I don't know where to go with this,and how to deal with my situation.Have to be out of my friend house by end of May...
PLEASE WE NEED HELP! I can't be without my dog! She is everything for me! She dos not know any other "mom" then me...

Thanks for reading.

To have your dog in that situation, you must have an ESA letter. (Emotional Support Letter). You have to have a letter from your doctor stating that you have a disability and need the dog. If you go to the HUD website and search "Emotional Support Animal" they have an example letter of what the letter needs to look like. If you do not have such a letter, they can exclude the dog.

How can one go about finding someone to write these letters for you?

I'm moving 7 hours away to start law school in the fall and would like to bring my 8 year old lab. It's in a neighborhood that shuns dogs, just because the entire area is taken over by students due to the size of the university and documentation would obviously help. I don't want to live further away because I hate driving (and sold my car actually) and the possibility of being late makes my throat tight.

When I'm upset I go to her. She doesn't actually 'do' things to comfort me but she helps me to keep myself stable (I think because her ears go back and she looks so worried when I'm upset). She lived with my mom while I was in college but my mom thinks it'd be really good for me to take her especially since I'll be in a new area.

I have a psychiatrist but I've never really been satisfied with her or with the others I've seen in the past. I don't actually think she'd find this idea that lovely. I found the medications ineffective and the copays really unpleasant on my just-out-of-undergrad budget. Also, since I'm moving I won't be seeing that psychiatrist anymore... there has to be some easier way to go about this than seeing her and immediately finding a new one to agree to this right after moving.

If she doesn't actually do anything, then she is not a service dog, but can be an ESA if you are disabled per the ADA definition. Your treating physician has to be the one to write the letters. You do not have public access with an ESA but can live in no pet housing.

I just read your story about the trouble you had with Southwest Airlines. The employees who acted like that is dispicable. Unfortunately some people still believe that disabilities are only physical, like blindness or Cerebral Palsey.
I do have a question. You wrote that your dog is a therapy dog. Did you mean a Psychiatric Service Dog? I kind of assume that you did mean a PSD, but the two titles are very different.
If you can prove that you kept your dog in the crate and had all the paperwork, I think you should sue the heck out of Southwest. I forget if you mentioned the breed you have. I just tried to research a little about dogs in airplane cabins, and, at the very least Continental is very clear about their policy toward pets. I also looked up the Southwest Airline's pet policy, which was a little ambiguos, but the dog should have been allowed on the airplaine "Small cats and dogs are now (effective June 17, 2009) allowed to travel in the cabin of the aircraft on Southwest Airlines flights. The pet must be small enough to fit in an approved under the seat carrier. Each airline has different rules regarding pets in the cabin. There was no mention of a policy for PSD's, but that makes your story even more infuriating.
I'm not a lawyer, but I'm very passionate about the rights of people with invisible disabilities. I also don't remember the date that you had posted your story (memory issues directly related to my conditions), but I hope you don't have to go through an ordeal like that again.

How about not using the term "psychiatric", "emotional" or "therapeutic." Simply "Medical Assist Service Dog." They are not allowed to ask the nature of the disability (severe psychiatric disorders, by the way are MEDICAL) - they just may ask what the animal is trained to do for you. Some give the pat answer of "ameliorate my medical disability." If necessary talk about alerting to medical episodes, or whatever.

Therapy dogs are NOT protected under the ADA. Just Service dogs. Medical vs emotional. Here's a book.

Many medical conditions are "invisible" - such as epilepsy, meniere's, fragile bones, hearing loss, episodic fluctuations in blood pressure, heart conditions, and more. They are not allowed to ask the diagnosis.

explain...
 

OneMoreTime:

A doctor's Rx does NOT make an animal a service dog!!!! The SD MUST be trained to mitigate your disability so when you say "My dog qualifies as a SERVICE ANIMAL as she is necessary for me to live a bit more normally, organize my life, and provides me the courage to go places I need to go." it really sounds like you are living with a great pet, not a service dog. How is your dog trained to mitigate your disability? Please clarify.

Iaadp - psd
 

Here is a wonderful LONG list of tasks a dog can be trained for in order to help mitigate psychiatric disabilities:
SERVICE DOG TASKS for PSYCHIATRIC DISABILITIES
It was written up by Joan Froling, Trainer Consultant, Sterling Service Dogs. The author of the It's Not Mental book talked about her and the use of such a dog (psychiatric service dog / medical assist service dog), even adding some to that list because of what the dog ended up doing for the child in the book. There were articles about the use of service dogs for a child with autism and a child with hallucinations and such in an IAADP newsletter years ago. These dogs were trained to "help mitigate disabilities."

Only the third link (Fair Housing) is still good.

Therapy dogs
 

Therapy dogs are not one of the category of dogs that can stay with you. They must be 'invited' to the place where you take them. They do not have the same status as service dog.

emotional support
 

I was wondering what other animals are used for emotional support I heard that some people use capuchin monkeys for this,if so dose anyone know how to get one I had a cat but he was no company at all talk about stuck up lol and I am scared of dogs, I live alone and do not go outside my home because it makes me have panic attacks my phych.thinks it would be good for me to have a monkey because it would be like a baby only it would not grow up and leave home,all my kids are growen and do not have time to keep me company any help on this would be most apersheated.
katmae:)

I am so sorry of your struggles. I have heard that too about monkeys but dont know about it first hand. Have you looked or googled online? Would this be to help you be able to get out? I wonder now thinking about it why you dont see monkeys out like service dogs for ex? Would you think of getting a dog possibly or would it be too hard to take him out? I was not sure if you may have a sliding door or something?
Though I get out I also live alone and because of my medical and pain I am limited so have limited contact with people since my family is out of state so I also feel lonely. I did go through a period when I had severe ocd/anxiety/depression where I had not to the extent of what yours sounds like but a hard time leaving do to many factors. That though after over a decade of struggles and many treatments is better so I guess my point is that I hope things for you can too.
If you find out about the monkey let me know or if I read of anything I will let you

monkeys
 

I do know that they train then for people in wheelchairs, the grop is called the helping hands,but they can noy help me I'm not in a wheelchair but thank you and if you hear anything I would love to know :)

monkeys
 

I do not know if you are getting my messages,so I'm going to send you another one please let me know if you do get them,I found some breeders of capuchin monkeys,how good is your sence of humor? 6500.00 for males and 8000.00 for females :eek:(pitty cash right?) will medacade help pay for this if my psychiatrist writes me a perscription?:Scratch-Head:

Hey guys!
I recently got a letter from my psychiatric about a ESA. I live in a trailer park (I own the trailer just rent the space) and dogs aren't allowed.
Can my renter legally prohibit me having a dog around the place?

Can you please help
 

I suffer from schizophrenia, PTSD, Severe Anxiety Disorder and several other mental conditions. I have a pit bull that I have had since he was 6 weeks old that can since when I am having a panic attack and he helps when I am having what I call my schizo attacks he lays his body across my chest to sooth me. I have just recently talked to my psychiatrist about making him my constant companion but I don't know what else I need to do nor does he for us to accomplish this can anybody please help me.

If you mean some kind of status beyond being a pet, that may be a hard sell depending on your location.

Breed-specific laws state-by-state (and international)

Some insurance companies also have breed-specific clauses/exceptions to coverage. You would have to look to your policy regarding that.

Doc

docotrs papers for my psychiatric service dog?? is that legal?
 

for the love of God.
this persons are faking their doggies, I apologize if my English is not perfect, I am Puerto Rican. I had my service dog after trainings and trainings. his name is Rowdy and he serves me for invisible disabilities. panic, anxiety. he is not a therapy dog nor a companion dog, he pull me out of many situations before my panic attack usually kick. he had prevent many of them. and this persons are faking little puddles just to flight??? that is almost causing me nauseas.

anyways. if you have a real service dog, we all know there is not a certification available online that is not fake.

and today I am happen to be going true a situation and will like a advice from legitimate service dog handler. please if you are not, don't bother.

I just moved in in this complex and honestly I had never had to present any "documentation" for Rowdy except for answering if he is a service dog and what he does for me (the classic 2 questions)
it is true that I have to present a doctor note were he explain my disabilities? I though I didn't had to share that private info.
and if true. anyone have a sample letter for me to bring to my doctor or a link to the right one to print so I can take it to my psychiatric ?

also... if my landlord is mistaking asking me for this info, please let me know.
I will appreciate. :confused::confused::mad::mad:

Look for your state gov info pages - landlord tenant info - for the up to date laws/rules..
might even be city/county based ..

or call local housing government for details on this sort of thing..

https://www.google.com/search?q=land...ervice+animals

Can you register a Emotional support Dog so they can go in the stores with you.
 

I was wondering if my Fiancé can register his emotional support dog so he can take his dog with him to the store. He is a well behaved dog. I have looked all over the internet but I can't find anything about this. I hope someone can help me on this. Thanks