Service/Emotional Support Animals

[xSuperMario64x]

I need some advice. So as some of you know, I frequently deal with severe anxiety/depression, and I've been considering getting a service dog or emotional support dog to help ease my anxiety.
I'm at the point now where in a few weeks I will visit a friend of my dad's and hopefully pick out one of their Golden Retriever puppies (they will be about 4-5 weeks old by that point). I'm already a bit nervous because I've personally never cared for a dog specifically; I have however cared for cats for many years so I get the general idea of how to deal with pets, plus my mom has had many dogs over time.

So I guess I just have a few questions/concerns:
1. I've heard it's really expensive to have a dog trained as a service animal, and I'm worried about being able to afford it. I'm not worried as much about expenses and vet bills.
2. I've never had an animal that would be really "clingy" in a sense. My general idea is that I will have the dog with me most of the time, I'm just a bit worried about having to adjust to having less personal freedom (although I feel like having an animal to devote my time to really does make me feel better so this isn't a big issue).
3. I've never personally trained a dog, although if it ends up going through training to be a service or emotional support dog then this shouldn't be an issue.
4. If there'd anyone here who is a student and has a service animal (or knows someone who does), I'd like some advice regarding bringing him/her to classes and such. I'm a music major so I'm often in large ensemble performances/practices and I spend a lot of time practicing piano as well. How much does having a service dog interfere with this?

Also, I've heard some say that it's unethical to have a service animal if you don't have a medical condition (like epilepsy, diabetes, etc) but I think that's rubbish. I honestly believe that I could really benefit from having a service animal to help me with my anxiety and depression.


I guess I'm just looking for some input on this topic, and I would love to hear about others' experiences with service animals
(Also sorry for the super long post)

 

[debinoresu]

mental health issues are a medical condition, so putting that aside, you need to figure out if what youre looking for is an emotional support animal or a service animal.

ESAs can be pretty much any species of animal, including cats. they do not need to be officially registered as anything, just authorized by a mental health professional that they provide an emotional need. though measures can be taken to authorize them, they are generally not as protected as service animals are. they are not allowed in animal restricted areas like service dogs are. they do not require any special training to be registered. if you live in an apartment or dorm where animals are prohibited, ESAs can be medical exceptions.

service animals can only be dogs or miniature horses, ferrets, capuchin monkeys, boa constrictors, potbelly pigs, and parrots (no, im not joking). no public space has the legal right to refuse access of a registered service animal (legally, they cannot request medical papers or authorization, only inquire if it is a service animal and what task it fulfills.) this includes concerns about allergens--they cannot be denied entry.

a service dog needs to be trained to do specific tasks related to the issue. in cases of anxiety, they can be trained to bring medicine during an anxiety attack, or bring a phone. they can be trained to provide pressure to your chest to help relax you, among other things. an ESA can get away with just being a normal animal and, if authorized to validly assist in your mental health issues and be a good solution on top of others, can be authorized.

if a service dog is well trained and verified, you should be able to practice piano just fine without it interfering. youd need to make sure its clearly labeled as a service animal and that those around know not to bother it, because distractions can stop it from performing its job.

if the concept of training is stressing you out, then you may be more interested in having an ESA. honestly, it sounds like the concept of owning a dog is stressing you out and im worried it could potentially worsen your anxiety? you need to think critically if this new responsibility will be worth the investment or just stress you out more in the long run.

service dogs are big time investments to train, and there are many dogs put into training programs to become service animals that fail and have to drop out simply because of the way that they are. these are risks you need to address in pursuing a service animal because, if you pre-adopt the puppy and get attached but it fails as a service dog, youll just have a normal dog. at that point, you could look into getting it verified as an ESA instead.

also, all schools are different on ESA policies. my college allows ESAs around campus, but are not technically legally obligated to. itd be beneficial to see if your school also allows ESAs in classrooms or just registered service animals.

hope i was of help!

 

[John Wick]

I need some advice. So as some of you know, I frequently deal with severe anxiety/depression, and I've been considering getting a service dog or emotional support dog to help ease my anxiety.
I'm at the point now where in a few weeks I will visit a friend of my dad's and hopefully pick out one of their Golden Retriever puppies (they will be about 4-5 weeks old by that point). I'm already a bit nervous because I've personally never cared for a dog specifically; I have however cared for cats for many years so I get the general idea of how to deal with pets, plus my mom has had many dogs over time.

So I guess I just have a few questions/concerns:
1. I've heard it's really expensive to have a dog trained as a service animal, and I'm worried about being able to afford it. I'm not worried as much about expenses and vet bills.
2. I've never had an animal that would be really "clingy" in a sense. My general idea is that I will have the dog with me most of the time, I'm just a bit worried about having to adjust to having less personal freedom (although I feel like having an animal to devote my time to really does make me feel better so this isn't a big issue).
3. I've never personally trained a dog, although if it ends up going through training to be a service or emotional support dog then this shouldn't be an issue.
4. If there'd anyone here who is a student and has a service animal (or knows someone who does), I'd like some advice regarding bringing him/her to classes and such. I'm a music major so I'm often in large ensemble performances/practices and I spend a lot of time practicing piano as well. How much does having a service dog interfere with this?

Also, I've heard some say that it's unethical to have a service animal if you don't have a medical condition (like epilepsy, diabetes, etc) but I think that's rubbish. I honestly believe that I could really benefit from having a service animal to help me with my anxiety and depression.


I guess I'm just looking for some input on this topic, and I would love to hear about others' experiences with service animals
(Also sorry for the super long post)

Does it have to be a special dog?
Can you pick up a regular one?

You have to be sure you have the time and patience a dog requires.
It's a big commitment.
You don't want to take on more than you can handle.

I've had chronic anxiety since I was 17, and at age 19 I got my german shepherd. He was a Godsend. (Sadly died aged 4).

I went everywhere with my dog.
We lived in a tent for 3 months. Some great adventures.

If you're really ready, you will love having a dog for a companion.

They (and cats) really are man's best friend.

 

[xSuperMario64x]

I really appreciate your comments so far!

~snip~

I've been considering having it trained to be a service animal because I'd like to be able to bring it with me anywhere I go (I've had instances where I have a panic/anxiety attack during classes so I definitely would like to bring the animal with me). I've considered, for the time being, bringing my cat to my dorm to be registered as an ESA, but it's been difficult for me to schedule times to meet with the vet and my home therapist so I'm not sure if that will happen.

Regarding training, I think the reason why it makes me nervous is simply because it'll be pretty much a brand new experience for me. I feel like, if anything, it will give me some relief, especially if I have people helping me out during the training process.
When I pick out one of the puppies I will likely talk to the breeder about how the parents are and if I could possibly find one to suit my needs. I'm actually glad that you reminded me of that, though by instinct I probably wouldn't pick one that seems to roughhouse a lot and disobey.

Also I know that my college allows service animals because I've seen people on campus walk around with dogs wearing the service animal vest. Even earlier today I was in one of the main halls on the academic side and someone walked in with her service dog on a leash. I'm not sure if there's any kind of registration I need to do through disability services, mainly just so that they're aware that I have it with me.
I don't believe that they allow ESAs anywhere except in the dorms; they have a pretty strict policy on ESAs in general.

And yes, you've been a great help to me

~snip~

I don't think that it has to be any dog in particular, though the reason why I want a Golden Retriever is because they've been my favorite breed of dog for years. I know they're energetic but they can also be very gentle. Taking it out for a walk every day will give me a reason to go out and exercise (a thing I can very rarely get myself to do).

I'm also aware of the commitment, and I've reminded myself that dogs are much less independent than cats are (for cats I just give em food and water and a litter box and they're good to go; I know from living with my mom and her dogs that they're quite a different situation), but I've been wanting to do this for a few years now and I feel like I can handle it as long as the dog gets adequate training and doesn't become wild.


I imagine that the dog I get will be a very good boi and I will love him forever and ever :,,,,,)

 

[John Wick]

I imagine that the dog I get will be a very good boi and I will love him forever and ever :,,,,,)

Of course you will! ^_^
I wish you heaps of happiness with your new friend!

 

[SheepMareep]

ESA is most likely what you are looking for. I have a german shepard/pitbull mix who I use as an ESA primarily to make sure I get out of bed in the morning and to help calm me down when I am panicking at night, ground me during flash backs, and help cheer me up during depressive episodes.

However, a lot of places will not allow just ESA they will typically only allow service animals for physical diseases. (i.e. detecting seizures, blood sugar levels, etc.) A lot of people have abused the ESA service to keep untrained pets in apartment complexes, hotels, and other public spaces and it has taken a toll on those of us who do need ESA.

I think a golden retriever is a good choice, they are relatively easy to train and are very commonly used as ESA and service dogs. I have a friend who was able to train her two dogs to retrieve her anxiety medication, perform pressure therapy while she is hyperventilating, and ground her when she is going into an anxiety attack in public. However you need to really know what you are doing and what task you want your dog to perform. This is an alternative to paying high prices for service training but will not get you a service dog license or anything.

If you plan on taking your dog out in public to spaces that typically do not allow pets but will allow service dogs/ ESA make sure they are fully trained to not bark at strangers, sit when commanded to, not use the bathroom indoors, and are overall very polite. I am unable to take my dog out to places like this because she gets excited too easily and is hard for me to control in heavily populated areas when it comes to running and barking. (I am planning on taking her for formal training so we can go to hospitals though!) Know your dogs limits, i'm sure you will love them and it will help in some way

 

[Mayor Monday]

I don't know your situation, but I think an emotional support animal could be excellent for you. If you feel in your gut that this could be helpful, by all means, do it. I honestly don't know too much about the subject, but my mom struggles with depression, and she has always owned pets (mostly dogs). They bring her way more peace than any of her godforsaken meds do.

If you haven't already been to any of these, here were some links I found for more information. I hope they might be of some help!

1. https://usserviceanimals.org/certification?utm_content=Google;Search;AD;ESA1;esa%20certification%20cat;106&gclid=CjwKCAiAvonyBRB7EiwAadauqT88sWC24Rc2dPrVnpdZik16Qbdj4YGJbRnSAfDWdyfasUskj692bhoCklQQAvD_BwE

2. https://esadoctors.com/mental-health-benefits-emotional-support-animal/

3. https://www.akc.org/expert-advice/news/everything-about-emotional-support-animals/

4. https://screening.mhanational.org/content/how-do-i-get-service-animal

By the way- I'm sure you'd make an excellent pet mom.

 

[xSuperMario64x]

snip

One way or another I will end up having to pay someone to help me train the dog, simply because I know nothing about dog training. I know how to train cats, but cats are very different in terms of personality and traits. I do know that I plan on socializing the dog a lot so that should allow it to be comfortable with people and other animals, and not bark all the time.

I'm going to see my counselor tomorrow so I'll probably talk to her about this. She'll be able to tell me more about the university's guidelines regarding ESAs, and figure out if having the service dog license would be my best bet.

snip

I definitely agree. My old cat Daisy (the one who unexpectedly passed away at only a year and a half old) was very close to me, and she was a huge emotional support. I'd like to recapture that kind of relationship with an animal that I can bring with me anywhere I go. Having at least an ESA would definitely help me a lot with my anxiety.

Also wow, I appreciate you sending me these articles! I'll have to check them out tomorrow.

 

[Balverine]

I don't think it's weird/unethical to have a service animal for these types of thing. My friend's brother is severely depressed and his service dog is literally a life saver, as he alerted the brother's wife that he was having a really bad episode so they could get him the help he needed.

The biggest thing is definitely getting them certified and trained. I don't know what it is everywhere, but in my state it is $30 a year to have a dog certified. They used their dog they already had (a sheltie-border collie mix) and had him trained and certified, so I don't feel like the breed really matters as long as they have the personality for training and such.

So in short, I feel like it would be a really good idea to check with your counselor like you said and see if it'd be the right fit for you 0v0

 

[Antonio]

I hope you find what you need on the subject. I don't think my input would be useful because I'm not well verse on the subject but I truly do wish you the best. <3

 

[LadyDestani]

First of all, I think it's great that you're looking into getting a service/support animal. Animals can do some really amazing things for people and it's not at all unethical in my opinion.

I worked as a dog trainer for several years and the lady who I worked for trained service dogs. Basically, I handled the regular group classes teaching basic obedience and she did private lessons with the dogs who were in need of extra special attention or were going for a certification.

When you're selecting a puppy, there are a couple of things that I would look out for to maximize your chances of successful training. You want a dog that's relatively calm, no extreme reactions. You can expect a puppy to be playful and exhuberant, but they should be able to disengage from their play and focus on you to a certain extent. You want a dog that's confident and adventurous. They shouldn't be pushy or aggressive, but you definitely don't want a dog that's fearful. Finally, you want a dog that you can connect with and that connects with you. Finding a dog that you can bond with is very important and you want a dog that will prioritize a relationship with you over other distractions.

You can't expect perfection from a puppy, of course, but you should be able to identify some of these basic personality traits early on. The breeder should also be able to help you out in selecting the right puppy for your situation as they've spent a lot more time with the puppies.

You should start looking into trainers to see who is available in your area, what type of training they do, and how much they charge. I highly recommend positive reinforcement trainers as that is the type of training I did.

Good luck with everything!

 

[Dinosaurz]

Are you sure that you’re anxiety wouldn’t get worse with having so much attention towards a service dog in public?

 

[Alienfish]

Also, I've heard some say that it's unethical to have a service animal if you don't have a medical condition (like epilepsy, diabetes, etc) but I think that's rubbish. I honestly believe that I could really benefit from having a service animal to help me with my anxiety and depression.

[/size]

Yeah that is definitely rubbish and it's sad those mental issues are looked down on. And yeah I think it'd definitely help, even I get along better with animals most of the time. Also slightly random but we actually had a library dog before where I worked and while I only got to see her once it was definitely be useful for those who want to have a calm environment and get the emotional support that in a way only animals can give.

 

[xSuperMario64x]

Are you sure that you’re anxiety wouldn’t get worse with having so much attention towards a service dog in public?

Actually no. The reason why I tend to have really bad social anxiety is because I often have nothing to say or no one to turn to. Having a dog with me would make a great conversation point

Plus, people don't generally bother service dog or touch them without asking the owner first, so I would hope that'd be the case with me.

- - - Post Merge - - -

snip

I really appreciate your input! I'll definitely start looking into a trainer soon. Also my dad is a member of an organization which sponsors a lot of charities, and helps fund stuff like this. So I might talk to him about potentially getting a scholarship of some sort to help me with training bills.

 

[xSuperMario64x]

Hi again! Hope everyone's having a nice day so far

I went to see my counselor (whom I have been working with since I started my freshman year here in college) and I brought up to her the idea of me having a service dog. I'm happy to let you guys know that she is on board with it! She did initially ask me why I specifically want a service dog and not just an ESA, and I explained that I'd like to take him everywhere I go (may places are not legally obligated to allow ESAs to enter a facility, plus I just learned that my college only allows ESAs in dorms, and nowhere else on campus) so she agreed with me. It would be a good reason to make me go out for a walk everyday (which I hear is good for depression/SAD), and as I mentioned earlier it may also help with social anxiety, along with helping me cope with panic attacks/depressive episodes/etc.

It's worth noting that ever since this idea that I've had for years is actually happening legitimately makes me feel so much better. Though I know that there is always the risk of the dog I end up getting failing to pass a service animal training course (adding to my anxiety, though I have high hopes). I'll get to see my new baby later this month and I'm sooo excited!!

 

[SheepMareep]

That is so exciting congrats!!!! Keep us updated on the puppy's training if you'd like c: I hope everything goes smoothly!!!