Ptsd And Animals

[Cannottakethis]

I have 2 cats; They have been my constant for 13 years. I love them and they are spoiled little things who deserve every bit of it. I don't know how I would have made it through life without them.

 

[lostforgottensoul]

What has your experience with PTSD and animals been like?

Well, being that I am attempting to owner train my pitbull to be my PTSD service dog, (still think he will wash out but we are still waiting on that verdict), my dog is CRUTIAL for me. He allows me to actually leave the house other than to go to work. He alerts to very slight anxiety behaviors now that I was mindlessly doing. He wakes me during nightmares. He does deep pressure therapy (which is SOOOOO helpful! His weight alone will keep me grounded and soothe me). He will lay down between me and another to give me physical space that the person can't take as their own. Well they could i suppose but would have to step over him to do so. I watch his body language and that then becomes my "gut instinct" so my head doesn't have to do that exhausting job.

In addition to all of that he has many physical things he does for me and will do for me.

He also provides me a lot of comfort and love.

That's not the best pic in the world of him. We weren't working and I just noticed his tags are under the vest and when working they aren't. I always jump at the chance to take a pic of him in his vest since, at the moment, we don't have many chances and I want to make him his own business card. So I am still trying to get a good pic of him in his vest.

ETA: Also, I know his nails are long. His quick is crazy long as well so I got him a dremmel. We are still getting comfortable with it and learning to go from terrified of getting our nails clipped to willingly rolling over into my lap and allowing a noisy scary machine touch our nails. So, working on that one.

Here is a much better pic of him

ETA: I totally forgot my two cats. They are annoying assholes but I love them. And the pitbull is scared of the declawed cats.

Codee is the calico and Preston is the orange/white long haired tabby.

 

[hodge]

I also don't know what I'd do without our cats. Especially after we lost our Misha (my avatar) in 2009.

Here they are, taking up much of the whole long couch, lol:

[GALLERY=media, 4061]Woody Robert And Sonja by hodge posted Jan 15, 2017 at 9:25 PM[/GALLERY]

 

[whiteraven]

Well, being that I am attempting to owner train my pitbull to be my PTSD service dog, (still...

Wow @lostforgottensoul, he is gorgeous!

I can't figure out how to add images, or I would add my kitties. Well, my tabby is my avatar. But my other cat is a tortiseshell. She's beautiful!

 

[lostforgottensoul]

I can't figure out how to add images, or I would add my kitties

Since the change, I am unsure if non-premium members can.

But if so there are two ways. "Upload file" on the bottom right of the reply feild and that is where you can to get images off your device. Then there is the image button next to the smilie where you can insert a pic from a URL including the ones on the site from media. Those are the pics with the tabs that show above it like on hodges.

Wow @lostforgottensoul, he is gorgeous!

Thank you! He is my baby! Regardless of whether he washes out, he will always be with me and will help me anyway as he already does.

Many are afraid of him. Although he is an American Pitbull Terrier and much less stocky then the normal image of what most think of pits. And still, even with the vest, and super obvious he couldn't get away from me even if he were mean, people still make big Us around us. Like avoidence times 1000. It makes me sad. Not just because I am also being avoided but it makes me sad for him and the breed as he is so very sweet, loves everyone, and just wants to be loved on.

People seems to forget that Petey from The Little Rascals was a pitbull. They went from the all American family dog to being feared by most. Its so sad!

I educate where I can but from service dog in training and general service dog education added with pitbull education, thats a shit ton of education lol. But I do it as thats the only way change happens.

 

[whiteraven]

i've never had a pit bull, but i have a special place in my heart for them. i'm not sure when it started, but i do everything i can to learn about them and promote positive education for/about them. i follow several very cool instagram and FB accounts dedicated to pit bulls and i just so appreciate anyone who is willing to give them a chance. Have you read Pit Bull: The Battle Over an American Icon, by Bronwen Dickey ? She talks about all aspects of the dog, including its history...very interesting.

 

[Amethyst]

I've had sessions with a few therapy dogs and I love them. I think it would be beneficial to have one, but I couldn't see myself taking care of a pet right now. Maybe something low maintenance like a cat, but I don't think I could commit to walking a dog every day and giving it the attention it needs.

 

[lostforgottensoul]

@Amethyst, you don't own a therapy dog for yourself. Therapy dogs go out to others such as retirement homes, hospitals, and the like. Obviously they have an owner but the ones benefiting from them are others.

I think you may have been thinking of emotional support animals (which can be a cat) or a service dog (animal as the law allows miniture horses).

Emotional support animals don't do anything. They are there for emotional support. The benefit petting an animal gives.

Service dogs (and minutire horses) perform a service, or tasks, that the handler cannot do on their own. This varies greatly from seeing things for the blind, providing mobilty, alerting to seziures, alerting to anxiety, deep pressure therapy (DPT), and many, many more things.

An ESA is likely what you were thinking of as like a therapy dog, though trained to behave properly in public and must pass the CGC (the last I heard), is just there to provide support in a hard time. That is what an ESA does. A cat is a vaild ESA. They cannot go places with you but they can fly in a cabin of an airplane with you.

Though I am not saying go out and get a cat and slap an ESA vest on it. And you also need vaild proof you are in need of an ESA. I am just describing the differences and hope that you benefit from it. :)

 

[Amethyst]

@Amethyst, you don't own a therapy dog for yourself. Therapy dogs go out to others such as retirement homes, hospitals, and the like. Obviously they have an owner but the ones benefiting from them are others.

Yes, an ESA is what I was thinking of, though I have had sessions with therapy dogs.

 

[Denial-River]

My daughter had one of these lovely creatures lol

I was lucky enough to have one a long time ago, and I was AMAZED at how darn SMART they are!!! ☻ It was so cool to see such a tiny animal behave so bravely and intelligent. ☻ Glad you have had the chance to experience them-they are nifty little things. :P
Roxx

I have chickens and I freaking love them.

That's so cool! I've heard chickens are awesome to have, but I can't have them where I live. I do get to hear stories from a fellow volunteer about her chickens and they crack me up just thinking about their antics! They sound like they have a lot of personality, but I have not been around them enough to know... ☻

 

[Denial-River]

@DeeNihle
I bet it would be nice being around horses; they are such beautiful and strong animals. I haven't had much experience with them other than a few rides here and there, but I think dogs are super awesome, too!☻ Mine are pretty cool chicks-I have two female adults and one is a Chihuahua and the other is a 'Chug'(Chihuahua and Pug). The chihuahua is a real diva and doesn't really have much to do with anyone, which I have to respect. Plus I like her style-sleeps in every day til noon or so, stands beside her hamper when she wants a sweater, barks to be put in bed before her usual bedtime of 7 or 8pm(and she is a stickler at being on time)lol. She doesn't like to be bothered or petted so I do as much for her as I can from a distance that is comfortable with her. The Chug is a 'wild-woman'; she 'talks' with grunts to let you know exactly what she means, likes to sit on your shoulder like a parrott, and likes rides in the country so she can bark at cows out the car window as it whizzes by a herd(her favorite past time). If she catches you crying she will try to bite at your nose for some odd reason(probably the same reason she does every other odd, but endearing thing she does-lol). She is very sensitive, despite her tough exterior, and loves to sleep on the pillow beside your head. I don't have the heart to tell her how much she snores...lol!
I have really enjoyed reading everyone's experience with animals; it is so nice to hear about others finding so much from them in so many ways(comfort, joy, companionship, humor, etc). I think animals are one of the best ways that we can see how wonderful this world can be-despite how ugly it's looked to us before. Thanks to everyone for sharing! ☻
Roxx

 

[Heather]

Here's my teddy bear hamster