Time For A Frustrated Rant

[munkinmama]

Ok this is both PTSD and Service Dog related. I am shaking my head as i try to figure out what to do. I live in Canada were the laws and regulations with Service Dogs are way more stricter then the US as well each province is different so it is confusing. About over a year ago I started to research alternatives to medications as I am extremely sensitive to medications. I found that there were PTSD Service Dogs now that help there handlers in various ways. I know and have seen the power of animals both personally and those i had seen volunteering for a therapy riding program for people with disabilities. So I researched what I needed to do to get a dog as I would need a PTSD and mobility dog. In my research i discovered the province of Alberta where i live requires the dog to have it "qualifications"(meaning certifications) from a facility from the Assistant Dogs International( ADI). Now here is the were my frustration kicks in. I called i can not count how many facilities on the ADI list but when I called the ones who trained PTSD dogs I was flat out told sorry we can not help a civilian because we only train the dogs for veterans or emergency workers. They did not explain that because PTSD Service Dogs are fairly new not many facilities train dogs because they do not know how or have the resources to do so(finally got a answer this Friday) Oh ok I can appreciate this but why was it a secret ....GEESH. I have nothing against veterans or emergency workers I appreciate the work you all do but i was feeling like I was being discriminated for not having the right type of PTSD. Oh but is gets better. I got a dog after running into a few barriers and figured if I was going to get a dog i might as well train one myself. I got Jellybean back in May , she is now 7 months and i know I have a long way to go. Now the maddening part in this whole mess. So I call to see what it would take to certify Jellybean when it comes time. Well that is where things get a bit ugly so to speak. Remember the damn ADI well I now have to find a trainer or faculty willing to help certify her. HAHA yea right the same facilities i called about getting a dog are now telling me oh sorry can not help you because you did not get a dog from us. We require the dog be will us for 6 months and with training our dogs we do not have the time. WTF can i rip my hair out now. The damn ADI only accecpt non profit organizations as a member I found a few non ADI members willing to assist me but I can not use them because they are not ADI accredited or close to being accredited.

AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH *bangs head on desk *

 

[Friday]

Catch22 much? Yeesh.

How about getting certified your own darn self as ADI?

 

[Barberian]

Have you thought of or are able to use a training facility or organization in the U.S. that is ADI accredited? I have a self trained service dog and thankfully didn't have to go through the nightmare you are describing. If you find one, it is possible (although not desirable for most people) to ship the dog to and from the facility if you can't take the dog yourself. There are also people who transport other people's dogs with them, but that gets expensive quickly.

Best of luck on fixing or working around this.

 

[Barberian]

Catch22 much? Yeesh.

How about getting certified your own darn self as ADI?

To become ADI certified is very expensive and time consuming. Pretty much impossible for most people because you need a facility with a business plan, staff, etc.

http://www.assistancedogsinternational.org/members/accreditation/

ADI is trying to make the U.S. similar to Canada. Most service dog organizations in the U.S., and most disabled people who use service dogs are VERY against the ADI because they are too strict and restrictive for most people.

Most people who are disabled are near the bottom of the income brackets. A service dog who has gone through ADI training are near the top of the price brackets for service dogs. They can cost several thousand dollars minimum to $10,000, $20,000 or WAY more depending on the needs of the disabled person. This is beyond most peoples income, especially considering the dogs lifespan and ability to effectively work may be as little as 5 years for the larger dogs. Most larger dogs don't start weight handling until they are two years old so their bones and joints aren't damaged, they need time to grow up first. Larger dogs also live shorter lives than most smaller dogs. If they help their owner stand, or maintain balance their work lives may even be shorter.

Sorry, my OCD characteristic kicked in and I write out too much for a simple answer.

 

[Friday]

.
Sorry, my OCD characteristic kicked in and I write out too much for a simple answer.

Glad you did, it's good info!

 

[munkinmama]

thank you guys and yes I have tried contacting like what feels like everyone on the list for ADI and keep getting turned down. I saw one facility that helps with owner training but when I checked their website it was for veterans only. I am on disability . A few places when i called told me yes we have a dog that is available but it will cost $25,000- 60 000 i was like nope can not do that. Or the facilities that are non profit they do not train many dogs BUT get way more application then they train for so there is no guarantee of getting a dog. This is why I opted to get my own dog and train her myself. I know it takes at least 3 years to train and since I need her as a mobility dog as well as a PTSD dog. I am aware I have to wait for weight training until she is 2

 

[joeylittle]

Or the facilities that are non profit they do not train many dogs BUT get way more application then they train for so there is no guarantee of getting a dog.

Have you put in applications anyway? I don't think there's anything wrong with working on more than one front at the same time. Since Jellybean is going to be in training for awhile yet, and as you said it's at least a year and a half til she can work on mobility, I'd suggest putting out as many possibilities for yourself as you can. Even a long shot is a possibility, so long as you apply for it.

 

[munkinmama]

oh i am trying but no one on the ADI list is willing to help me sadly which is frustrating. I am not giving up I have written a letter to my member of Parliament because i am not giving up

 

[Deleted member 1860]

Maybe its just me but it seems like your government is creating a situation in which you are being discriminated against because you don't have the right kind of PTSD. I know that with PTSD you have a limited amount of energy in your day (and its sometimes hard to just get the basics done), but I still want to say FIGHT LIKE HELL! Maybe one day just type up a letter where you can change the name/address and fire it off to every politician you can think of. I can't help but think that those agencies are getting government kickbacks because they are training dogs only for emergency workers and veterans. (Please don't flame me as I am NOT slamming these types of people, rather I'm acknowledging the fact that money makes the world go round....)

 

[munkinmama]

oh I am fighting back what I am doing is going to get Jellybean certified or as the government says qualified at a non ADI place then i have something . I mean really there are so many places where I can work with a trainer in the US and get her certified. I do visit LA every 4 months so I can do it but ugh got to love the government. Now I get why to stop fake service dogs like those people who buy a vest online for their pet so they can take them everywhere. I am not like that and I am staying away from the online certifications I want a letter from the trainer I am working with who can back me up