Service/Assistance or Emotional Support Animal Question

[siniang]

On a bigger scale, I find it really sad when someone has a highly treatable condition for which most people recover that instead of trying out treatment to recover, they jump into maintenance of disability. That’s not healthy. It’s like instead of getting a short term cast and physical therapy to completely recover from a broken leg, leaving the leg bent and broken and buying a super expensive wheelchair to use for the next 15 years. The super expensive wheelchair only makes sense if the cast and PT were actually tried and didn’t work.

100% agreement :)

I never meant to imply that a SD is the (only) go-to answer and everyone, even with SD, should obviously also pursue other treatment options and actually WANTING to get better. No question there. I totally agree with your point that too many people rely on SD (and pills, imho) as their go-to treatment without actually trying to really improve the underlying condition. Learned helplessness. I really do agree with you there.

 

[EveHarrington]

The vast majority of people with PTSD actually do get better. It’s only a small subset that suffer long haul symptoms.

And I think it’s fair to say that even for those of us who do suffer long term, many (most?) of us still don’t have symptoms that warrant a service dog. I’ve had this disorder for decades, but aside from a small window of time where I was completely non functional, my symptoms haven’t warranted such an Animal.

I hate to say this, but the people I know IRL (not throwing judgments here) have used their ESA as a crutch. They don’t go to therapy, they don’t take meds, they don’t try anything outside of using the animal to calm them down. I am a HUGE proponent of doing everything within yourself and using what’s between your own two ears in order to get better before relying on external objects or people to make you feel better, ie needing a partner to calm you down, needing an animal to calm you down, needing an object to calm you down. This was taught to me in my trauma treatment program from day 1. Of course I’m not talking about SA’s here that are trained for certain jobs. There is a bit of backlash here in the USA where people are getting annoyed at all the cheating going on to get an animal in the cabin of an airplane. As someone once said, pop a Xanax like the rest of us! As someone who traveled with animals as a kid, I’m aware of the amount of stress it puts on them, and I wouldn’t ever fly with my animals unless it was an absolute necessity.

 

[siniang]

I hate to say this, but the people I know IRL (not throwing judgments here) have used their ESA as a crutch. They don’t go to therapy, they don’t take meds, they don’t try anything outside of using the animal to calm them down.

But you are judging! You do know that animal therapy is a real thing? Just the presence of an animal can already alleviate a ton of symptoms. I sense a lot of prejudice.

they don’t take meds,

pop a Xanax like the rest of us!

So, relying on another person, an object or an animal is wrong, but throwing in a pill is perfectly fine?

Costs and commitment and all the other valid points we discussed aside, I still don't understand why medication is so much more accepted and endorsed than animal support.

I'd rather have a house full of animals than rely on some drugs. The one hour a week I volunteer with the local dog group is my happiest hour all week.

 

[Sideways]

I sense a lot of prejudice.

Now take that prejudice, and imagine it coming from a real life person who has just bailed you up on your way home when you’re battling a panic attack. That’s life relying on a SD. And that’d be why SD’s aren’t for everyone!!!

 

[Ronin]

I am a HUGE proponent of doing everything within yourself

So posting on these forums why exactly? :)

Because that is very contrary to doing everything quote within yourself.

As someone who traveled with animals as a kid

Childhood experience with pets, nothing like trained for functions animals, is not applicable here at all.

Both for being childhood, and adulthood needs differing, & trained animals just are not your for fun pet.

And since it needs be spelled out to you, they are medicine, for when other assistance & orientation does not do enough. Reminders to take the all functioning (according to you) pills, too. Or someone who will drag people to the ER, or call someone who will, if the person collapses on the street.

 

[Freida]

still don't understand why medication is so much more accepted and endorsed than animal support.

I've travelled quite a bit and I think this is is a bigger thing in America than in other places. I have some European friends who were just blown away when they saw how we drug our kids. It seems like we go to pills first, then to therapy, then to alternatives. Quite frankly I think it's because it's easier. I know it would be way easier for me to live on xanex instead of dragging a dog around with me.

but that's not the option I wanted. Yes, I have meds, but I use a ton of alternative therapies also. I think it's valid to draw a line between using a dog as a crutch and using medication as a crutch. Either you use them to do the work or you do them to avoid doing the work. If someone is the kind of person who needs something as an excuse they will find it. Some are just more visible than others

 

[lostforgottensoul]

Unless they know why I'm where I'm at, what I've done in the past, what I'm doing in the present and how he fits into my recovery they don't get an opinion on why I have one.

This!

can increase avoidance of human contact without an SD and lead to greater symptoms without an SD than otherwise.

Totally! And easily. Accidentle even. That is why I made it a point to make my therapist as involved in Chopper's training as I am. Now, 2 yrs later and we still talk about Chopper's training (whatever we are working on at that time) the first at least 5 to 10 mins of my session. My therapist makes suggestions and then we move on. This has been such a key factor of not allowing the avoidance to happen (something I can do very easily and accidently).

It is my recommendation that you continue to use all the supports you have available to you, and with treatment, you may find you are not regularly suffering from mental health symptoms and don’t have to worry about if the expensive long haul commitment of an SD is something you should pursu

This! Totally this!

There is so much to consider before taking on a service dog. Even before trying to train a pet as a service dog (which can be much harder). Money. Time commitment. Physical exertion. Training a service dog takes a lot of physical effort. Even just bringing a dog every single place you go is very physically hard. You have a living, breathing, being that is depending on you for everything and there are challenges upon challenges that need to be considered and figured out.

You need to understand and be very prepared and ready! I am looking for my next prospect. I have been preparing and researching and scoping out breeders for now going on a year. I haven't even gotten to the part of looking at puppies or dogs yet nor have I even settled on a breeder or decided between breeder (puppy), returned dog back to the breeder (not for health or temperment reasons), a rescue, or a shelter yet. I haven't even settled on a breed yet (because of mobility needs). It takes a whole lot of preperations and considerations before even getting to the point of bringing the puppy/dog home.

Also, you'll have to decide between program dog, owner train with a professional trainer's help, or owner train alone. Owner training alone depends on you knowing A LOT about dog training. While training Chopper I watched close to 4 thousand youtube videos and took several Leerburg Univerity classes (which cost a good bit) and bought 5 books, a DVD, and a video on demand. It wasn't cheap. And I used to train dogs for a living. Service dog training is a whole other world and a next level of training.

Then you'll need to ensure that you can return the dog without that going against you if the dog washes out or you'll need to rehome it first. You'll need to understand that many may wash before you'll have a fully trained service dog and you'll have to do that process all over again. Which is costly. And you'll be without the service dog after washing while looking for another prospect.

There is so much that goes into it that most don't understand. It is way more then get dog, train dog, poof, you got a service dog. Way more!

If you just got diagnosed with PTSD and your ability to function isn't SUPER SEVERELY impacted, look around at other non-animal treatment options. There are so many out there that may help even better then a service dog! Or even before an ESA. Because, with an ESA, you will still have an animal to take care of for the rest of it's life.

As someone once said, pop a Xanax like the rest of us!

That doesn't work for all. And not all can do that.

not throwing judgments her

But you are throwing judements. ESAs have their own place. They are important. And the United States recongizes that thus why they are protected by law. Let's not throw judgements to those that need an ESA. There is nothing wrong with needing an ESA on an airplane and not being able to "pop a Xanax like the rest". A xanax would never be enough for me on an airplane. Yes, Chopper is a service dog that does physical tasks but he would very much serve as emotional support on an airplane as well. I can appreciate why someone would need an ESA on an airplane and why "just popping Xanax" wouldn't be enough.

Let's not judge the entire group of ESA users just because many people cheat the system. Those are two groups of people. Vaild ESA users and people just cheating the system. Just like @Freida was saying that she doesn't like to be lumped into those that just want a service dog to be a quick fix and has not tried anything else, lets not lump vaild ESA users in with those that cheating the system. This causes a lot of stigma and a lot of the public to blame all ESA users for cheating the system and that's not the case. Two very different groups.

 

[Recovery4Me]

No because that dog needs to be public access trained and have the training to behave correctly in public. Which was the bulk of our training. Task training is easy. Public access training not so much!

I found ^^this to be dead on. The tasks training seems instilled in their souls with bonding. I have specific tasks down w/ Mr. Schulz with signal, and voice cues. However, the real work is now beginning with manners and public socialization.

Again I would like to repeat how invaluable all your offers were to me. We now have the Assistant Service License. I had all kinds of documentation but little was needed. Just an brief affidavit and that was that. I felt so stressed going in (one of our favorite modes, yes??). However, the representative was training a new person so not one word of discrimination passed like last time on the phone.

When it is all said and done it is really about us being able to function better in a new normal and ‘their’ opinions do not matter. Thank you for the courage and tips.?

 

[Recovery4Me]

And it was also hard because my friends and family know I have ptsd but they don't know how bad it is. That was a tough conversation to have.

I’ve been catching up on the pages of post and found this^^ to be of an special connect to my situation. For me, it is somewhat like ‘coming out’ of the closet with my disability - unashamed.

Although, my family + friends know my acronym, very few know my hidden PTSD Hell, acrophobia, disassociation, depression or ie: symptoms. So it was to their reprocessing or growth, when I told them of my quest. It slowly dawned on my family that our wheelchair (so to speak) is invisible and there is value to an living being (be it furry ) trained to assist.

I noticed a few different positions concerning S.D. Animals. I find it good to see such experienced diversity. However, for me, as I am a Senior having several continuing treatment options in my tool box - I wish to offer the following:

Never be ashamed.
Never feel less than.
If you are doing the best that you can within those treatment plans that you know in this moment... Congrats!?

We are more than our disability.

 

[Freida]

We are more than our disability.

Yes we are!!!!

 

[siniang]

Hey SD handlers, I have a question :)

It is my understanding that SDs are not supposed to be barky and will actually wash out in programs if they are (please, by all means correct me if I'm wrong). I personally know of one here with our local assistance dog group who washed out because she would bark at strangers. (but maybe that applies more to physical impairment dogs? I really don't know, just thinking out loud)

I know some of you have their SDs search rooms/the house. How do they alert? And do they only alert on command or would they alert against strangers in/around the house on their own when something were to be up? They're obviously not guard dogs. But they are protective of you aren't they? (I know @Sideways mentioned how her SD "protected" her the other day in the park)

Just wondering how that works.

 

[lostforgottensoul]

It is my understanding that SDs are not supposed to be barky and will actually wash out in programs if they are

It is not the law in the US but it's a typical standard. If the dog is misbehaving in a public place, the team can be asked to leave. This can include barking but I have spoken to people that have trained low barks as an alert but my opinion (opinion, not law) is that it's a bad idea to do so.

Alerts can be pawing at you, nudging you, even pulling on the leash a bit. One of my disocciation alerts is to pull on the leash just to make me take a step or two which helps me come more into the present.

Chopper also nudges my hand when someone is coming up behind me. He paws at my leg and the biggest one when I am really about to disocciate is to jump up on me.

I have allowed him to continue to bark at the door when someone knocks on it however. This is only at home and only when someone knocks and must stop and settle in place when asked. This is because I am a single female living alone and that helps me feel and stay safe.

Another task he does only at home only command he will bark insanely. Again, an at home only task and this is only when asked and must stop when asked.

In public though, its a bad idea for so many reasons.