News Service dogs: do they really do any good?

[Starfire]

I posted a thread a while back about service dogs and their purpose and then I posted another thread abo...

I've worked with an organization that pairs Vets with rescue dogs. There may not be scientific data to prove it, but I've seen many lives literally saved by these dogs.... Some because the Vets take better care of themselves out of a sense of duty to their dogs, some because their dogs provide a feeling of safety, some because of that inexplicably presence of unconditional love.

 

[Gs172003]

I've worked with an organization that pairs Vets with rescue dogs. There may not be scientific data to...

I wish there were organizations like that for other sufferers too. It's danged expensive

 

[joeylittle]

Some because the Vets take better care of themselves out of a sense of duty to their dogs, some because their dogs provide a feeling of safety, some because of that inexplicably presence of unconditional love.

I don't even think anyone challenges this. It's intuitive, to grasp that introducing an animal into the life of someone struggling with stress or mood disorders will benefit from a whole slew of things. Many of the activities that go along with simply having a dog in your life are parallel to suggestions for treatment. The exercise, the routine, the investment and care in another living creature, the bonding, the companionship - so many valid and important things.

That's really not the issue. The issue is more to do with defining medical necessity, and the difference between support and need. It's easy for any supportive tool to become more of a barrier than a help; it all depends on the specific person and their situation.

Unfortunately, laws cannot be so refined as to address every possible variant. And so, we grapple with what is a medical necessity, and how does it relate to psychiatric service dogs vs. emotional support animals.

It's an interesting and complex topic. I think it's good that clinicians become more educated about the law, and think twice before simply approving a dog as a medical necessity because they want to support their client.

 

[Freida]

I'm a vet and my service dog has been a game changer. Having him forces me to interact with people (who ask endless questions), not have to feel like I need to be armed every time I leave my house, not worry about who is behind me that I cant see, blah blah blah. I did most of his training myself, with guidance from a private trainer who oversaw everything we did and tested our ability to work as a team, which kept the costs down. I don't consider him a crutch -- i think of him as a godsend....

 

[Stephernovas]

people that brig their f*cking dogs into grocery store and put them in the grocery carts!!!!! MY FOOD has to go in them

I agree with that. However that's more about how the dog is cared for and handled. If needed, they should walk beside the handler and serve it's function/be professional (like humans are at work). I would never say dogs are not allowed in, BUT they do NOT need to be carted around in a grocery cart. That is stupid. If you have to carry your dog and take care of it in that kind of manner, then the dog is not providing you a service, it's the other way around!

 

[desiderata310]

While I know that they are a valid serve to people that need them and I know why people have them... What I absolutely detest is people that brig their f*cking dogs into grocery store and put them in the grocery carts!!!!! MY FOOD has to go in them and dogs are walking around outside, probably stepping in mud, dirt, piss and shit, and then people put them in the grocery cart.

For clarification, it is not legal for a SD to ride in a grocery cart for the very reason you just mentioned and SD handlers-legitimate SD handlers don't do that.

But that's a whole different topic dealing with fake SD's and people who don't understand the difference between ESA's and SD's and that's a topic for a different thread.

 

[EveHarrington]

I think service dogs are indeed a necessity for some.

I also think that people should work on healing a great deal before coming to the conclusion that they need a service dog. I cringe when I see newbie posts saying “I was just diagnosed with PTSD and want to know more about getting a service dog”. I’m not denying that service dogs do a great amount of good, but I think people should push themselves as far as they can without a dog before coming to the conclusion that a service dog is needed. Because, really, how do you know a dog is truly NEEDED if you haven’t done much work on healing yet?

 

[Stephernovas]

how do you know a dog is truly NEEDED if you haven’t done much work on healing yet?

I have beef with this..not just this comment, but this opinion in general. To me, that's like saying "oh, well just because someone says you have PTSD, doesn't really mean it's all THAT bad". How condescending and invalidating is that? This is so individual for everyone and I really don't think it's fair to judge. From what I've experienced and read, a lot of the treatment for PTSD is the whole 'whatever works for you - do more of it'. So, if having a dog works for you, then do that.

 

[MyWillow]

Animals have been my coping mechanism my entire life. They are what get me up every day, what make life kinda worth living, why I work to make money to care for them. But that is now starting to crumble. Because actually they are now an avoidance mechanism. I think I’ve been hiding behind them for years. And my T is not letting me avoid. So stuff bubbles up and all the usual things I do with my dogs (training, competing) to keep me actively busy and avoiding are suddenly not fun any more. It’s a horrible shock. They are still wonderful for comfort and grounding but not so much for hiding. I really, really don’t want to be seen.

So, like all things in life it’s not so easy to say it works or it doesn’t. A bit of this and a bit of that.

 

[Sideways]

@EveHarrington - couldn’t disagree more.

People should reach for treatment modalities that work for them. Getting a service dog? And being a responsible service dog owner? Can make huge positive changes to a person’s life. If that’s going to bring about big changes that work for them, in preference to other treatment options like medication? I honestly can’t see why getting a service dog should be considered a last resort.

For me personally? I wish getting an Assistance Dog had been put to me as a real option years ago. I could very well have avoided serious suicide attempys if I’d had the benefit of my dog earlier in my recovery (I haven’t made an attempt since, you guessed it, I got my dog), not to mention avoiding the risks of trying ECT, and countless disastrous medication trials, some of which have done lasting damage to my physical health (especially my teeth...thanks lithium).

Having my dog has basically ended my previous heavy reliance on inpatient care - I got a dog, and finally became independent. Before my dog? I (literally) spent years as an inpatient. I was averaging about a quarter of every year being hospitalised. Quite apart from the benefit to me? That inaptient care costs a fortune. A fortune of health care that could have gone to someone else...if I’d just gotten my dog sooner.

A service dog, managed responsibly, doesn’t need to be a major imposition on anybody other than the handler. And the potential benefits to the sufferer are almost limitless. To me, it’s about promoting responsible service dog ownership and ensuring handlers have adequate training and support. Discouraging what, for me, has easily been the most effective treatment (not to mention the most cost effective) until a sufferer has sufficiently endured enough other treatment modalities? Can’t understand that approach at all.

 

[EveHarrington]

I have beef with this..not just this comment, but this opinion in general. To me, that's like sayi...

You’re totally misreading what I said and getting very defensive. That’s not what I’m saying AT ALL.

 

[EveHarrington]

@EveHarrington - couldn’t disagree more.

People should reach for treatment modal...

Ditto for you.

You have me on ignore. Please don’t un-ignore me just to argue with me. I’m putting you on ignore again as we have a history of not ever getting along and I do not wish to continue this drama. I say this here as I am unable to PM you. I tried to PM you but can’t because you have me on ignore.

Good day to you.