[pachyderm]

Don't know if this would help for service dogs for people with emotional problems or not:

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/08/22/he....html?_r=1&hpw

[Trying & Caring]

This disability law handbook spells out what is legally accepted as a "service dog." "Emotional" difficulties don't seem to fit in the threshold of legal definition. Easy to read handbook & appalling at some of the info. given like the gov't will AUTOMATICALLY turn down disability applications 1, 2 or 3 times & they suggest you get a lawyer (lawyer will take a cut when you are accepted). This is outrageous to me that the gov't is basically saying you have to PAY someone to get your rightfully due benefits if you are truly disabled. To make it so difficult for a disabled person to get the benefits is horrible.



DISABILIITY LAW HANDBOOK AVAILABLE

The Southwest Disability and Business Technical Assistance Center (DBTAC) – funded by the National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research recently announced that the Disability Law Handbook is now available on our website at: http://www.swdbtac.org/html/publications/dlh/index.html. The book will also be translated into Spanish and will be available soon.

This Disability Law Handbook is a 50-page guide to the basics of the Americans with Disabilities Act and other disability related laws. Written in an FAQ format, The Disability Law Handbook answers questions about the Americans with Disabilities Act, the ADA Amendments Act, the Rehabilitation Act, Social Security, the Air Carrier Access Act, the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, the Civil Rights of Institutionalized Persons Act, and the Fair Housing Act Amendments
Questions re this Handbook should be directed to the Southwest DBTAC, web site www.swdbtac.org.
Want information on Federal mental health grants, publications, meetings, policies, programs and other useful material for mental health consumers? Join the CMHS Consumer Affairs Listserv at: http://mentalhealth.samhsa.gov/listserv/
###
Want information on Federal mental health grants, publications, meetings, policies, programs and other useful material for mental health consumers? Join the CMHS Consumer Affairs Listserv at: http://mentalhealth.samhsa.gov/listserv/

[pachyderm]

Originally Posted by Trying & Caring

Easy to read handbook & appalling at some of the info. given like the gov't will AUTOMATICALLY turn down disability applications 1, 2 or 3 times...

Could you cite passages which say this?

[(JD)]

Regarding service animals... you're right, emotional support animals are not yet recognized as guide or service animals. However, if we can all train the potential dogs (etc) and not push weight around, and help to self-govern those with emotional support animals...there's a good chance they will be accepted in the future.
Already there are some airlines that will allow you to fly with them in the cabin. Yes, they have to be small enough to fit in the carrier that goes under the seat, but some won't charge you the $50 like for regular animals (so I've heard.)
My dog is a service animal and flies with me ...he is also allowed to go anywhere I can go as a public citizen. But even so, there is no National Certification program, and the guidelines listed are for government acceptance, to have some base for all. ( YOU HAVE TO KNOW there are those who just want to take their lovey pet with them everywhere, and break the law to do so by saying it's a service animal.]
There are a few organizations helping to compose a master list of basic training and capability requirements for guide and service animals. I think once that is in place (a few more years maybe?) Then the other assistance animals (like therapy animals too) will come right along behind.

[Trying & Caring]

Section on Social Security & Disability

Originally Posted by pachyderm

Could you cite passages which say this?

[eskielover]

I remember this lady who I had met in the mental hospital & lived near me in California, raised dachshunds. She claimed it as her service dog.....in reading the guidelines where they have to perform at least 3 tasks to be considered that, I am sure that her little dachshund was incapable of doing even 1.

This was at least 10 years ago & she was forever fighting with the bus system who would continually kick her & her dog off the bus.

It will be wonderful when they get therapy dogs in place. I know that I take my one eskie that I have a bond with everywhere I go (partly because he creates a problem when I leave him at home) but I also feel safe with him. Anyone comes near me & he is right there ready with a growl or a snap if they come too close. There were many times when my anxiety was too great to leave the house without him too....but a dog that snaps at people isn't what is needed either....it would need to be on command & nothing more for his to be considered a quality therapy dog in my book.

I have obedience trained several dogs & there are definitely some breeds that work better than others for service & for therapy.

My little eskie I had trained to the point where she was certified to take into nursing homes & hospitals to visit sick patients.....all she wanted to do was love them & all they wanted was to hold her in bed with them.....it was beautiful.....her leg got broken & she got grumpy......now she growls all the time she is licking you with love....but that is not a safe thing for people to deal with a growling dog.....needless to say, she no longer visits nursing homes.

When my grandparents were in a nursing home, I was always taking in my first 2 eskies who were obedience trained.....they did very well with the patients even though they weren't certified, the nursing home allowed me to bring them in under tight control.....they loved the attention & the people loved them.

It will be wonderful when they get the standards set for the therapy dogs, as I don't need a service dog with no disability that a dog would have to care for.....my disability is anxiety/depression which a dog does help is going out among people......but that would fall under the therapy rather than service.....it has been hears already & they don't seem any closer to having the standards than 10 years ago when I was looking into it.

Maybe some day?????

[energy444]

Originally Posted by _Sky

Regarding service animals... you're right, emotional support animals are not yet recognized as guide or service animals. However, if we can all train the potential dogs (etc) and not push weight around, and help to self-govern those with emotional support animals...there's a good chance they will be accepted in the future.
Already there are some airlines that will allow you to fly with them in the cabin. Yes, they have to be small enough to fit in the carrier that goes under the seat, but some won't charge you the $50 like for regular animals (so I've heard.)
My dog is a service animal and flies with me ...he is also allowed to go anywhere I can go as a public citizen. But even so, there is no National Certification program, and the guidelines listed are for government acceptance, to have some base for all. ( YOU HAVE TO KNOW there are those who just want to take their lovey pet with them everywhere, and break the law to do so by saying it's a service animal.]
There are a few organizations helping to compose a master list of basic training and capability requirements for guide and service animals. I think once that is in place (a few more years maybe?) Then the other assistance animals (like therapy animals too) will come right along behind.

hi sky emtional support and training, wat training can be done

[energy444]

Originally Posted by eskielover

I remember this lady who I had met in the mental hospital & lived near me in California, raised dachshunds. She claimed it as her service dog.....in reading the guidelines where they have to perform at least 3 tasks to be considered that, I am sure that her little dachshund was incapable of doing even 1.

This was at least 10 years ago & she was forever fighting with the bus system who would continually kick her & her dog off the bus.

It will be wonderful when they get therapy dogs in place. I know that I take my one eskie that I have a bond with everywhere I go (partly because he creates a problem when I leave him at home) but I also feel safe with him. Anyone comes near me & he is right there ready with a growl or a snap if they come too close. There were many times when my anxiety was too great to leave the house without him too....but a dog that snaps at people isn't what is needed either....it would need to be on command & nothing more for his to be considered a quality therapy dog in my book.

I have obedience trained several dogs & there are definitely some breeds that work better than others for service & for therapy.

My little eskie I had trained to the point where she was certified to take into nursing homes & hospitals to visit sick patients.....all she wanted to do was love them & all they wanted was to hold her in bed with them.....it was beautiful.....her leg got broken & she got grumpy......now she growls all the time she is licking you with love....but that is not a safe thing for people to deal with a growling dog.....needless to say, she no longer visits nursing homes.

When my grandparents were in a nursing home, I was always taking in my first 2 eskies who were obedience trained.....they did very well with the patients even though they weren't certified, the nursing home allowed me to bring them in under tight control.....they loved the attention & the people loved them.

It will be wonderful when they get the standards set for the therapy dogs, as I don't need a service dog with no disability that a dog would have to care for.....my disability is anxiety/depression which a dog does help is going out among people......but that would fall under the therapy rather than service.....it has been hears already & they don't seem any closer to having the standards than 10 years ago when I was looking into it.

Maybe some day?????

i should have read u ,before i put the question

[(JD)]

An Emotional Support Animal (ESA) is not an Assistance Service Animal. But an ESA is allowed to live (with the person that needs them) in public housing where pets are not allowed. They are usually allowed to fly in the cabin of aircraft with their person (must have letter from your doctor & notify the airlines). The ESA is not allowed in Public stores, resturants, or other places where pets are not allowed.

Along with basics of sit, stay, come, down... there is a Good Citizen Certification (even some Pet Smart trainers can do this.)
http://http://www.dogservicesunlimited.com/citizen.htm is just one site that lists what is required.

Basically, it means to be able to have your dog (animal) under control at all times...and that will make those around us not be offended by having them around.

Not all animals qualify as an emotional support animal. Just this month a guy who had a Rooster on South Beach lost his bid to keep him with him all the time, even though pretty calm. The guy moved instead of getting rid of his Rooster. (Even though they had biked around SoBe for years!)

[(JD)]

Eskie, you can have a service dog. The category is Psychiatric Service Dog. Caleb will soon to be listed as that, because of my PTSD from my accident/injury.
http://http://servicedogcentral.org/content/node/76 is a link you might find interesting.

(PTSD is listed as an anxiety disorder, btw. (I think you knew that too!))

HI _Sky
Been trying to find out where I can get a PSD and have had no luck. I've done dog training for years and can do the basics but would rather a trained trainer do the rest. had one lead, but never heard back from them.
could possibly have a Service dog trained with the additional requirements for PSD.
would really help with the dissociation i think.......
lost my service dog last year.

[(JD)]

I still cry over losing Figaro.
Yes, a service dog can be trained for many varied tasks to cover different disabilities.

Caleb was originally trained to alert me to sirens and doorbells etc. He moved on to learning to open doors and pick things up for me, and has also learned to "lap up" or "paw up" putting his front half of body on my lap and demanding hug and petting when I am upset or my pain is increasing. That helps me to calm, and also to realize I'm pushing my limits. My T is writing up the letter that affirms his task accomplishments, and then I will also put that patch on Caleb's stuff: PTSD Service dog. (Something else he does for me in that realm is to "Find Out." When I become disoriented, he can find any exit to where we came in a great help!)

I have found that a good basic trainer, who has trained dogs for years, can take the list of things you need and help you with it. I'm taking Caleb to the Pet Smart trainer soon, and see if he can help with Caleb's return to "sniffing" everything and body that goes by him...a bad habit that isn't acceptable imo. He stopped for a bit, so I don't know why he picked it back up...but I don't know how to untrain him. I hope that trainer does (should be in a book somewhere lol.)