I didnt know this apparently I would qualify for a service dog with my Panic Disorder and other DXes.

I wouldnt get one right now, as I am in a two bedroom apartment, but wow, I never thought of it. I thought it was only for physical disabilities.

That makes so much sense. IT would be excellent for me i think sometime in the future!

[(JD)]

Most ppl who need service/guide/companion dogs/animals do not receive them. I think when I first had mine trained only 1 disabled person in 20,000 -who needed one - received one. The reasons? Not enough puppy raisers. Not enough money donated...not enough money in general. The cost of a service dog now goes well over the $10,000 value of my dog.

It's wonderful that someone is doing the studies to show that well trained animals can help the mentally unwell

well, to be honest, what I would like to do in the future sometime anyways is learn to be a service dog and therapy dog or animal trainer.

So, maybe i could correlate the two.

[(JD)]

That would be wonderful!

[Maven]

Yes, there was a story, probably about a year or two ago, of a woman who had panic disorder, and one of her issues was going to a store. I'm not sure, but I think it was about a case of discrimination, because she had a service dog, and this enabled her to go to the store.

As much as I like Bill Maher for many of the things he says, he ticks me off sometimes, and that story was one of them, because he made fun of her. I don't remember exactly what he said. He has stated many times that some people shouldn't get services and products or devices that make their lives easier, because some people have to accept that they have limits and can't do some things others can. He was talking how we usually try to make everyone able to do everything. While I don't think it's right to do so at the expense of other people's rights, in the United States, we have the right to the pursuit of happiness, and if someone invents something that makes a disabled person's life happier and better, then it's a good thing. And just to be clear, I believe in equal rights, not special rights. I'm not talking about giving someone else an ability that harms another's rights.

[dottie]

Hi! Here in the greater Cleve. area we have a law that says just about any animal would and does qualify to be used as a service/assistance pet. I have my cat and parrot mainly for my depression and high anxiety from which I suffer. With out them, I can honestly say the quality of my life would be far worse than it is.

I will be moving to another apt soon, which readily understands all this. Where I am now..I am in pending litigation..as management has held that there is no such thing as an assistant animal other than a seeing eye dog. The Office of Fair Housing here is doing the litigation 4 me. I am doing this because I want future tenants to be able to have assistance animals if their situation merits it. Wish me luck, please, as I am up against an uncaring management!! Take care!~dottie

[Maven]

My (boyfriend's) bird isn't a service pet, but he makes me smile and laugh, and I believe laughter is the best medicine. Of course, sometimes he screeches and irritates me, but I wouldn't trade him for another bird.

[HelgaDE]

As of matter of fact theirs service dogs for all kinds of mental illness.

go to http://www.psychdog.org/ to check it out. I'm thinking about getting my dog certfied for service work.. She helps me so much.

[Maven]

Thanks for that link! I bookmarked it.

[HelgaDE]

Your welcome Maven.

[January]

If I can manage to come up with the money I am getting one. It's called an Emotional Support Animal. They can be dogs, cats, even a monkees or a miniature horses. It's amazing!

I hope you are able to get one very soon.

Hugs,

Jan

[Maven]

Can I get an emotionally supportive duck-billed platypus?

how about an emotionally supportive komodo dragon?

haha, thats great that they use such a variety of animals though.