[BlueberryDonut]

I'm in the middle of applying for a service animal for PTSD and anxiety and I was wondering if anyone has experience with this and can offer advice and guidance throughout the process? Also looking to make friends ^^

[(JD)]

I do, and have.

Make sure it's trained for those items or it might be considered just an "emotional support animal" and they are not allowed everywhere (even if some places allow them).

Read up on the law because everyone will try and tell you it when they don't know it.
https://www.ada.gov/service_animals_2010.htm

Don't fall for the "certification" requirements: there are none! Don't buy into any patches or certificates except from a service dog trainer who will back you up (if you learn well ) when you get into a situation. (Keep phone number handy, or a card of trainer's to show police.)

You are not required to have the dog wear any special collars, leashes, vests nor patches... though you might wish to have something "official looking" handy to avoid some situations.

They can ask 2 questions: Is that a service dog?
If you reply yes then they can ask:
What 3 things does it do for you that you cannot do for yourself?
And you need to be able to share such things easily.

My 2nd service dog learned how to help me with PTSD on his own. Smart dog he was! I was in a deposition with the opposition (worker comp attorney) and was becoming very upset inside and pain was rising... and the dog got up onto my lap (well, his front paws and chest) and laid there, not moving... I even tried to make him move but he wouldn't.
The opposing lawyer drew my attention to the dog stating that he can't be a service dog as he wasn't trained to even listen to me when I told him to get down... and then I was able to vocalize OH! he's doing exactly what he's supposed to: when I don't realize my pain is rising and I'm becoming stressed he does that until I remedy the problem! hahahahah joke on lawyer!

Anyway... they are wonderful! One of the "things" my service dogs have all learned very quickly is "find out". I get confused in stores easily and teaching them that where we come in is also where we go out... all I have to do when I need to leave the store in a hurry (triggered or overwhelmed) is tell him "find out" and he all but drags me to an exit. (Now it doesn't even have to be the door we came in at ... and if I want that I just tell him again and he'll go to the smell of where we entranced.) Kewl doggies!

Oh there are no service animals. The ADA changed those rules and they are "all" service DOGS. (With the exception for the Moslems who hate dogs so they can have a mini horse.)

The hardest thing is to not let anyone pet the dog when in public. The dog immediately loses focus and no longer will work for you but go about greeting everyone waiting for patting and ooing and awwing. It's hard, but don't start that habit.

Another good thing about a service dog is you can use the dog as an excuse to leave a meeting or lunch or whatever. When it's you that needs to leave! hahahahah

Good wishes. A well trained service dog is worth his weight in gold imo.

[amandalouise]

Originally Posted by BlueberryDonut

I'm in the middle of applying for a service animal for PTSD and anxiety and I was wondering if anyone has experience with this and can offer advice and guidance throughout the process? Also looking to make friends ^^

I have a service animal due to my having Multiple Sclerosis.

first thing you need to know is each USA state has its own standards of what a service animal needs in way of certifications, licensing, training. some require more, some require less and some require none at all. I have found in my travels for work to have all certifications, licensing, training certificates handy. that way no matter what and where my work sends me I am fully prepared.

if you do not plan on doing any traveling to other states then the one you legally reside with in your own treatment providers (medical doctors or other treatment providers you may have) will be able to give you the information that your location needs to qualify your animal as a service animal.

here where I am located the process is that you contact an agency that specializes in service animals, they register you and match you up with the correct service animal for your disability, your life style and what kind of person you are.

or

a person can choose their own type of service animal and then go through the training together with the service animal.

public places and buildings and agencies dealing with the public can not ask you to prove your service animal is an actual service animal except for law enforcement fire, ambulance, medical. .....Unless.... your service animal is not visibly designated. when a service animal where I am located is not visibly designated as a service animal it is appropriate for anyone dealing with the public to ask or require the proof, they do not usually ask but I have encountered situations where other patrons have made a complaint when the location is visibly marked with a no pets sign, or due to allergy to dogs in restaurants, public transportation and other places where dealing with the public happens. therefore I keep my service dogs vest on with all the credentials in the vest pocket. saves a lot of time and trouble.

my best suggestion is go according to what ever your treatment providers have given you for information when they have prescribed \ suggested a service animal for or to you.

They can be really expensive. Have you investigated agencies that may be able to help fund or subsidise the procurement of a service dog?

[avlady]

It must be comforting to have a service dog!! I hope you can get one you need and a good one good luck!

[BlueberryDonut]

Hey guys! Thanks for the advice. We are currently waiting on a reply from Paws4People foundation to see if we qualify for the next bump in July. If you have gotten your service dog from an organization, how long did you have to wait before they get back to you? They seem really quick so this long wait is making me nervous.

[BlueberryDonut]

Originally Posted by justafriend306

They can be really expensive. Have you investigated agencies that may be able to help fund or subsidise the procurement of a service dog?

They say, if we qualify, they will help us with the fundraising and the Pay it forward plan.

[amandalouise]

Originally Posted by BlueberryDonut

Hey guys! Thanks for the advice. We are currently waiting on a reply from Paws4People foundation to see if we qualify for the next bump in July. If you have gotten your service dog from an organization, how long did you have to wait before they get back to you? They seem really quick so this long wait is making me nervous.

the length of time varies.

agency programs first has to breed the puppies or locate puppies that have in their background good history for social skills and other qualities needed for service animals.

then they do background checks and interviews to make sure those willing to foster and pre train the puppies for the basic behavioral stuff like potty training, sit, heel... are good foster homes for the new batch of pups.

then they get the year old pups back from the foster homes and begin the pups professional training process.

while all this is going on a waiting list of customers is growing. the agencies do back ground checks on their customers in the waiting lists to make sure no animal abuse and other criminal activity in their history is or has gone on. they dont want their dogs to end up in dog fighting, drug trafficking and being other wise abused.

when a batch of dogs have been trained they go through the waiting list of approved customers and schedule interviews so that they can match up the trained dogs with the right person... they dont want to match up a high energy dog with someone who's life is not going to be able to keep up with the dogs needs of playing and running off that high energy. they dont want to match a slightly shy dog with someone who has an active / over active/ loud social life... they want the customer and dogs to be matched to fit each other.

finally the agencies select 2-3 dogs for the customer to meet. the customer narrows the selection down to 1 dog. then the customer and dog and a trainer work together so that the customer knows all that dogs commands, bonds with the dog, and the dog bonds with the customer.

this is a general run down that goes on with any professional agency but like always sometimes the way they go about doing all this may be a bit different.

my suggestion is to just keep in touch with the agency you are going through and when your name gets to the top of the list they will let you know and they will help you to prepare for everything as time goes on. by keeping in tough with them you can also ask them all your questions that may help make this process easier.