[Roba]

Are there any service dog's for people who have depression? If so does the depressed person have to pay for it and what is the cost? Or do you just need to pay the bills of vet and food?

I know there are people who have their dogs certified as care dogs (I can't off the top of my head think of what they call them) and take them into hospitals and nursing homes for the patients, but you seem to be talking more about a service dog you yourself would own and use. Those kind of service dogs are very expensive and you do have pay for them. I don't know if they have them for depression though. You could probably google it.

[Perna]

http://www.psychdog.org/faq.html

[zooropa]

my T wrote me a letter saying that I needed to have my dog with me for emotional support, and in my state that is enough to stop me from having to pay a pet deposit when renting. It's worth looking into!

[sittingatwatersedge]

This is sort of a side question, but honestly, aren't all dogs therapy for depression? This is the one place, outside of a mother's love, that you could look for unconditional love. A dog to idolize you, miss you when you're out, follow you around when you're home, is up for every game you want to play, goes by your rules and cares what you think....

Hmmm. I'm depressed too, but I have cats, not dogs, and now you have me looking at that. These cats are both as crazy as I am.

[ErinBear]

I know somebody here who had their dog certified specially somehow - it's more than a therapy dog, maybe like a therapy companion animal. She has depression, I think, and possibly some other mental health issues (I'm not sure). She does have to pay the costs for the dog herself, although this enables her to take the dog with her most places. However, the certification isn't recognized the same way that a guide dog's certification is recognized. Not all businesses recognize it and they have the right to refuse entry to the dog, although I don't know how often that has happened. That's just our state though. It may be different in other states. I know it has given her a lot of comfort to take the dog with her as she does errands and such.

Take care,
ErinBear