Introduction

The first thing I would like to start off with is addressing different types of description’s and animals abilities. This is an important step into diving into what my whole blog will be about.

1. 1. According to the ADA, a service animal is any animal that provides assistance to a person with any disability.
   2. A service dog for depression can also be called a psychiatric service dog. This is not to be confused with an emotional support animal (ESA) or therapy dogs, which are not recognized as service animals by the ADA.
   3. A psychiatric service dog is trained to recognize and respond to their handler’s disability by performing work or tasks. The handler must have a mental or psychiatric disability that limits one or more major life activity.
   4. The ADA protects service animals and allows public access so that the dog can go anywhere its handler goes. A service dog is not considered a pet.
   5. An emotional support animal is a pet that provides comfort or emotional support to a person. Unlike a service animal, an emotional support animal doesn’t need to be trained to perform specific tasks.
   6. The ADA doesn’t cover emotional support animals the same way a service animal, so, they do not have legal public access. The only places that are legally required to permit an emotional support animal are housing units and aircraft’s.
   7. Lastly, Therapy dogs are trained to engage with many people other than a primary handler. These dogs are used to provide comfort and affection as a form or psychological or physiological therapy. They do not have the same legal public access as service dogs.

“All three types of service animals can be beneficial to a person with depression. The type that is best for you depends on your needs. Psychiatric service dogs are working animals and not considered pets. They’re extensively trained to perform specific tasks, such as reminding you to take your medication or leading you to someone if you’re in crisis.” (Disability Guide, 2019)

Aside from Dogs, which is the most common from of service animal, you can also have a miniature horse, ferret , boa constrictor, parrots, potbelly pigs, and even Capuchin Monkeys.

 

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What it is really like.

My Duty, as a Service dog owner, is to tell all of the in’s and Out’s of living with one and why you should have it if you have a limiting factor towards your life actives.

For me, I am living with Depression. I realized I needed an animal to help me carry on, so I made the leap into this service world. For me my ailment had gotten to the point where I didn’t want to go to classes anymore, didn’t want to eat, didn’t want to sleep because I would be having bad nightmares. I was not in a stable place. I asked my friends what I should do, and one of them recommended I see the schools psychiatrist. Where I had it in my head that, this was pointless, all these meetings are for nothing.

The Bright side

We then talked about Service animals, and asked if I had one. I had told them no but my grandmother used to train dogs. After that meeting I actually was driven towards something, I actually wanted to focus on a task and be productive. So I googled animals, the how to train, where to train, ALL the kits and kabootles. After my research, I went to the shelter, I rescued a puppy, the youngest I could find, and brought her home. Not to school, my actual home. I brought her to my grandmothers house, and had left my  puppy there for my grandmother to train in the basics. Every weekend I would make trips down to my house and participate in the training sessions, and to train her to my needs. After about four months of back and forth motions, I told my grandmother I couldn’t be without her so I brought her up to school with me. and she has been there ever since.

Her Service is my pleasure

This, my friends, is Bella. She is now my 1 year , 7 month old pup. Her task, that only some have seen her perform, is to apply weight onto my body whenever she feels somethings off. Unlike most handlers who bring theirs everywhere. I do not. I know legally I can, but I do not. I dont bring her to classes, or to work. I have come to the realization that other people have allergies to dogs and it wouldn’t be fair of me to bring her to a small classroom and have their reactions act up. We’re all here for an education and we all pay the same amount, So I dont think it fair for me to make those who are allergic uncomfortable. That would make me just feel bad. So, I leave her home in the dorm where she spends her days napping.