where can I find a good place for my dog?

[BeBold]

Hi swiss,

I wanted to get back to your original post. I am very new to this forum but have been doing a lot of reading for several months about the difference between a SD, ESA and TD.

Bear sounds like a precious member of your family. It doesn't sound like you are just wanting to "find him another pet family" but instead trying to find a way for him to be helpful to someone who needs the kind of help he can offer - whatever that is. it sounds like you have worked very hard with him to make him "more than a pet" for someone who needs "more than a pet".

I would guess that most people seeking an ESA would be thrilled to get a dog that is already trained in some ways and is well behaved and very attentive. I don't know where you go about finding someone who needs an ESA but I am guessing that someone who did not qualify for - either financially or being not 'disabled enough' for a PSD or even after spending a lot of time reading the regulations and decide what their needs "doesn't fit the criteria" might do very well having someone like Bear as an ESA since he has shown that he is smart, wants to help and wishes to please. Even if those qualities aren't "enough" for a SD, I am guessing they would be a great start for an ESA?  again, I am fairly new to all of this and certainly NO expert on the subject...

I believe there is a thread here for ESA folks - maybe post there? I know I have read here some people who decided on their own to go with an ESA and perhaps if you can't contact them directly, one of the mods could pass on your contact info for you?   BTW, there is even something about the name "bear" that makes him sound strong and safe and protective and warm and fuzzy.  That seems to me the definition of the beginnings of a great ESA.  best of luck to you.   be.

"Whether you think you can or you can't, you are right!"

[Kirsten]

One of the forum rules here is no advertising of dogs.  This rule is in place because in past venues I've experienced an avalanche of rescue folks posting about this wonderful SD prospect they have.  The result is that newbies, not knowing any better, winding up with a totally inappropriate dog because the rescuer wants to find the dog a home and doesn't necessarily know the first thing about what is needed in a service dog candidate.  The rescuers mean well, but it nearly always ends in disaster for both the dog and the PWD anyway because a failed placement generally means having to rehome the dog yet again.

Finding a home for a dog needs to go through regular channels, such as PetFinder, local vets and pet stores, in this case whatever therapy dog program he's registered with, etc.  Not here.  We just aren't equipped to evaluate claims that a given dog is capable of what is represented and don't want to get involved in that area.  We don't allow programs to post advertisements for the same reason.  Telling a person how they might do something is fine, such as how to find or evaluate a program.  But actually doing the matchmaking here is beyond the scope of our community goals.

As far as placing the dog as an ESA, that is certainly a possibility.  But that would generally be done by contacting a psychiatric rehab center or provider and then you get into all kinds of confidentiality issues and HIPAA.  It's probably not practical unless you already have a contact within the local psych community, such as if you were a patient yourself and knew others through support groups and therapy groups.

This dog's best chance is in a pet home or the home of someone interested in doing pet assisted therapy.  His extra training and experience should make him an easy placement.

[Kirsten]

We could probably use an article offering suggestions for placement of dogs.  We could then direct rescuers like the OP to it for ideas and it would also be of use to someone having to rehome a wash-out or retiree.  Any volunteers?

[Magesteff]

We could probably use an article offering suggestions for placement of dogs.  We could then direct rescuers like the OP to it for ideas and it would also be of use to someone having to rehome a wash-out or retiree.  Any volunteers?

I'm willing to write it up, but I really would need input from everyone. I have a few ideas of my own, but I would use some pointers from the more experienced people. I'm afraid I am one of those people that believes once you take responsibility for a dog it is your responsibility for the life of the dog - and yes, I can see that involving re homing an elderly SD or a wash out since not everyone can keep or provide for an extra dog, especially those in the large breed category.

People can PM me any time, for any reason - I don't mind it at all.

[Kirsten]

You might try whacking out a first draft and then posting it in the Site Builder's Association board for suggestions.  Usually once you get the ball rolling and ask for additional ideas people start offering wonderful things I never would have thought of on my own.

[BeBold]

yeah, I absolutely get what you are saying kirsten about this NOT being the function of this board and why it's not the function of this board. and I appreciate the rules protecting folks who come here for info being inundated with potential scams towards disabled people desperate for some help.

I don't remember if the original poster is a user of a service animal or "just" the owner of therapy dog - please don't get upset anyone about the "just" comment - I am not saying it's not important, just different as a Therapy dog is to help others, and SD's and ESA's are to help us).  Is this site appropriate for non-disabled people who provide training for therapy dogs - and I understand you don't have to NOT be disabled to provide training but then you would be here for probably a different reason? Therapy dogs seem like an entirely different thing that I am guessing could be out of the scope of "service dog central"?  I am sure the answer to this is here somewhere but I just don't have the umph or the energy or even the ability to read the entire site and every single post before I begin posting - so forgive me if I am being redundant.  be.

good idea about the article.

[Kirsten]

My interpretation was she is not herself disabled, works with a rescue, and has a great dog she's trying to place.  I think she wanted to find out how to get him into service work.  I haven't seen her around lately so I'm not sure if she'll respond herself, which is why I'm giving my lame interpretation. 

Yes, therapy dogs are not service dogs.  We mention them on the main site in order to clarify the difference but that's the extent of it.  A therapy dog is trained, tested, registered and insured so that it may be taken to hospitals, nursing homes, and other facilities to visit people and cheer them up or educate them (such as a reading program).  A person with a therapy dog might coincidentally be disabled, but that is not related to the dog being a therapy dog and most therapy dog partners are not disabled.  Therefore, a person with a therapy dog has no more rights to public access than any other pet owner.  In fact, they must have permission before visiting a facility that doesn't ordinarily allow pets.  The whole idea of getting them tested/registered/insured is to assure facilities that the dogs are suited for this sort of program so they'll agree.

An ESA (emotional support animal) is a pet belonging to a person with a disability and some sort of concurrent mental illness (such as depression), or maybe their disability is due to mental illness and the ESA is part of the treating physician's treatment plan for them.  Those are the two elements:  1.  owner is disabled,  2.  doctor recommends presence of pet for therapeutic purposes.

ESAs are addressed in two areas of federal law, the FHAA (housing, including "no pets" housing) and the ACAA (flying on commercial aircraft).  In any other situation, an ESA is no different from a pet, and the owner has no additional rights beyond those of other pet owners.  In short, unless state laws grant them public access rights, then they can't take an ESA out shopping or whatever.  We do include discussion areas for ESAs because our focus areas are:  disabilities and service dogs.  A person with a disability and an ESA should fit in just fine and would hopefully benefit from the community experience.  We do have members here, long time members, who do not have a service animal.  And that's just fine.  They're still part of the family.  We have members who are not disabled, but know or care about someone who is.  We have puppy raisers and trainers. 

A PSD (psychiatric service dog) is one that receives the advanced training of a service dog, but specializes in doing things for a person with a mental disability that they cannot do for themselves.  Just like any other kind of service dog.  We have a large population of PSD members here, especially if you lump all brain dogs together (TBI, seizure, developmental, psychiatric, autism, etc.).

It's not that people with therapy dogs are unwelcome, it's just that that experience is fundamentally different from the disability/SD experience.  Therapy dogs receive around 8 weeks of training, compared to 18-24 months for a service dog.  Therapy dogs have no legal advantages over pets (with rare exception in state law) and service dogs are legally defined at the federal level.  Therapy dogs are basically well behaved pets who have proven their manners and social skill to at least a minimum standard so they can visit, but not service dogs in the sense of doing something the disabled owner cannot do for themselves, in effect becoming an extension of the person themselves.  Therapy dog owners may have little or no experience with living with a disability.  There isn't much more in common than there is with pet owners generally.

If you live with a disability, you may find people here who have a similar background or experience.  Thus a person with an ESA rather than a SD should probably feel at home (we do have several members in this category).  If you live with a service dog, you'll very likely find someone with a similar background or experience, especially if you're willing to look beyond being disability specific.


Magesteff is really FAST.  She's already got a rough draft out that looks like something I would have spent hours or days doing.  Hopefully it will be polished and published on the front end of the site very soon. 

[Sheenar]

We could probably use an article offering suggestions for placement of dogs.  We could then direct rescuers like the OP to it for ideas and it would also be of use to someone having to rehome a wash-out or retiree.  Any volunteers?

Such an article would be extremely helpful. As someone who has had to both rehome a retired SD and one that washed out of training, trying to flounder through the process was very difficult. As a result, my retired dog isn't in an ideal home, though she is still very happy.