Service Dog Life > Is a Service Dog for You? (publicly viewable board)
Do I qualify for a service dog or esa?
Skyfeatherl:
Hi, I have quite a few questions and hope I have come to the right place to post.
I have been wondering if a service dog is right for me and wether or not what I have qualifys for a service dog or only as a esa?
I currently have a dog that I take with me to limited places that allow any dogs (tractor stores, pet stores, feed stores, local general store, markets etc) Ive trained my current dog to stop at roads and brace against me until I give the command to cross. He is also trained to not cross even if I give the command and a car is coming. This has saved my life on at least two occasions. He is also trained to take me to the car, when a panic attack occures and I cant get myself back into control. I suffer from severe anxiety and panic attacks. When one occurs I become disoriented and tunnel vision occurs. I get dizzy and have fallen over at times from them. My dr has prescribed medication and we are waiting to see how it works out before we try any other steps.
Now I do not know if my problems qualify for a service dog or am I just needing emotional support? I ask because I have a hard time functioning in public so either my husband goes with me or I take my dog to places that allow pets. Its sort of like I need an "anchor" so would that mean an emotional support dog? But then if a panic attack occurs and its bad I have to have assistance otherwise I fall or blindly walk into things due to the need to flee the area. My dr said he wants to see how this new medicine helps me before he lables me disabled. It affects my ability to work. I had to cut back to two days and I work privatly in someones home with one person, it makes it easier for me to cope. Taking the medicine causes me to be very lethargic, so we are messing with the dose, the hope is to make it so I can function in public without having constant panic attacks, then its to work on me no longer needing somone there to help me get thru the fear of going places because Im afraid that I will have a panic attack, agoraphobia.
OK. I will end this here, and see what anyone has to say. I still have other questions but will wait on those for now. Thank you so much
Kirsten:
It doesn't matter whether the animal is a service dog or an ESA, the criteria for qualifying is the same: you must be legally disabled. Whether or not you are is a discussion to have with your own doctor.
If you determine with your doctor's help that you are qualified, then you choose which one based on what you need the animal for. If you need it for companionship, emotional support or therapy, then you need an ESA. If you need the dog to do something for you that you cannot do for yourself, then you need a service dog. That's the difference.
I just posted more about his on a similar topic. You can read what I said here: http://servicedogcentral.org/forum/index.php/topic,15033.msg111183.html#msg111183
Skyfeatherl:
Im working with my dr with different medicines now in hopes of becoming stabilized to the point where I dont have panic attacks multiple times a day. He said that if this latest prescription doesnt work that he may "lable"(sorry cant think of the proper term) me disabled. I do not want to be disabled, I dont want to feel like a basket case anymore either. Thats why we have tried other things until now. He has written in my medical files that having my dog with me helps me cope with situations that can cause a panic attack and that he is benificial to me. But when he asked if I wanted him labled as an emotional support dog I said I wasnt sure. That I wanted to learn more about what that was first.
Thats why Ive come to this site. Which then made me question whether what I need is an emotional support dog or some sort of service dog- even if he does put down that I am disabled- would I even want a service dog? I know how much work owning a pet can be. Ive always owned dogs and various other animals, I used to train reining and cutting horses until some trumatic things happened in my life that helped me get where I am now.
I suppose one thing I was trying to ask was if I am disabled would my disability require the assistance of a service dog? Does the inability to stop myself from walking into a dangerous situation (such as traffic) even be a job for a service dog? I know my current "pet" dog helps prevent me from doing this. but thats because I trained him to do this over several months. When I feel a panic attack coming on I give the command for him to take me to the car. Once there I try to get myself back into control. breathing into a paper bag to try and get my breathing under control so I dont pass out, sitting witht he doors locked so I feel safer and more in control. I may take one of my pills that Im prescribed and wait until it takes effect. If I can manage it, I once again go back to doing what I had been trying to do. If not then Im forced to go home, at times having to cal someone to get me and leave my car behind since I can not drive during a panic attack.
If my health issues do not qualify for a service dog then does it qualify for an emotional support dog and if so qhat exactly does having an emotional support dog do for me? Are you allowed to take them places or no? Because if you cant take them to places where you require assistance of support in the form that I di then what is the point of having one?
These are just some of the questions I have. I just wish to understand everything better before I talk again with my dr. I like to investigate everything ahead of time. It helps me feel more in control so I dont panic as much.
Thank you for your time
Kirsten:
Require it? No. I don't think there is any disability that requires the use of a service dog. It is one of several options which might be an appropriate choice for some people and not for others.
You are working with your doctor on medication. You should try working with a therapist as well. Neither therapy nor medication is a substitute for the other. Each works in different ways and in combination they are more effective than the sum of their parts for most people.
My head is getting a bit muddled with two new people asking almost identical questions. As I said in another post, the standard for disability is the same regardless of whether the person uses an ESA or a SD. You're either legally disabled or you're not. There are not degrees of being disabled under federal law.
Under the ADA, a disability is, "a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities of such individual."
"[M]ajor life activities include, but are not limited to, caring for oneself, performing manual tasks, seeing, hearing, eating, sleeping, walking, standing, lifting, bending, speaking, breathing, learning, reading, concentrating, thinking, communicating, and working."
A person who is disabled by severe mental illness might choose an ESA, or a PSD, or any of a number of other options in order to help manage their condition.
An emotional support animal is a pet. The only situations where it is different from any other pet are 1. "no pets" housing, 2. commercial aircraft.
http://www.servicedogcentral.org/content/esa
And here's our article on PSDs: http://www.servicedogcentral.org/content/psd
You might want to print both out and the definition of "disability" above and take those with you to your next meeting to discuss with your doctor.
Kirsten:
You should probably also read the section of the forum on "the down side of service dogs."
There are some specific issues for people with anxiety disorders that are often overlooked. Handling a service dog is emotionally stressful. Total strangers will approach you because of the dog and where they wouldn't ordinarily address you, they will when you are accompanied by a dog in a place where dogs are not a common occurrence. Sometimes they will ask you invasive questions, like "what is wrong with you?" Sometimes they will yell at you and tell you to get out with that bleeping dog. Sometimes they will try to grab your dog's leash or tell you you are cruel. Very often people will try to mess with your dog or engage you in some way while you are trying to do something else. Like they think you are the floor show or something. This is part of life with a service dog. It's a part that may make it a very bad choice for a person with an existing anxiety disorder. For some people the net result is beneficial and for others it is harmful. Taking into account your personal symptomology and how you handle these kinds of stressors, you and your doctor should discuss whether you are likely to benefit from it more than it will cost you. Though honestly, I think that might be a better discussion with a therapist, but that is up to you.
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