Understanding psychiatric service dogs- (PSD)
Most people think of service dogs as ones that help physically impaired individuals - blind, wheelchair bound, etc. There are many sufferers of post traumatic stress syndrome, like our veterans, who need the emotional and sometimes physical support of therapy dogs. I first became aware of this then I began to read books by Luis Carlos Montalvan, UNTIL TUESDAY and Tuesday's Promise. A captain in the U.S. Army he served two combat tours in aq, receiving two bronze stars and the Purple Heart. Captain Montalvan and his dog Tuesday publicly advocated for benefits of service dogs to veterans and others with disabilities. I watched him on YouTube and became very attached to his story and his endeavors. My heart broke when I learned that he could still not overcome the demons that haunted him and, lacing Tuesday in the care of friends, took his life.
SDS are specially trained dogs that assist people with psychological or learning disabilities. There are three types of service dogs: 1, Psychiatric service Dogs (PSDS), 2. Medical Alert and Response Service Dogs, and 3. lobile/Physical Assistance Service Dogs. Each type of service dog is trained ) provide a specific task, response, or job in order to assist that individual. psychiatric Service includes, Anxiety Disorder, Post-Traumatic Stress disorder (PTSD), Depression, Fear and Phobias, and Autism. (To digress for a moment, last night on Netflix I watched a movie called I USED TO BE FAMOUS about a has-been British rock star who in his 40's and trying to
Ignite his career befriends a very talented autistic drummer.) Medical Alert and Response dogs help with people suffering from High Blood Pressure, diabetes Type 2, High Cholesterol, Panic Attacks, Neurological Distress, and light Tremors. Mobile and Physical Service dogs aid the Wheelchair Bound, blind or Seeing Impaired, Deaf or Hearing Impaired, Arthritic, those with muscular Dystrophy, Multiple Sclerosis, and amputees.
psychiatric Service Dogs (PSD)s are different than an Emotional Support animal (ESA.) PSDs have a greater range of public access, even though not all ublic transportation operators were appreciative of Captain Montalvan's right to have Tuesday aboard. And all PSDs fly free anywhere in the United States and Canada. It is only legal to ask a PSD handler TWO questions to heck legitimacy; 1) Does your dog provide a service? And 2) What is your dog trained to do? A handler does not have to identify the affliction nor list r demonstrate any tasks the PSD does. Only three "agencies" may legally ask an ESA dog's handler for documentation: airline employees, landlords, and educational facility administrators.
SDs are taught skills that enable their handlers to function in everyday life. These include BALANCE ASSISTANCE as in walking while medicated. FIND A ERSON/PLACE when becoming disoriented. GROUND AND REORIENT from n anxiety attack. INTERRUPT AND REDIRECT limiting obsessive compulsive and self-destructive behaviors. NAVIGATION AND BUFFERING acting as a buffer and a guide through stressful environments. REACT/ALERT to Specific OUNDS like smoke detectors or security alarms and any such unusual noises. RETRIEVE MEDICATIONS or ring a bell to remind handler. ROOM EARCH to quell fears related to hyper-vigilance caused by PTSD. STABILIZE ROUTINES like not oversleeping or forgetting important tasks. TACTILE STIMULATION AND PRESSURE THERAPY like placing a paw on or leaning against or licking the face of a stressed handler. Sometimes even laying cross the handler's body. Training a service dog costs between $25,000 and 50,000. Donations always needed.
here are vests, tags, ID cards, harnesses, and other gear to help you enter public spaces with your PSD warding off annoying and potentially danger-us approaches by strangers or children. More information can be gained trough emailing help@esapet.org or phone 860.489.6550. Non-profit.
