Legitimacy of Support Animals
Many people are bombarded with complaints that theres “scam businesses” and “scammers” with not real service dogs and that “newly created” emotional support animals (which aren’t protected by public access rights, but by housing and travel [air/hotel] rights). Someone recently asked me why Sheldon was going to be my support animal, what qualifications do I have, etc.
So I am making a sort of FAQ.
1. I’ve had PTSD since I was 6.
Since childhood, I was plagued with “chest pains” and obsessive behavior of looking for exits and not wanting to be alone. This stemmed from childhood and adulthood sexual trauma and social trauma. I was socially quiet except with kind adults. I have grown up having to learn techniques to “blend in”, or not show I was anxious. I can shut off emotions in an instant, an act of “shutting down” and “disassociation” which is a common coping mechanism. But it’s not very helpful long-term, but for immediate action. I learned how to better manage things. Talk therapy and specific medications help.
2. A recent very severe trauma occurred this summer.
Many people have asked why am I an EMT when I have PTSD. Well, being emergency prepared is part of my obsessive behavior. I’m good at the job, and at medicine in large. However, after seeing many dead, near dead, and actually an incident that had a fireman die, I fell into a deep depression. The past two years I’ve been suicidal and I needed to find something different. I was having nightmares regularly, I increased my medicine and talk therapy frequency. My therapist suggested I again try getting out more, instead of retreating. I started volunteering at a dog shelter. I never intended to get a dog, but I started fostering, and then...Sheldon happened.
Sheldon is shy. He clearly isn’t a typical service dog. He can be independent, but needy, and he is suspicious of things and intentions. But that’s what I needed. I needed something to focus on getting trust, and trusting something else. Sheldon *makes* me go outside, because otherwise he will go to the bathroom indoors and I will not have that. I feel safe walking around with him, I am not actively looking at exits and warily watching people. My attention is on him and his needs, he makes me externalize rather than internalize. I cannot wallow in bed, which is my default, because of him.
3. My therapist acknowledges that a dog has been beneficial my mental and emotional well being.
Per my landlord’s agreement, she was willing to document that Sheldon is in fact a benefit to my emotional well being. I do not believe my therapist, who I have known since I was 17, would willy-nilly claim something that is not true. She has seen me at my best and my worst, and the dramatic change of caring for animals has been positive.
An emotional support animal, or some cases psychiatric service dogs, are indicated as an animal (dog) *specifically mitigating the effects of a disability* or *interrupting self-destructive/self-harming behavior*. Instead of holing up inside and not talking to anyone except family and friends through electronic contact, I am actually outside. I have lessened nightmares, to whole weeks where I go without one. Reliving trauma is something that occurs frequently, and actually having someone - Sheldon - there for immediate acute care saves money and resources to the Crisis Center which is where I would normally have gone. Because Sheldon exists, I cannot commit suicide. Where would he go if I was gone? I cannot trust family with him. He is so bonded with me, how would he cope if I was gone? It immediately mitigates my thoughts or any ideations - which I haven’t had since hes been in my life.
So yes, you may argue that Sheldon is not necessary. But if Sheldon isn’t there, who will be? Are you going to be the one that helps me 24/7?
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