Have an emotional support dog? How do you go about getting one?

[BabyFidgette]

My Aunt has been suffering from severe depression for years. Thankfully she has Zoie now. She lost her husband a few years ago, and Zoie has seriously been her savior. She never wants to leave the house without her. She even turns down trips and/or excursions or will come home early from fun activities if she thinks Zoie will be home alone too long. When she's not in Zoie's presence she thinks about her constantly and looks sad. Having Zoie has changed her life, and she can finally say she's happy! So, knowing my Aunt's past, I feel she could and should qualify for an emotional support dog. I don't know if this matters, but she's 65, is disabled, and has a hard time walking.

If you have one, what are the qualifications? How do you go about getting the certification? Do you have to file with the state?

Any input will be appreciated.

Thanks!

PS. I know threads like this can be heated, so please, if you don't think a member "deserves" one, please keep your comments to yourself. Thanks.

[Baby Blessing]

Originally Posted by BabyFidgette

My Aunt has been suffering from severe depression for years. Thankfully she has Zoie now. She lost her husband a few years ago, and Zoie has seriously been her savior. She never wants to leave the house without her. She even turns down trips and/or excursions or will come home early from fun activities if she thinks Zoie will be home alone too long. When she's not in Zoie's presence she thinks about her constantly and looks sad. Having Zoie has changed her life, and she can finally say she's happy! So, knowing my Aunt's past, I feel she could and should qualify for an emotional support dog. I don't know if this matters, but she's 65, is disabled, and has a hard time walking.

If you have one, what are the qualifications? How do you go about getting the certification? Do you have to file with the state?

Any input will be appreciated.

Thanks!

PS. I know threads like this can be heated, so please, if you don't think a member "deserves" one, please keep your comments to yourself. Thanks.

I saved something someone sent me long time ago on the certification, I will go look and see if I still have it and if I do, I will copy and paste it in pm to you.

So sorry about the loss of your Uncle, am glad your Aunt has Zoie, they are such a comfort. I hope the information that I have saved will be of some help but then again it may be different from State to State.

Patti and Jack
Baby Blessing and DollieDae

[scrapindee]

1st thing is to get her to an M.D. to get her a letter and a prescription.

Next, I would find out if there is a trainer or program, she could go through with the dog so she can learn about licensing, accessibility to buildings, etc.

I would work with her and a therapist to get her to feel good about herself while she learns to work with the dog.

[s13silviagirl]

Originally Posted by scrapindee

1st thing is to get her to an M.D. to get her a letter and a prescription.

Next, I would find out if there is a trainer or program, she could go through with the dog so she can learn about licensing, accessibility to buildings, etc.

I would work with her and a therapist to get her to feel good about herself while she learns to work with the dog.

Dee those are great suggestions! This was something I was wanting to look into myself. I appreciate your help (and any one else that has input on this subject!). OP, thanks for creating this thread!!


Lisa

[omega]

My Dr. is going to give me a letter to carry with me so I can bring a dog with me into stores and stuff. I haven't got the letter yet, so I don't know how businesses will respond to it. If that doesn't work, we'll try something else. I would always have the dog in a carrier - discreetly, anyways.
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[Little Bit]

I think that all she needs is the letter and prescription from the doctor. I don't think any training is required for that.

When questioned she just has to tell them she is a service dog and show the letter if necessary, but legally they can't even ask what the problem is that the dog is for.

At least that is what I remember from another discussion when this came up. You can google service dog and see what you come up with. Also with service dogs you don't even have to pay extra to have them fly with you.

[RONLYNN]

I just went on a cruise and saw the most adorable maltese on the ship...I got all excited that I might be able to bring my dog (although I had never seen one before) then when we were getting off the ship someone asked one of the workers if you can bring dogs on ships and he said they were some kind of support dog so it was allowed. She was with a family (mom, dad and 2 kids) so I'm assuming she was an emotional support dog. She was cute and dressed up every day on the ship.

[BabyFidgette]

Originally Posted by scrapindee

1st thing is to get her to an M.D. to get her a letter and a prescription.

Next, I would find out if there is a trainer or program, she could go through with the dog so she can learn about licensing, accessibility to buildings, etc.

I would work with her and a therapist to get her to feel good about herself while she learns to work with the dog.

Thanks. She's already on a prescription, but from her family doctor, not a psychiatrist. Does that matter?

[BabyFidgette]

Originally Posted by Little Bit

I think that all she needs is the letter and prescription from the doctor. I don't think any training is required for that.

When questioned she just has to tell them she is a service dog and show the letter if necessary, but legally they can't even ask what the problem is that the dog is for.

At least that is what I remember from another discussion when this came up. You can google service dog and see what you come up with. Also with service dogs you don't even have to pay extra to have them fly with you.

Thank you. Honestly, I'm a little confused with the "titles." I thought a service dog was for a physical disability in which the dog helps with physical activities, i.e. seeing eye dogs? Zoie would just be for emotional support.

[BabyFidgette]

Originally Posted by Baby Blessing

I saved something someone sent me long time ago on the certification, I will go look and see if I still have it and if I do, I will copy and paste it in pm to you.

So sorry about the loss of your Uncle, am glad your Aunt has Zoie, they are such a comfort. I hope the information that I have saved will be of some help but then again it may be different from State to State.

Patti and Jack
Baby Blessing and DollieDae

TUVM! I got your PM!

[Wylie's Mom]

Originally Posted by Little Bit

When questioned she just has to tell them she is a service dog and show the letter if necessary, but legally they can't even ask what the problem is that the dog is for.

This is EXACTLY right. KNOW your rights. Here is a link to a one-pager that contains all the info for bringing service animals into businesses: http://www.usdoj.gov/crt/ada/svcabrs3.pdf

And here is an important piece of it:

"Businesses may ask if an animal is a service animal or ask what tasks the animal has been trained to perform, but cannot require special ID cards for the animal or ask about the person’s disability"

[Itspuppyluv]

Originally Posted by BabyFidgette

Thank you. Honestly, I'm a little confused with the "titles." I thought a service dog was for a physical disability in which the dog helps with physical activities, i.e. seeing eye dogs? Zoie would just be for emotional support.

If she wants to be able to take her everywhere she must be a service dog. Emotional support dogs don't have any more right to go places than any other dog.

Here's a few links that might help...

http://www.petsandpeople.org/difference.htm
http://www.usdoj.gov/crt/ada/qasrvc.htm
http://www.usdoj.gov/crt/ada/svcanimb.htm

[BabyFidgette]

Originally Posted by Itspuppyluv

If she wants to be able to take her everywhere she must be a service dog. Emotional support dogs don't have any more right to go places than any other dog.

Here's a few links that might help...

http://www.petsandpeople.org/difference.htm
http://www.usdoj.gov/crt/ada/qasrvc.htm
http://www.usdoj.gov/crt/ada/svcanimb.htm

Oh okay, I think I got it! The ESD is just to allow a person into an apartment that doesn't normally allow dogs?

Thanks for the links. But can a service dog be an ESD too? And other than a seeing eye dog, what other tasks do service dogs do?

[Wylie's Mom]

Originally Posted by BabyFidgette

Oh okay, I think I got it! The ESD is just to allow a person into an apartment that doesn't normally allow dogs?

Thanks for the links. But can a service dog be an ESD too? And other than a seeing eye dog, what other tasks do service dogs do?

Service dogs can be trained to alert to an on-coming seizure, medication reminders, anxiety management - I've even heard they can now recognize high blood pressure. I would think that if your Aunt is practically home-bound without her dog, that the dog's service then goes beyond ESD and heads into Service territory. Depression CAN be a disability and I wouldn't let anyone tell you differently. But that's just me .

[Itspuppyluv]

Originally Posted by BabyFidgette

Oh okay, I think I got it! The ESD is just to allow a person into an apartment that doesn't normally allow dogs? That's one, I'm not sure what else just that they aren't considered the same as service dogs under the law.

Thanks for the links. But can a service dog be an ESD too? And other than a seeing eye dog, what other tasks do service dogs do?

I think she just needs to be trained to help your Aunt in some way if you want her to legally be a service dog.
There are many things a service dog can be trained to do. Bringing keys, medication, a phone. Some alert their owners to sounds. Some open and close doors, turn lights off and on.