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Can Dogs Eat Chocolate?
No, dogs should absolutely never eat chocolate, as it is highly toxic to them! We know it can be tempting to share your chocolate treats with those puppy dog eyes staring at you, but this is one human food that should never, ever make it into your pup’s tummy. Why is chocolate so dangerous for […]
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How Dogs Can Smell Anxiety and Stress
Did you know that some service dogs alert their handlers to rising anxiety, sometimes before they even fully notice it themselves? It’s not magic, though it might seem like it. It’s actually an incredible combination of your dog’s amazing nose and your body’s chemical response to stress. Dogs can be trained to detect stress signals […]
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Can You Bring a Service Dog to the Mall?
Shopping can be challenging for people with disabilities, but service dogs make it easier. If you have a service dog or want to understand their rights, this guide will help you navigate mall visits with confidence. What makes a dog a service animal? Not every dog is a service animal. Under the law, a service […]
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I need to Register, my beautiful malteeze shitzu dog. who is7 yrs old now, I have in writting from my DR, that I have been with many years , who knows my health, very well. I am a Seniour lady. and through looking after my sick Husband, and other traumers, which my DR is aware of I developed high blood preasure, followed by Depression, and then Anxiety. I lost my Husband, nearly 2 yrs ago, since then on my own to deal with everything, has been very difficult. my dog is my only true friend, and spends 24/7 with me. I love this dog with all my heart, and due to my anxiety having gotten worse I take this dog with me every where I find if she is not with me my anxiety starts to take over. I have to rush to get back to her. I am a very honest person, old school. and I give my unconditional love ,to my dog which she gives back to me and then some. I also bought a speciel dog pusher, to take her with me. This is not some story but the truth. please let me know, I am very Gratefull. Barbara.
I am a transexual man. I am begging my transition. I came out to my manager last week. I work in a small department in a small office shared by four or five of us at a time. I have lived as a lesbian all my life. I have been at my job for five years. I try to keep to myself but then Im precieved as antisocial. They told me I was rude. So, I started talking about me and my wife. General conversation. Topics like food restaurants family pets movies. Then they are rude and ignore me or talk over me or interupt me. They make rude comments where I cant help but hear them because the office is so small. I have reported to my manager and HR. They say discrimination is hard to prove. I bet if I was a young feminin Caucasian christian female being harrassed by a lesbian or a man they would find all the proof they need. I work in misery every shift. Why not change jobs. I refuse to keep running from ignorance. It is useless. Its everywhere. We have not yet evolved to outrun hate. My dog loves me unconditionally. She brings me peace and joy. She is my home my sanctuary. I need her now more then ever. I wish she could be by my side all the time. She gives me courage.
I am a single, aged woman. My 11yr old miniature poodle is my emotional support. I am terrified of being separated from him, when admitted to hospital for cardiac procedure and then for my hotel admission, prior to discharge home! I live in regional Australia and 500k from the major city of Perth. I need my furbaby present as well as my human escort, due to my anxious state.
How do I arrange this????
God bless you Barbara, I am a retired Senior and wish you well with your dog for support. Today I had to go to the ICU at Michigan State University-Small Animal Veterinary Hospital to have one of my wonderful dogs uthenized due to Lymphoma cancer& severe anemia & other heart & lung complications. She was my 14+ year old Havenese, Teddie Bear. My other dog & I are lost without her 😭. My other dog who’s 14.5 a female Maltese mix has separation anxiety & I want to make her my own therapy dog so we can support each other. She no longer has her ‘sister’ for company when I leave the house & I have suffered from Depression for 60 years. Puffie & I really need each other right now. We have a big hole in our family. 😔
I ahve suffered for many years with depression and anxiety (i am currently on a vulnerable persons list) which leads me to spend a lot of time home alone which tends to make things worse, and so i have purchased a small dog to accompany me going to places which has been a great comfort to me, is it possible to register as a support dog as sometimes i may take my children ( who do not live with me) to certain places which feel daunting regardless of their presence but my dog has brougjt me a closer comfort.
I have a 4 year old husky. I have server depression, server anxiety and I suffer from PTSD. My dog helps me from going outside too stopping from me self harming and help me with my flash back.
I suffer with depression for many years now and since adopting my little Maltese x shitzu x Poodle. I feel alot calmer when she’s with me and less anxious I see a therapist but with my illness Fybromyalgia I find it hard to always cop a even with making an appointment. I really would like to register my dog asap thanks Sharon L Mahaffey
I have PTSD and my dog gets me through flashbacks during the night and during the day when needed how do I get help to register thank you
And I really really need to register my puppy to be my therapy puppy now and I got asthma really bad short out of breath can’t breathe right I don’t need her to be my therapy dog and then I pass out
I am an obese single person with a chronic illness I have severe depression and ptsd. My dog helps me stay active and cops with society. Please help me
Can a dog be registered as a therapy dog AND an emotional support dog?
Yes, your dog can help you as an ESA, and can also work as a therapy dog. As long as his duty as ESA doesn’t suffer from being a therapy dog. You may find these two articles helpful on the subject –
https://www.servicedogcertifications.org/how-to-certify-a-therapy-dog/
https://www.servicedogcertifications.org/how-to-qualify-for-an-emotional-support-animal/
Im interested in learning what I need to do to get a license for my dog to be a therapy dog. I am willing to take her to classes and I desire to take her to convalescent homes. What are the necessary steps to begin with? How long does the process take and where do I get the certification that it’s a therapy dog?
My dog rescued me, I am a cancer survivor and looked everyday in the shelter for a year for her. As soon as our eyes met, we both knew, we rescued each other.
I don’t know how to add her photos or I would.
If my dog became therapy dog can she fly with us
Unfortunately, no. Therapy dogs do not have the same access rights as service dogs. Their rights are limited to select establishments and would be handled as normal pets on planes. You may find this article on the difference between therapy dogs, emotional support dogs, and service dogs interesting https://www.servicedogcertifications.org/difference-service-dog-emotional-support-animal/
Hey I have a German Shepard very well behaved and tempered well , grew up with my 3 year old neice so is very gentle around smaller people.
I was just wondering if I register him through a emotional support dog as I suffer from bad anxiety and depression. If I register him through your company does it past Australia ln guidelines for 100% of having them registered through your system
Registrations and certifications on this website are based around US laws and regulations. You would need to consult your country’s regulations for ESA registration requirements.
I recently became the owner of a beagle who was cast out from his breeders for not being interested in hunting for sport as he is an exceptionally calm and clingy. They wanted him to be aggressive and to hunt and kill small animals but he didn’t want to hunt with his brother and sister so the breeders decided to get rid of him as he was useless to them. That’s when “Shmoo” came into my life and yes that is the new name I gave him as his breeders wanted to call him ‘Brutus’ which is just plain silly as he is like 14lbs soaking wet and about as scary as a teddy bear and he will attack you with kisses. He would also not respond to Brutus but if you muttered “shmoo” he came running….and also it is fun for my 2 year old niece to say.
As the weeks went on, I noticed that Shmoo was abnormally attached to me even though I live with a lot of family in a tenement house with young nieces and children that he could play with and my sister has a dog as well but he shows little to no interest with them and will stick by my side like glue, but he will also sit near other members of my family and is not completely anti-social with them, in fact he likes my dad a lot. I began taking Shmoo for walks at the park and the local reservations and we both love spending the day together out in the woods and it makes me happy to watch him taking in all the new scents and scenery and I would smile when he would stop what he was doing and look up to see where I was.
Recently however, while on my way to work, I have been getting this overwhelming sensation that Shmoo is in the car with me and I will even turn around to check the back seat because I am certain that he is there, but he isn’t. When I get home from work sometimes I get stuck there for 10-16-20hrs because of staffing issues and me being a supervisor am required to cover gaps in the shift if no staff are available. This leaves Shmoo afraid and confused as to why I am not taking him with me and I can tell because when I come home, he whimpers and sometimes barks at me because he can’t contain his excitement and he shivers and jitters till he calms down and this makes me sad that he misses me that much to have a full body meltdown because he loves me so much.
After 3 months with Shmoo I can say that the love is mutual and he is helping me deal with stress and depression better than the medical marijuana I am using to treat my stress/depression is. It dawned on me the other day when I went to the bank and he couldn’t come inside with me and although I was only inside for literally 5minutes, when I returned he had a mini meltdown and layed across my lap for the entire rest of the ride to the park (20+min) and didn’t even look out the window. I realized that I am helping Shmoo with his anxiety and rejection he is feeling from being mistreated by his former breeders as he is helping me overcome my issues.
I want to have him registered so that he can accompany me wherever I go and will have him trained if needed, but honestly he is so calm he doesn’t need any public safety training, as people at the parks we go to walk up and pet him all the time and he doesn’t mind the extra attention and has never shown aggression to anyone even when my nieces pull on his super oversized droopy ears.
Shmoo??? That’s the cutest name I’ve ever heard. Thank you
Hi I live in the UK I wish to register or some sort of paperwork as my dog is two & helps me & calms with as I have severe anxiety, depression & BPD how can I go about doing that please?
This site is based on US law and regulations. Unless you’re planning to live in the US, you would need to look for the applicable laws in your country to make further arrangements. Good luck!
Can I get a therapy letter from my vet? Would that be acceptable? I had a stroke 6 yrs ago and he was picked to comfort me. Please advise to or . thank in advance. This dog is a golden retriever
I assume you need an emotional support animal (an animal that comforts you in times of need), not a therapy dog (a dog that offers temporary comfort to others). To qualify for an ESA, you would need an official ESA letter issued by a therapist who is licensed in your state of residence. You may find this article on how to qualify for an emotional support animal interesting: https://www.servicedogcertifications.org/how-to-qualify-for-an-emotional-support-animal/
I have a lovely cocker spaniel who is calm and loveable and getting on in years. He would give a lot of comfort to people, I’m hoping to start taking him to a day centre for people that are needing therapy due to their condition. He would make an excellent therapy dog. Please can you tell me how do I register him as PAT or would I need to if he is used as a therapy dog
Thank you
Registering a therapy dog is completely optional and can only be done on our site after you and your animal have undergone the necessary training to provide therapeutic services to others.
Hi
I would like very much to Qualify my dog as an Emotional Support Dog as well as a Therapy Dog for others.
As of this year 24 th Jan 2021 my wife was involved in a horrific motor vehicle accident involving her motor vehicle and a semi trailer on the Dukes Highway Yumali .
So you could say my life has been pretty hectic to say the least and emotional my little Maltese Shihtzu has been a blessing and still is.
I would be lost without my dog named Bubu.
Cheers
Brenton
I totally understand. My dog, Widow, has been a major part of my life since l survived a fire that left me unable to talk or walk properly for months. I became very lazy and unable to go outside. She boots me out of bed in the mornings. This was after suffering EUPD and PTSD for the year before and I am still diagnosed with it now.
I would not be around if it wasn’t for my Widow. She is a pain in my butt at times but I get told off for not being more strict with her. She makes me smile and laugh
She would never hurt a soul but she can be a little bit naughty. (by chewing stuff)
How do I register for a service dog, I need my dog with me when I travel alone? I travel on public transport, ferries, airlines so need my dog with me. Also to enter grocery stores and pharmacy and Doctors Clinics and Hospital?
You do not need to register a service dog for travel. Please see this guide for more details on travelling with a service dog: https://www.servicedogcertifications.org/flying-with-a-service-dog-guide/
I’m new to this, could someone plz help. I have a little yorkie who has been trained as all of the above, wee took him to the care homes, since he was thirteen weeks and my grandaughter has so many divers needs. I also have him everywhere I go and iv just found out I need him registered to continue taking him where ever wee go. He’s now 4 and no one has ever said anything until now.
Is there a phone number, just so I can speak to someone. Wee realy need him with us and he needs to be registered to keeping us all sain in these worring times.
If your dog is a service dog, you do NOT need to register it. Registration is a completely optional step for service dogs. The same is also true for therapy dogs – there is no “official” registry for therapy dogs, but you can register your therapy dog with an organization if you would like to.
I would like to purchase a dog from the animal rescue league of Iowa as a therapy dog for emotional support. To help with depression mostly but also for Anxiety. I live in an apartment for disabled people and Senior citizens. How do I train it or what do I have to do to register my dog as an emotional therapy dog?
ESAs do not require any specialized training, but you will need an ESA letter from a licensed healthcare professional. Please see this link for more info: https://www.servicedogcertifications.org/how-to-get-an-emotional-support-dog-letter/
I am severely hearing impaired. My dog let’s me know when someone or something is there.
Does that qualify
Many service dogs work for owners who are hearing impaired. In order to qualify, your condition must be considered a disability, and your dog must be trained to perform a specific task or job relating to that disability.
Hi can someone help me with gaining a registration for service dog that I’m needing for my self I’ve recently got a puppy now training to help me with Emotional support mental health and physical health barriers cancer and PTSD and also this pup will be used for my grandchild with special needs child who has ADHD and anxiety and has been mentally and physically abused neglected as a toddler toxic drug affected environment he’s been in our full care full custody since 18 mths old now he’s 6yrs old the dogs help him to relax and help him with many of his anxiety issues too if someone can help me gain this information on what we need to do it would be very much appreciated sincerely Karyn
You do not need to register a service dog. Registrations are completely optional for service dog owners and never required as a prerequisite to owning a service dog. You may want to learn more about PSD letters if you own a psychiatric service dog: https://www.servicedogcertifications.org/psd-letter/
I have 2 dogs, they are brothers and have been together 7 years. I would like to get them registered as Emotional Support Dogs, My question – can I get them both registered for me, or can I only register one? Thank you,
You do not need to register an emotional support animal. Please see this link for information on how to qualify for an ESA: https://www.servicedogcertifications.org/how-to-get-an-emotional-support-dog-letter/
My mum suffers with Anxiety and severe depression. We got her a dog to help her get up in the mornings and out of the house. Most days this works. He is also a companion to her.
How do we go about getting my mums dog registered as a ‘therapy’ dog please.
If your mother’s dog is helping just her, it may be an emotional support animal. Therapy dogs are trained to assist others, usually in public settings like a hospital. Please see this link for more information: https://www.servicedogcertifications.org/how-to-get-an-emotional-support-dog-letter/
Hi there
Yesterday I took my little dog into a care home (with prior permission) to visit a friend of mine who is only 60 and has dementia. She loves dogs and has to relinquish her two as a result of her illness (although, thankfully, she doesn’t know this).
I, myself, am a disabled person (aged 45), an ex teacher and psychologist and therapist. My little dog assists me in so many ways. I would much prefer to talk more about this in a telephone conversation.
I have full DBS clearance from employment, but more recently as a church volunteer who visits the vulnerable and house bound.
When I visited yesterday, I was astonished and astounded by the impact that she had on everyone there.
I was so, very careful with her and she was so gentle with people that couldn’t even communicate. The residents and staff alike and upon leaving- the staff said I was welcome to come back with her any time. She brightened everyone’s day!
This little dogs name? Doris. She is a 3 year old chihuahua.
I am as surprised as anyone to even be thinking about registering little Doris as a therapy/emotional support dog but I suppose the proof was in the pudding!
God bless,
Charlotte P.
An ESA is very different from a therapy dog. ESAs provide comfort to their owners and require a letter from a licensed healthcare professional. Therapy dogs on the other hand assist other people often in group settings – they do not require a letter. We recommend reading these articles for more info:
https://www.servicedogcertifications.org/how-to-certify-a-therapy-dog/
https://www.servicedogcertifications.org/how-to-get-an-emotional-support-dog-letter/
I suffer from chronic anxiety, depression and agoraphobia. My dog is an emotional support to me when I enter buildings. She stops me from feeling anxious and is a support in getting me to and from the shops and appointments.
That’s wonderful to hear! We would clarify however that ESAs do not have public access rights in places like shops. Some shops may however allow them as a courtesy.
I have been having anxiety attacks for a couple of years now and extreme stress my dog is comforting to me in relaxing me so as to controlling my anxiety. I have felt less anxiety and stress since getting my dog. Would he be considered a emotional support dog?
We suggest speaking to a licensed healthcare professional to see if an emotional support animal is right for you. For more information on how to qualify for an ESA letter, please see this link: https://www.servicedogcertifications.org/how-to-get-an-emotional-support-dog-letter/
I adopted a Staffie 6yrs ago. I suffer with complex mental health needs and she is my constant companion. I attend a weekly therapy group where Catie is the unofficial therapy/mascot for the group. She enjoys her weekly therapy and the benefits that she brings to the group are huge. She calms patients down and also promotes conversations where normally someone wont talk. She loves the attention and is given the chance to be petted by all members of the group, even though some participants aren’t on keen on dogs they soon warm to her gentle nature, if they have treats for her as do she’s your best friend. I would love her to become a registered therapy dog.
Hi im need a esa certificate for my dog that I’ve had for 10 years she is my sleep dog my husband is a truck driver and isn’t home at night and she sleeps with me but we want to caravan and I need to take her with me and if its a public holiday there is no dogs allowed without a certificate this is cause ing me a lot of stress hoping you can help
To qualify for an emotional support animal, you will need to obtain an ESA letter. Please visit this link for more information: https://www.servicedogcertifications.org/how-to-get-an-emotional-support-dog-letter/
I have a corgi cross foxy girl name Lilly she will be 9 year old this year she helps me with my depression and anxiety because I suffer from disability. And I’m trying to get her to be come a therapy dog because she has helped me through a lot over the years
Hi, I was wondering if getting my dog registered as a service dog/emotional support dog would get her access on to flights
Unfortunately ESAs no longer have legal rights when it comes to flights. Service dogs however still can board the cabin. Neither ESAs nor service does require getting a registration. You might find this guide helpful: https://esadoctors.com/how-to-fly-with-a-dog-travel-guide/
Why is everyone asking about registration? Therapy dogs do not need to be registered. They do not even need a vest. Places can ask 2 questions. 1. Is the dog needed. 2. What does the dog do. Requiring proof of either answer is illegal under the ADA. The ADA also stipulates that there is NO requirement that a dog be trained by an outside organization. You can train your dog at home and it is illegal for anyone to require proof of training.
What are you saying is mostly correct, but only in relation to service dogs. Therapy dogs are not considered service dogs and do not have public access rights under the ADA. Therapy dogs are trained to assist others, often in group settings. They can for example provide an uplifting experience for seniors at a home. The handler does not however have ADA public access rights.