Month: October 2019

Everyone who has ever owned a dog is aware of the benefits that their little four-legged therapists provide. From providing an outlet to go outside and get some exercise in, to being there for comfort during an emotional breakdown, dogs can do so many things for their owners.

For people with emotional and mental health illnesses, having an emotional support dog can basically save their life. The dog will be able to provide emotional support and comfort to their human that not many other people, or animals, could. Although all dogs can provide emotional comfort for their humans, emotional support dogs/animals (also called ESA’s) must be prescribed a license by a mental health professional to a person with a disabling mental illness. A therapist, psychologist, or psychiatrist must state that this person’s life would be better driven and would provide better mental health for their patient.

Emotional support dogs must be trained and licensed, though they do not have as many accommodations as service dogs do. Though they are similar in the sense that they must be personalized to their human, and be able to assist their specific needs, though service dogs are much more personalized and specified.

Circumstances in which one might receive an emotional support license for their dog consist of:

• Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD)
• Autism
• Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
• General Anxiety Disorder
• Gender Identity
• Bipolar
• Depression
• Severe Anxiety

Emotional support dogs are able to have access to almost all housing types, regardless of pet policies, and are able to fly with their owner, all without additional fee which is protected by the Fair Housing Act as well as the Air Carrier Access Act. The emotional support dog must be under the owner’s control at all times and well-behaved, they must not be prone to acting out and getting crazy in certain situations. The dog must also never cause harm to anyone in the surrounding area or cause a disturbance to those around them.

One is not required to register their dog because of the American’s with Disabilities Act (ADA), which does not require you to register your emotional support dog. Although, people may prefer to register their dog since it helps with dealing with airline employees or landlords.

This is Yogi.

(Trigger Warning: Mentioning of suicide.)

Yogi was rescued by a 30-year old army veteran named Ryan. Military veterans are one of the most common victims of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, or PTSD. It is no secret why this occurs, as military veterans experience things that everyday people could never dream of. Depression, anxiety, flashbacks and suicidal thoughts are very prominent issues when it comes to someone suffering from PTSD, so this can be a very serious mental illness.

Ryan met 6-year old Yogi, who he rescued from a local animal shelter, and because of Ryan’s mental illness and Yogi’s even, calm demeanor, Ryan thought that training Yogi to be an emotional support dog would be incredibly beneficial, which proves itself to be very true. Ryan would commonly have flashbacks and panic attacks while in public, and Yogi would happily assist Ryan in bringing him to a private spot in order to calm down and regroup.

Ryan speaks about one day when his depression and suicidal thoughts got the best of him, and he found a knife in his home in order to try and kill himself. Seeing these actions, and sensing the panic on Ryan, Yogi quickly bit Ryan, drawing blood, but forcing him to drop the knife because of the pain. Though biting is never expected or tolerated in an emotional support dog, this was an extreme case and was incredibly important in making sure that Ryan did not make a fatal decision.

It is important to note that the obvious bond between Ryan and Yogi was crucial in this act of heroism, and usually an emotional support dog is not as specialized as Yogi appears to be. When considering a support animal, it is important to see a mental health specialist and discuss the means necessary in making a support animal part of your everyday routine, and which support animal would most benefit you.

“The world would be a nicer place if everyone had the ability to love as unconditionally as a dog.” – M.K. Clinton

Something I believe that almost everyone can agree on; Dogs can provide the best therapy.

Whether it’s just the way that they are able to be happy, no matter the circumstance, or how they seem to know exactly when you need comfort through snuggling, licks on the hand, or even just being in the same vicinity as their person. For me, at least, being around a dog can help, because they are the best listeners, and are always down for some nice head pats, and a movie night inside.

Though I like to believe that all dogs provide a good amount of therapy, there are true therapy dogs, whose training is important, with a job of equal or more value. Therapy dogs provide psychology or physiological therapy to certain individuals who need their assistance. Unlike other service dogs while on duty, people are encouraged to pet therapy dogs and interact with them first hand as that is their true job.

Therapy dogs can be trained by just about any common person, but they must meet a certain amount of requirements in order to be officially licensed as a therapy dog. At a minimum, according to CanineProfessionals.com, the therapy dog in training must be able to:

• Walk on a loose leash
• Down
• Sit
• Come
• Leave It
• Walking past another dog
• Gently taking a treat or object

These dogs must create a personal relationship with everyone that they encounter in order to achieve their goal to calm the person that they’re around or assisting. These dogs should be comfortable with handling of their nails and paws, prolonged hugs, lots of attention, grabbing of their ears and tails, hugs, and crowds. Therapy dogs should be able to provide assistance to anyone that crosses their path, which is why a lot of therapists have these types of dogs with them while working with people.

Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia is notorious for having the best (and cutest) therapy dogs in their Gerald B. Shreiber Pet Therapy Program, containing around 53 dogs within the program. Tarot, who is an 18-month-old Rhodesian Ridgeback, is one of these 53 dogs within the program who goes to see children at the hospital. Tarot is a therapy dog, trained to the highest extent, so that he is able to go around the hospital and be there for the kids in the hospital, as well as their family, loved ones, and even the nurses and doctors.

Tarot gets to the hospital around 9 in the morning, and after a few meetings in the morning, they begin walking around the hospital to have their meet and greet. They begin their long walk in the inpatient unit of the hospital, and visit kids battling pediatric cancer and other terminal illnesses, often bringing smiles to kids’ faces for “what feels like the first time in a long time”. Their saying is that, “the dogs are here for everyone,” meaning they aren’t just there for the kids, but they’re there for their families, friends, and everyone. With permission, Tarot is allowed to get on the hospital beds as long as permission is given and the children are allowed to play and get lots of kisses.

Tarot and his caretaker then go to the Intensive Care Unit of the hospital, and visit the children that are undergoing treatment, or not having a great go of it. Tarot is there for not only the kids, but for the parents and siblings there for the sick children. A very close friend of mine was visited by Tarot at CHOP, when her sister was being treated at CHOP, and when she unfortunately passed away, Tarot was there to comfort everyone hurting and in pain. Tarot also visits the parents who have a baby in the ICU/Newborn unit who are being treated, and offer comfort in the difficult time.

Tarot is described as a sweet, responsive dog who was always there to make people smile and offer lots of cuddles and kisses. Tarot is a very extensively trained therapy dog, and exhibits only one important job that can be done by these wonderfully trained dogs.