[ellisonjfhan]

I have suffered from PTSD most of my life. Although, I might be laughing right now while thinking all those experiences. But, things were similar to hell during the time I was first diagnosed with PTSD.

Although, things are going a bit okay. But, I am afraid I might lose onto many things because of my condition. Some days back, a friend of mine suggested going for an emotional support dog. But, I am confused. Should I go for one? Or depend on medications for managing my condition.

Can anyone help?

 

[LeoRose]

Get a dog because YOU want one, not because someone else thinks you should. One thing to consider if you do decide to get a dog is whether you want one that is trained (or will be trained) as a PTSD service dog, or simply a pet? I know you said emotional support dog, but people frequently get the various "classes" of services dogs, ESAs, and therapy dogs mixed up.

For psychological conditions, finding the right medication, or combination of medications, can be a life changer, with or without a dog.

 

[laurelsmom]

Medications are very popular right now, although talk therapy and electroshock were common in the 20th century.

https://www.independent.co.uk/news/health/antidepressant-prescriptions-nhs-cost-medicine-england-therapy-a8844731.html

Altering a person or dog's brain chemistry can have unintended consequences. Here are examples:

https://beyondmeds.com/2012/01/30/compliance/

https://www.madinamerica.com/2019/05/stop-shocking-torturing-women/

https://www.madinamerica.com/2019/04/benefits-mental-illness/

https://beyondmeds.com/2012/12/04/psychiatric-drug-withdrawal

You are on a dog forum. I support the use of anxiety meds for dogs because the alternatives were euthanasia or cruel and inhumane "training" methods, such as misusing choke collars and/or crates.

I think you should get an ESA letter for your dog if you have a mental health diagnosis and are receiving any form of treatment whatsoever. Things can change. You could lose your home. You might have to rent someday and you will need the letter. Very few landlords allow pet dogs these days and it's hard to rehome a dog well on short notice.

If you don't have a dog and are thinking about buying one, that's a whole other story. I think it's great that you're doing your research now. I wish I'd found the forums before Laurel found me sometimes. This seems like very knowledgeable group of people with an appropriately diverse range of opinions that are much more carefully considered than what I have personally seen on Facebook or the other social media apps that are popular these days.

Welcome here.

Here are some other ideas that do not involve dogs OR drugs, but they might be helpful to you anyway:

https://www.news.iastate.edu/news/2019/03/27/happiness

https://theicarusproject.net/

 

[ellisonjfhan]

Thanks for helping guys. I am planning to get an emotional support dog registration. However, my concern is there are many fake websites nowadays. Can anyone suggest me where can I get one?

 

[LeoRose]

There is no "registration" for ESA (or service dogs, for that matter), no matter what all the websites that are entirely too willing to take your money say. What you will need is a letter from your doctor, stating that you need an ESA. An ESA, unlike a service dog, does not have public access, but is allowed in housing that would otherwise not allow pets. This gives a good overview of the differences https://www.caninejournal.com/service-dog-vs-therapy-dog-vs-emotional-support-dogs/

 

[Jen2010]

For anyone thinking of getting a dog, regardless of the reason, there are things that need to be considered:

- Do you even like dogs? There are other ESAs that are not dogs. Cats are much lower maintenance for example.
- What is your living situation and is it stable? If you're renting you may not be allowed a pet, or there might be a size restriction. If you have to move, it's much harder to find a place to rent when you have a dog.
- Do you have time for a dog? Dogs take a bit of work (exercise, grooming, training, etc.) If not exercised enough dogs can become destructive, bark more, etc.
- Can you afford a dog? Cost of dog, training, start-up supplies, food, toys, vet bills, etc.
- Do you have the patience for a dog? Dogs do require it - especially puppies.

Once you've decided to get a dog there are a few additional things to consider:

- size
- grooming requirements
- exercise level
- puppy or adult
- purebred or rescue

Getting a dog is a 10-15 year commitment and should not be taken lightly. They are depending on you to care for them and to always be there for them as much as they are for you. The initial stages after getting a dog can be stressful, but if you're committed then having one can be very rewarding as well

 

[laurelsmom]

I also should add that getting a puppy is a lot more like having a baby than going through the process of being matched with a Service Dog. Puppies WILL take a lot of time, energy, money, and add a lot of stress to your life before they actually become dogs. They're cute for about three months but they're a lot of work for closer to three years.

An ESA is essentially a pet that your doctor prescribed for you. A Service Dog is a professionally trained canine that WILL develop affection for you and IS a living, breathing creature but is able to function as a $60,000+ high tech adaptative device to allow a disabled person to lead the life they want and pursue their own dreams of choice without being limited by unfortunate circumstances.

There is no way a pet parent like myself can "train my own Service Dog". However, when I am honest and polite I most certainly am allowed to carry Laurel on my shoulders past the "no dogs and bicycles beyond this point" point because she cannot possibly cause any ecological damage. I am also allowed to bring her to church and open mike night because of her size and because I am willing to train her not to disrupt these events.

There's not a darned thing wrong with me healthwise, of course, so if I am asked to leave I do so politely. My pet is not an ESA and she most certainly is not a Service Dog.

 

[ellisonjfhan]

Thanks a lot for sharing your responses. I am a dog lover. But, I think as Jen2010 mentioned cats being less maintenance might help me better. Because I am a little lazy when it comes to physical activities. Thanks for that. However, the question still lies where can I get an ESA letter. Do you know any website that provides one? Please let it me know.

 

[LeoRose]

You get the letter from your personal doctor, not from a website. This article in the Chicago Tribune has some good information, including a link about how to obtain a valid letter. https://www.chicagotribune.com/paid-posts/?prx_t=yWQEAAAAAAJV8QA&prx_ro=s&utm_content=Gooogle4;Search;ECDCT;ESALetter1CT;+esa +letter;110&utm_source=Gooogle4&gclid=CjwKCAjw8e7mBRBsEiwAPVxxiMT6ZKl9XrTPCg_RsZHxFbGAwJQ8woBjNEBNIN1pJxYNcjVk0PGPqBoC0qEQAvD_BwE

 

[laurelsmom]

Do be aware that cats live just as long as dogs. Cats need to be kept indoors these days. Litterbox maintenance is more involved and less pleasant than pee pads for an indoor dog. You absolutely will have to either change it or scoop it on your cat's schedule (my cat needed me to change the litter twice a week) regardless of whether you have to spend your food money on litter or whether it was supposed to be your roommate's turn.

My landlord no longer rents to new tenants with pets because of an $8,000 repair bill. They had been responsible tenants and responsible cat owners for many years, but one roommate didn't change the litterbox when it was his turn and the other roommate didn't think that was fair and the situation escalated.

There is a "Catster" just like "Dogster" and I'm sure there are cat forums as well. You can ask for recommendations here: https://www.dogforums.com/other-pets/

Bunnies can also make good pets if they are socialized properly, but you'd have to talk to your doctor or knowledgeable bunny people. I have no idea whether they can be ESAs.

 

[ellisonjfhan]

Thank you for Suggestion i already have a dog. So also looking for a esa letter for it. .my sister suggested a website. will try and get the letter tomorrow hopefully all goes well.

 

[parus]

Thank you for Suggestion i already have a dog. So also looking for a esa letter for it. .my sister suggested a website. will try and get the letter tomorrow hopefully all goes well.

The letter is supposed to be a "prescription" from your own doctor. If it's being provided by a website, it's pretty much a scam - either a scam on you, or on your landlords/etc. If your landlord discovers that your letter is from some fakey internet service, you could face eviction.

 

[LeoRose]

Thank you for Suggestion i already have a dog. So also looking for a esa letter for it. .my sister suggested a website. will try and get the letter tomorrow hopefully all goes well.

Like parus said, the letter needs to come from your personal doctor. As in, one you have an actual relationship with, NOT some random stranger on a website who only exchanges a handful of words with you via text or email, and who may or may not be licensed to practice in your state.

 

[[email protected]]

No, not all websites are like those. Actually i got one and i am a patient to anxiety. Have been for about three years now. Yes i wouldnt say all are fake or real. But i got one that was legit. The doctor also seemed very professional. I dont think they give the letter to everyone. There license or something may get debarred or something i guess. Or that should be the case. I got the letter about a month back and it is legit i got it checked. So yeah that is the thing.

 

[parus]

Who did you "get it checked" by?

 

[[email protected]]

I got the license number checked. It is legit. I am flying next week with delta so got it checked from them. I dont know you might have had a bad experience with an online website. I actually before getting the letter researched about the best website to get the letter and only applied then. I understand where you are coming from. The web space is filled with these bogus sites. But yeah i guess i was lucky in that sense.

 

[parus]

I got the license number checked. It is legit. I am flying next week with delta so got it checked from them. I dont know you might have had a bad experience with an online website. I actually before getting the letter researched about the best website to get the letter and only applied then. I understand where you are coming from. The web space is filled with these bogus sites. But yeah i guess i was lucky in that sense.

Sure, you must have had a great experience with this particular website, if you're the same Donnie Lusk who's registering for a bunch of sites to shill for it.

 

[dalans]

I got the license number checked. It is legit. I am flying next week with delta so got it checked from them. I dont know you might have had a bad experience with an online website. I actually before getting the letter researched about the best website to get the letter and only applied then. I understand where you are coming from. The web space is filled with these bogus sites. But yeah i guess i was lucky in that sense.

Sure, you must have had a great experience with this particular website, if you're the same Donnie Lusk who's registering for a bunch of sites to shill for it.

Agree. This is not that much different from a prescription. If you want a prescription for medication you go and actually see a doctor. Same idea here. What you do NOT do is visit a forum like this one, and go find some mail-order doctor that will write you a 'prescription'. Even if it does work at the pharmacy, it's not very good healthcare and it is not very good governance of your own well-being.

If anyone out there is indeed suffering from anxiety and is considering a therapy dog, find a healthcare professional that knows his or her stuff. Go for some counseling, or at least an assessment, and if a therapy animal is indicated, you can discuss that with them.

I hope the moderator removes all references to websites for therapy to treat anxiety. This is a really irresponsible predation on a vulnerable population.

 

[[email protected]]

Hello parus. I dont know which world you come from. I dont need to explain myself to anyone. Not to you or anyone. I came here to help someone. If you dont want to take my suggestion then dont. I am not forcing you to. So stop pointing fingers at anyone. I understand you might have your reasons so good luck with them.