This year my dog Eli started the journey of becoming my Medical Alert and Response and PTSD service dog. This journey started as the pandemic triggered PTSD from my past medical trauma, this has made regular life much more challenging than it was pre-pandemic. Animals have always been my rock in my life and Eli and I have already have such a strong bond and connection through his obedience and agility training it only made sense to have him take the next step in his training to further help me overcome the struggles this has brought to my life. Having Eli by my side (and my horse Mia) is what has gotten me through this hard time and has been helping me more than anything else! During this time I’ve had a lot of people think he is a ‘therapy dog’ or ‘emotional support’ and not understand the difference or think it is strictly an excuse to bring my dog places with me, which it is not. I wanted to take the time to clarify the difference what makes Eli my service dog and why he gets to come with me places.

To start:

Therapy Dog - are used at places such as nursing homes, hospital and provide therapeutic benefits, they do not have public access rights and provide therapeutic benefits to those that are not the handler.
Emotional support - a pet that provides emotional support, do not have public access rights but may be allowed in housing in places where animals usually aren’t allowed.
Service dog - has access rights anywhere the handler goes and is individually trained to provide a service task for a disability for the handler. The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) describes an “individual with a disability as a person who has a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities, has a record of the impairment, or is regarded as having such an impairment.” A Service Dog in Training (SDiT) has the same access rights as a service dog but is currently in training to provide the service tasks. To get a service dog you can go through a specific program if you are unable to train yourself or you can train your own (owner trained) if your dog can meet the requirements of obedience training, public access requirements and the tasks they need to perform to assist you.

Eli officially became my Service Dog not just because he provides emotional support but also because he has a job to do when his vest is on, and this is what separates him from the other titles and why he has public access to go with me.

Here is what Eli has been trained and is in training to do:

Develop positive routines, remind me to take breaks and pain management and recognize fatigue.
Recognize when a flashback or dissociation is triggered and cue me.
Grounding me by standing, laying or sitting on my toes. This helps me stay present and not get hypervigilant or dissociate.
He is trained to apply pressure and or ‘spoon’ (cuddle) with me to provide support during this time.

Please recognize the difference between therapy animals, emotional support, and service dogs and use the titles appropriately. Animals are wonderful support for people in all walks in life and all sorts of challenges, having a service dog can help one gain independence and freedom by helping with physical limitations, balance, medical alert and support, retrieving medication, finding or retrieving objects, help in a crisis and so much more!

Having Eli’s support is what has allowed me to get back to my life again from when the pandemic caused my trauma to resurface! Please support service dogs when you see them out working (or training) and spread awareness. For more information about service dogs please look on a reputable site from the ADA; also beware of scammer sites as a lot of certifications do not make a difference in a service dog legitimacy and credibility.

And thank you to Pawsitivity for your support and guidance in helping me train little Eli!

Thank you!

Eli preforming in agility show prior to being trained as a service dog.