Can I?

Question

Ok soo..... I am really depressed and HAVE HORRIBLE ANXIETY! I need to know if I can have a service dog to help me! Cuz dogs help me sooooooooo much!

Answer

Yes, you can, but in order to be a true service dog it must have trained tasks or work it does for you. Examples are reminding you to take medication, warning you of an impending panic attack, etc. They must be very well behaved and always in your complete control. There is no official registration for service dogs, but having a doctors note supporting your need for the dog can be helpful. A service dog is legally protected to go anywhere the public is allowed to go, including food establishments, housing, and airplanes. 
A different option is an emotional support animal. The difference is that an ESA does not have to be trained to do specific tasks, they can simply comfort you. They CANNOT go everywhere with you, but are protected in housing and air travel. Please don’t get an ESA and take them to restaurants and such - they give real service dogs a bad name since they do not have to be as impeccably trained. You can get your doctor to write you a note for an ESA as well. They also are not limited to dogs - my cat is my ESA. 
If you want a true service dog, you either have to spend A LOT of money to buy a dog fully trained, or you have to raise a dog yourself and have a trainer help you train specific tasks to qualify them as a service dog. An ESA can be any dog, cat, etc. 
I have done tons of research into all this as I wanted a service dog for myself to help mitigate my panic attacks and migraines, but I found it was too expensive to buy one and I am not equipped to raise and train a puppy at this point in my life. If you have more questions I’m happy to chat about it.

Can I?

Let’s Glow

Glow is here for you on your path to pregnancy

25+ million

4.8 stars

20+

Getting Pregnant

Pregnancy

1st Year (Baby & You)

Baby Products