Mental Heaalth service dog?
I live I Ohio and am seriously looking for a Mental Health service Dog does anyone know where I can begin to look for one several answers would be nice I need links so I can look thank you I am 100% serious about this, not a thearphy dog that's different I have no physical inguries
Update:bottom line is this your wrong top contributer it even states in your own copy and paseing tha everyone with a disiability(mental health included) is intitled to a service there is no law banning people with mental disabilitys from getting a dog im done with you
Comments
In the U.S. to have and use a service dog, the person must meet the legal definition of "disabled" as set forth by the U.S. Department of Justice contained in the Americans with Disabilities Act Amendments Act.
No legal determination of disability = no service dog.
Simply having a "disorder" does not mean one is disabled. Having a medical problem or condition does not mean one is disabled. Having depression does not mean one is disabled. Having severe anxiety and agoraphobia does not mean one is disabled. "Lack of social skills" does not qualify as a disability. Because one has had anxiety and panic attacks does not mean they are disabled. Being "impaired" is not the same as being disabled. Having a doctor give one a "diagnosis" is not the same as being disabled. Being too lazy to properly monitor ones blood glucose and insulin levels or choosing not to take prescribed medication properly is not a disability.
The person MUST meet the ADA legal definition of disabled. A simple "doctor’s note" or a mere diagnosis of a condition is not legal proof of a disability. Neither is being a recipient of SSI, SSDI or the use of any other definition. The only definition of "disabled" which matters for service dog use is the USDOJ definition.
Then the dog must be individually trained in work or tasks which directly mitigate the effects of the qualifying disability (the dog must do something that the person is unable to do for themselves because of their disability).The simple presence of the animal is not a legal task or work under the law.
Because one is more comfortable with the dog around is not a legal task or work under the law. "Feeling better" because the dog is there does not qualify as a task or work under the law. "Helping me stay calm in the stores and other places" is not a legal task or work under the law. "Because he gets me out of the house" is not a legal task or work under the law. "I don't panic as much when the dog is with me" is not a legal task or work under the law. "She also seems to act weird before I begin to feel bad or have any episodes" is not a trained work or task under the law. "When I am near him and when I can hug him I feel almost whole" is not a legal task or work under the law. The dog must actually be trained to do something you cannot do for yourself, which is related to your qualifying disability. The dog must also be trained to behave properly when in the public venue, and be under the handlers control at all times. The work or task MUST be related to the qualifying disability.
The first thing you must do is to be certain you meet the ADA legal definition of disabled. Begin there.
talk to your psychiatrist or mental health provider about this.
having a mental health disability does not mean you will be eligible for a dog. No, having a disability does not just simply "entitle" you to a dog.
the dog has to be trained to perform some task or duty to mitigate your disability. Someone with severe PTSD may be eligible for one. But someone with something like say, schitzophrenia may not have much use for a service dog. What can a dog be trained to do that would assist your disability? Just because you "feel better" having a dog around will not cut it.
The treating physician that determined a highly trained service dog would be necessary for your disability should be able to refer you to an appropriate organization. Most mentally ill individuals don't benefit from a service dog and won't be given one. You see, service dogs have to be able to perform an actual task that directly assists you with things you can't do yourself because of your disability. Providing companionship, comfort, and emotional support is not a qualifying task under the law. In addition, your disability has to be of such a nature that being confronted by people regarding your need for a service dog will not worsen it. Those with anxiety or social phobias can be so stressed by the constant questioning, some of it hostile, that their conditions are worsened by the presence of a dog. People with invisible disabilities and a service dog will be confronted daily about it.
Add: Everything I said is the truth, whether you like it or not.
http://servicedogcentral.org/content/node/76
http://servicedogcentral.org/content/PSD
http://www.iaadp.org/iaadp-ada-training-requiremen...
Add: Where does it say that every person with a psychiatric disability is entitled to a service dog? Nowhere. And where did I say that people with psychiatric disabilities are banned from having them? Nowhere. I simply said that most people with psychiatric disabilities do not qualify for a service dog. In order to have one, the nature of your disability must be such that the dog can perform tasks to aid you with your disability beyond providing emotional support, which doesn't qualify as a task under the law, which is very clear on that point. Most disabled people (physical or psychiatric) don't qualify for a service dog, because often the nature of the disability is such that no task the dog could be trained to do would aid then with things they can't do themselves. Simply having a disability DOES NOT entitle you to a service animal.