The first step to getting a PSD is talking to a licensed mental health professional or doctor. You’ll discuss the issues you’re having and if a PSD could help you. They may discuss a program option for you or medication. They’ll discuss if you’re fit to be a handler or if you could benefit from the assistance of an emotional support animal, therapy dogs or psychiatric service dogs. If they write an order saying you need a PSD, the process begins.
Once you have a doctor’s recommendation, it’s time to find a dog for you. It’s important to know as a handler that any dog can be a service dog. There are no breed restrictions, size or age requirements. Some breeds are more popular than others, but it’s not a law. It’s all about finding what works for you. If you have a condition that hinders your balance, look for larger dogs who could help support you.
Adopt a Service Dog in Colorado
Animal shelters and rescue organizations are a great place to find a canine companion who you can then train to become a psychiatric service dog. Below are some shelters in Colorado where you can potentially adopt a new best friend. Each has its own unique adoption program, where volunteers will be able to help you find the best fit for your canine and handler team.
- Animal Rescue of the Rockies Aurora, Colorado, US
- Colorado Animal Rescue Glenwood Springs, Colorado, US
- Humane Society Parks Peak Region Colorado Springs, Colorado, US
- Aurora Animal Shelter Aurora, Colorado, US
- Foothills Animal Shelter Golden, Colorado, US
- Riverside Animal Shelter Brighton, Colorado, US
What is a Psychiatric Service Dog?
A psychiatric service dog helps their handler with a mental disorder or disability navigate the world. They help with conditions such as PTSD, anxiety, depression, autism, etc. PTSD is not only experienced by veterans and depression can happen to anyone, these dogs are a great tool to help and are great to have on your team.
Common tasks these dogs are trained to handle include:
- Wake up their owner from night terrors
- Provide tactile stimulation and pressure therapy
- Help their owner navigate their home and life
- Facilitating social interactions and reducing fears of being around others
- Help their owner calm down when agitated
- Help their owner complete a task
- Grounding a person dealing with anxiety
- Help create a safe personal space if overwhelmed
- Get medication and water when the owner can’t
- Provide balance assistance
A dog and its handler work as a team to complete the task at hand. Service dogs make people with disabilities lives easier and help their well being both emotionally and physically. In the meantime, those interested in getting a psychiatric service dog can begin the process by seeing if they qualify for a PSD through our free screening here. Answer the questions to see if a PSD could help you in difficult times.
Service Dog Rights
Since service dogs require extensive training, they are recognized as a service animal by the ADA and have certain rights, such as all of the following:
- Public access rights: This means they have a right to accompany their handler in public locations, such as restaurants, malls and any establishment where animals are not normally allowed. This is vital as a handler may need their dog for a task while out and about.
- Travel rights: These rights ensure that service dogs can travel with their owners everywhere they go. This means they are allowed on all transportation services, including planes, trains, taxis, boats, buses, etc. In fact, these dogs have a right to sit in the cabin and the owner does not have to pay a fee for their service animal to fly with them. Most airlines and travel companies are aware of these rights, but it’s good to know them yourself.
- Fair housing: Under the Fair Housing Act, service dogs can live in housing that doesn’t normally allow pets at no additional fee. This applies even if the housing location has a no pets policy. If you’re in the search for a home or rental and they deny you on the basis of your service dog, that is discriminatory and should be brought up with local law enforcement.
- Educational Facility Access: Under the Individuals with Disabilities Act, service dogs can accompany their owner into schools, colleges, universities, etc. Whether a disability or impairment is physical or mental, if someone needs the support of a service animal to learn in classes, it must be allowed.
Conclusion
Are you interested in getting a psychiatric service dog?
Here at CertaPet, we can help. CertaPet is an online telehealth platform that improves access to mental health care in the U.S. with a focus on providing services to individuals who are seeking animal assisted interventions as part of their treatment plan.
We are currently coordinating with dog trainers who specialize in the service animal space and who will soon work in tandem with our network of licensed mental health professionals to make the process of getting and training a psychiatric service dog affordable, convenient, and hassle-free. We’ll have more information available soon about our Psychiatric Service Dog Training options. In the meantime, you can take our FREE pre-screening below to see if you qualify for a PSD!
FAQs
What is a service dog?
According to the ADA, service dogs are dogs that are individually trained to do work or perform tasks for people with disabilities.
How much does a service dog cost?
To adopt an already trained service dog costs around $30,000, while working with a trainer greatly varies in cost across the country, depending on the expertise of the trainer.
Can I train my own service dog?
Yes, but it is not recommended. Training is very intense and we recommend working with a professional trainer.
