Service Dog Chihuahua?

originally posted by: windword
a reply to: Anyafaj

Maybe you can email your health care provider that link, write the letter for them to sign and tell them "There, I've done my "due diligence"!

I can try, but knowing my quack, she'd probably ask me what do you want me to do with that? LOL She's good for some psych stuff, but she looks like a hippie from the 60's and sometimes acts like one.

a reply to: [post=19264141]eeyipes[/post Thank-you for your reply! I feel a little attacked.... WHat I guess I'm not explaining well enough is my everyday stress is at a all time high. They anxiety I experience is reduced by medication, but medication it self is not a cure all. The dog does help.....

a reply to: Anyafaj
If all else fails you can pay 110 dollars to talk to a professional on the phone and they will write you the letter.

originally posted by: zbeliever
a reply to: Anyafaj
If all else fails you can pay 110 dollars to talk to a professional on the phone and they will write you the letter.

I wouldn't have that kind of money if I prayed for it. I'm on disability. I'm lucky if I have $20 left to my name at the end of the month while trying to support a special needs child and myself. She gets her own SSI in her group home, but they only give her $25/week and immediately take her out shopping as soon as they pay her, and with a 12 year old mentality, she spends all of it on candy and soda. They'd yet to set her up with a State ID, and savings account, nothing! I'm trying to get her transferred to a group home near me so I CAN get her set up with that stuff. There's no way that with her getting close to $750/month, she only has a $100 left over????? And they haven't taught her any life skills? I have to use what little savings I have left to spend it on her??? Plus her father doesn't help her at all, so I'm going to set myself up for stress next month.

Apparently in the state of PA is the child is special needs and lives in a group home, they are eligible for child support for life. So I'm going to file in court next month for the amount of his VA disability, which was a whopping $125/month. I think that's fair, and for her to put about half in a savings account and ask the court for a guardian ad litem run the account, and give her the money, and not the group home. That way she needs shampoo and other items, she doesn't need to come to mom, she can use her money to buy it and feel independent, or buy what she wishes, such as McDonald's.

I apologize. I real do understand. I am a single mother that has 2 daughters, we live with my parents (they are both ill) We split the bills in half. due to still having a large mortgage. When they became ill and could no longer work they would have lost the home if I had not come to help. Plus my mom would have had to go into a nursing home.....I guess I want to add this about my post: Yes, I want to carry around my dog in my purse. I also take care of two elderly ill parents, I'm a single mother and I work fulltime. I think I have enough cause to have high anxiety (as do you) and if the dog helps with that anxiety we should be able to have our service dog status. a reply to: Anyafaj

originally posted by: zbeliever
I apologize. I real do understand. I am a single mother that has 2 daughters, we live with my parents (they are both ill) We split the bills in half. due to still having a large mortgage. When they became ill and could no longer work they would have lost the home if I had not come to help. Plus my mom would have had to go into a nursing home.....I guess I want to add this about my post: Yes, I want to carry around my dog in my purse. I also take care of two elderly ill parents, I'm a single mother and I work fulltime. I think I have enough cause to have high anxiety (as do you) and if the dog helps with that anxiety we should be able to have our service dog status. a reply to: Anyafaj

My anxiety comes at night. I was raped at the age of 7 by my next door neighbor who was my babysitter. This went on for about 8 months or so, I'm fuzzy on dates. My brain has caused me to forget a lot of stuff du to disassociation. During the court battle, he would stalk me by standing outside my window while I tried to sleep. This went on for about a year. I would tell my father he was outside my window again, he would run inside his house before my dad could see him, then as soon as my dad came inside, he was outside my window again. I hate sleeping. I despise it. I have severe OCD before I go to bed at night. I have to check all the locks on the doors and windows, check behind the doors to ensure no one is there, then repeat the process 5 more times to make sure I didn't miss a door or a lock. Then I have to grab my cell phone, and a large kitchen knife to hold under my pillow, turn all the lights in the house on, as well as any TV and lay in bed wide awake until the sun comes up then try and fall asleep. That is, until I got my dog.



I can't wake up screaming from a bad dream, no matter how much I want to. She was 2 months old and the first time, I woke up crying and whimpering, and she was sleeping by my head. She began licking my face and calming me immediately. Anytime I began to panic whenever there was a noise outside my place, she began barking to scare it off. She made me feel so safe, I no longer slept with a knife under my pillow, or even the light on. Sure a nightlight so I could see in the dark if needed, but definitely a MASSIVE improvement for how I used to be. I could even put the phone on the table next to me, instead of in a death grip in my head. I would even fall asleep for a few hours. Now I can sleep for a few hours a night, phone on the table next to me, she sleeps in the bed with me and I feel completely safe for the first time in 37 years. I've never felt safe before. Ever. I got her last March, and in a year's time, I have made strides and it all has her name on it. That's one of the reasons I want to get her registered, even as an emotional support pet, if necessary.

I wish you all the luck, your puppy is beautiful. You definitely qualify for a service dog in my eyes.......I tried to see if I can be of some service....You see I am a Registered Nurse and there are limited things I can prescribe. But unfortunately I could not find that kind of RX under my ability.... good luck I am sure you'll be able to get a letter from someone at the clinic were you go. If I was you, I would just ask the secretary in a very nice way how to obtain is letter. If she states from your councilor, tell her your issue and that you asked for one from them, and have not received it yet. Then say," is there anyone at the clinic that deals with this kinda RX that you could talk to." This will stir it up some and either the councilors supervisor will have your councilor prescribe or the supervisor will....trust me....I understand the politics of the clinics. hope I am of some help.
reply to: Anyafaj

originally posted by: zbeliever
I wish you all the luck, your puppy is beautiful. You definitely qualify for a service dog in my eyes.......I tried to see if I can be of some service....You see I am a Registered Nurse and there are limited things I can prescribe. But unfortunately I could not find that kind of RX under my ability.... good luck I am sure you'll be able to get a letter from someone at the clinic were you go. If I was you, I would just ask the secretary in a very nice way how to obtain is letter. If she states from your councilor, tell her your issue and that you asked for one from them, and have not received it yet. Then say," is there anyone at the clinic that deals with this kinda RX that you could talk to." This will stir it up some and either the councilors supervisor will have your councilor prescribe or the supervisor will....trust me....I understand the politics of the clinics. hope I am of some help.
reply to: Anyafaj

I appreciate that. I'll give that a try. I know my therapist can't as she is only a therapist and not a registered doctor. She believes only a doctor can do this and was as surprised as I was that the doctor put this on me. She's never had a patient ask before so she didn't know the protocol for it. She thought this was something the doctor did. Boy were we both shocked. I moved from their area but drive the 45 minutes back and forth because she's a damn good therapist and it's hard to find, and keep, the good ones, but I may switch psychiatrists though. Especially if this continues.

a reply to: zbeliever

I think the big problem is that you aren't differentiating between a service animal and a therapy animal. A therapy dog provides emotional support.

A service animal is extensively trained. Many who under go training won't make the cut.

Regarding anxiety,

A service animal would be trained to pick up on cues of anxiety before you did and alert to to the fact you were tense so that you could use the necessary tools relax before it turned into an anxiety attack. They are trained to help keep you calm.

A therapy animal is not trained but due to the bond provides emotional support than can be calming for anxiety.


I have been on the receiving end of someone claiming their dog was a service dog, but in reality was only a therapy dog. The dog felt the need to bark and act aggressively towards me. Most likely as result of my own anxiety that is a near constant state for me.
A service dog is well trained and won't misbehave or bark at random people.
The manager of the store said he couldn't as the man and his dog to leave because the man claimed it was a service dog. The dog was between me and the entrancement and I was trapped. Several employees were between me and the dog until the time the owner left. It was later confirmed that the dog was not a service animal.

This is why the distinction is so important. People expect that if you are claiming the animal to be a service animal that it will be perfectly well trained.

a reply to: calstorm


I'll admit my dog is a emotional support therapy dog, and not a service dog. I would like to get her trained eventually to be a service dog, I just don't have the funds for it. Maybe there's a group that helps with that. I don't know honestly. That and right now she's still too skittish when it comes to being pet. Some people she will let pet her, but some, she acts as if they are coming to kill her. So for now, I will go with ES, rather than SD. I can tell when she's ok with being petted and when she's not. I know, for example, she's terrified of elevators, unless she knows you. So don't even think about approaching her. One resident here yesterday kept pushing the issue no matter how much I told her she WILL bite you in the elevator if you try and pet her. I think the woman was mentally ill, because what does she do? Bends down, and forces her hand near my dogs face and my dog wound herself around my legs, began to growl (something she hardly ever does) and tried to bite the woman. I had to get between them to protect the woman, and prevent a possible eviction over a dog bite, even though it's not my dog's fault.

I'm already dealing with bullying in this building over my dog and her retractable leash, of all stupid things. People are accusing me of tripping people, which has never happened, claiming I've wrapped my dog around their legs, again never happened, I've knocked down babies, (give me a break!). I go outside, her leash is next to my body, as is she. She gets on the grass, I allow her to run, as long as no one is around. If someone is around, she is given just enough lead to go to the bathroom, or we go for a walk where she can run. Once we get home, she is back against my body. The apartment manager has seen this, but a number of tenants here are playing the "ostracizing" game. Anytime they see me, all conversation must stop, if I sit on picnic table number one and they are on number two, they must immediately get up from number two, collect their things and go to the benches by the lobby. If I sit on the benches by the lobby to talk to a friend there, they must announce loudly, "She needs to make up her damn mind where the hell she's going to be sitting at!" It elementary school crap, really. And all because they have nothing better to do with their lives. (Mind you a good amount of them are old biddies, male and female) It's still a headache though.

originally posted by: Anyafaj

originally posted by: windword
a reply to: Anyafaj

Maybe you can email your health care provider that link, write the letter for them to sign and tell them "There, I've done my "due diligence"!

I can try, but knowing my quack, she'd probably ask me what do you want me to do with that? LOL She's good for some psych stuff, but she looks like a hippie from the 60's and sometimes acts like one.

Tell your psychiatrist that all you are asking is the she be the professional she pretends to be.

You are being given the "run around" by your shrink...that is quite unprofessional...tell her to stop.

And, IF she doesn't; compose an email to the various professional associations...you know like the AMA, and what ever else a psychiatrist is involved with...I'm sure Google will be of great help there. Bottom line; a psychiatrist is supposed to be a professional...make sure yours IS.

originally posted by: tanka418

originally posted by: Anyafaj

originally posted by: windword
a reply to: Anyafaj

Maybe you can email your health care provider that link, write the letter for them to sign and tell them "There, I've done my "due diligence"!

I can try, but knowing my quack, she'd probably ask me what do you want me to do with that? LOL She's good for some psych stuff, but she looks like a hippie from the 60's and sometimes acts like one.

Tell your psychiatrist that all you are asking is the she be the professional she pretends to be.

You are being given the "run around" by your shrink...that is quite unprofessional...tell her to stop.

And, IF she doesn't; compose an email to the various professional associations...you know like the AMA, and what ever else a psychiatrist is involved with...I'm sure Google will be of great help there. Bottom line; a psychiatrist is supposed to be a professional...make sure yours IS.

Thank you Tanka! I appreciate that! I may have to go that route. I seriously HATE confrontation and I had a LOT of it in life. Between growing up and in my marriage, and I do anything to avoid it, but if necessary, I will do what needs to be done.