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The Service and Therapy Dog forum is for all service and therapy dogs regardless of whether or not their status is legally defined by federal or state law, how they are trained, or whether or not they are "certified." Posts questioning or disputing a person's need for a service or therapy dog, the validity of a person's service or therapy dog, or the dog's ability to do the work of a service or therapy dog are not permitted in this forum. Please keep discussions fun, friendly, and helpful at all times.
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Torie
If you can roll- in the dirt, do- it! |
 | | Barked: Fri Jul 3, '09 5:22pm PST | |  | |  | | Hi,
I have been reading about this and apparently there is a difference. A PSD knows how to do tasks and is able to go into public buildings, and ESD does not have public assess does not do tasks (except things any dog could do). But has to be allowed in housing and can travel with you. The later sounds more like what I should work on. I have Aspergers.
Does anyone know how you get an ESD certified, or even if you do? What the laws are about this?
I have heard varying things on this.
--des |  |  | |  |
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Mordecai-SD
www.humboldtserv- icedogs.com
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 | | Barked: Fri Jul 3, '09 5:44pm PST | | | | | | An ESA does not need any certification and neither does a SD. All you need for an ESA is a letter from therapist/case worker/doc saying that having the animal will be good for your mental health. It may require a diganosis, I'm not sure. For air travel with your ESA, you need a very specific kind of letter from your therapist/doc and must give the airlines 48 hours notice that you will be flying with an ESA. This letter does not require a diagnosis. But it has very specific guidelines that I'm sure I can dig up. It is very helpful to give your ESA some training as nobody likes a dog that barks or has accidents on the plane. And like a SD, you can be charged for damages in the plane or in housing. | | | | |
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Harley, SD,- CGC, TDI
Super Service- Boy!!
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| | Barked: Fri Jul 3, '09 7:24pm PST | | | | | | It is my understanding that to have a ESA, you have to have a psychiatric disability. I am not sure if autism would qualify or not. I am sure that Sabrina/Ollie will be around soon. I know they could tell us.
As for certifying, neither ESAs or SDs are required to have any kind of certification. | | | | |
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Otto - Registered- Service Dog
ADI cert. - the only one- that matters!
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| | Barked: Fri Jul 3, '09 7:56pm PST | | | | | | While ESA offer emotional support, your disability doesn't have to be of a psychiatric nature to have one.
People with physical disabilities can - and do - have ESAs. Not everyone wants to work with a SD, but everyone with a disability is legally entitled to enjoy the emotional support an ESA gives. | | | | |
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Spike
Don't Berate,- Educate! |
| | Barked: Fri Jul 3, '09 9:41pm PST | | | | | | There are also some exceptions to having to have a disability to have an ESA. For example, a child who is shy can qualify, as well as the elderly who just don't get out that much anymore. There are many people who can decide if you need an ESA, besides just your doctor or therapist. I recently found out even your pastor/priest can "prescribe" one for you. I think the definition for "qualified professional" is something along the lines of any professional who has a knowledge and understanding of your disability/situation can legally say you need one.
As for the letters need, it depends on what you are trying to get an exemption for. As someone else noted, you need a very specific one for air travel, which does include your doc/therapist's license number as well as a statement about your disability. Legally, you don't have to dislocse your condition, but the ACAA regulations make it difficult not to reveal that it is at least a metnal disorder.
For housing, you need to contact your housing authority (landlord, etc.) for what specifically they require. They are supposed to just accept a letter, but most of them require a form to be filled out. For these, you don't have to even state if it is a mental disorder or not, but what type of professional you use would probably give it away (ie, therapists don't see you for physical problems). However, you most certainly do not have to tell them what your diagnosis is. Because of this, you *technically* don't have to have a firm diagnosis but rather a list of symptoms that your ESA would help you with -- depression, anxiety, etc.
This is all covered by the federal Fair Housing Act (for housing) and ACAA (for public travel, including airlines), but some states have additional laws giving you more protection. Remeber, whatever laws give you the most complete protection are the ones you should go by. | | | | |
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Bianca
What big ears- you have...
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Harley, SD,- CGC, TDI
Super Service- Boy!!
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| | Barked: Fri Jul 3, '09 10:23pm PST | | | | | | BiAnca,
Service Dogs, whether they be PSDs, Medical Alert Dogs, Autism Asst Dogs, etc..., are not generally certified. Most programs certify their dogs but all that means is that the program is saying that the dog met the requirements of their program. Most owner trained dogs (and they are very common in the SD world) are not certified. Certification in and of itself means nothing because it's not required and anyone can make their own certification or buy one from any number of websites without any proof of anything. Just in case someone else is reading....that doesn't make the dog a legal service dog.
As to how people get PSDs, I think it's a little different with person as it is with most kinds of service dogs. Some people's physicians suggest it, some people's pet dogs start alerting naturally (for example: to panic attacks before they occur) and then they train the dog for public access and generally additional tasks, some people may stumble upon the idea on the internet through sites like dogster. There are programs that train PSDs and then a lot of people train their own dog.
On the ESA issue...the only reason why I said I thought you had to have a psychiatric disorder was because when I googled it looking for an answer, every site said they were for people with psychological disabilities. But since I don't know know much about the realm of ESAs and PSDs, I also referred to those more experienced with them. | | | | |
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