Bridget

I must preface since I have asked questions about PSDs before: I'm NOT looking for a dog right now. I do NOT have a dog which I'm looking to train. I do have an ESA who is not task trained, and at her age will never be. I have no intention of passing her as a service dog or taking her anywhere illegal. This is for curiosity's sake, or is learning illegal now? Didn't think so, please be nice.

The tasks that I have in mind have to do with depression and anxiety symptoms. These symptoms could come from any disorder from bipolar to dysthyma, from generalized anxiety disorder to PTSD, and keep in mind that there is a range in severity, so I would appreciate it if you would not diminish what people who have chronic depressive and anxiety related disorders go through daily.

1. Rousing a handler in the morning and in the case of an emergency. For clarification, alarm clocks work well for most, so a service dog would not be needed for them. But this I think is important if the handler is going through a severe depressive episode, or if the handler is taking tranquilizers for anxiety.

2. Deep pressure and grounding.

3. Light guide work in dissociative episodes.

4. Interrupting self-harming behaviors.

Now for the bonus questions: How many tasks exactly are required for a dog to be a service dog in the eyes of the law?

I can see it being positive in that children would be exposed to different cultures and areas early on in life. I feel that this is an important positive.

At the same time, I can see several negatives, one being the lack of structure and permanency being somewhat detrimental. It can be hard for some children to make and keep friends (as was the case with me when I was young), and so that is something that I would worry about. Another negative could be if the parent's job required lots of travel away from the home, particularly early in the child's life, it would be harder to maintain a close bond.

So, in general, good or bad? Pros and cons?

I may have the chance to do just that after a few years. I have a friend who breeds Arabian horses, and he has offered to let me come out and work with the babies during the summer and eventually buy one of my own.

I understand the risks of raising your own baby, and the amount of work needed, but if I can, I will. I don't mind that I won't be able to ride for a few years, nor do I mind the amount of work (this is all assuming that I will have the time and money to put into the baby). To me, there is so much more to the way of life that is horsemanship than just riding. And, I want to be a part of that way of life. I've always been fascinated by how things grow and learn, and as long as I have help, I plan to be a part of it.

First, let's say that the potential foster or adoptive parent got into some trouble as a teen/young adult, as many do. Drug use, misdemeanor charges, etc. Would that count against them?

Second, let's say that the person is a current smoker of cigarettes (tobacco, not marijuana) and/or drinker of alcohol. How important is this? What if they're trying to quit? What if they had quit for a few years?

Third, let's say that the person is on prescription medications, i.e. heart medication, antidepressants, insulin for diabetes, etc. Would this be a problem? How about if they were hospitalized recently? Hospitalized in the past?

I know that this is long, but thanks for your answers!

There are many people who have valid need for an ESA. But, here especially, I've found that a lot of people are against ESAs.

Even when I was researching ESAs and even getting a psychiatric service dog, I never ran into so much negativity as I have here.

What brought this on was my own ESA. Let me be clear: I do not take her into no-pet places. However, I'm moving into college housing. The college has a policy that allows SDs and ESAs (if you jump through the right hoops and prove that you are indeed disabled and in need of your animal of course). I do have a psychological disability, bipolar and panic disorder. It affects my daily life, and my dog along with medication and therapy all keep me stable.

I don't have a service dog, I have an ESA. Yes, I am disabled, yes, I know that she is not allowed in any buildings on campus outside of my residence, and yes, I have the college on board to having her with me. I simply worry about other people.

What I want to know is, how often do you deal with negativity and access challenges from other people? What is the correct way to deal with them?

I want to do it right, no backyard breeding.

I can't find any by looking at the Norwegian Fjord Horse Registry. Is it the climate? Do they not do well in the south?

I like both breeds A LOT, and I'm having trouble weighing which breed would be best for me. I just want a pleasure horse, one to work with, care for, and ride in the arena or on trails. What are the pros and cons of both breeds?

Also, would you breed a mare if she wasn't shown, but she came from good lines and had a good temperament and conformation? I would like to breed once and keep the foal (if I can scrape up enough money that is, which is doubtful), but I don't think I will end up showing.

I want to foster and adopt. I have a genuine wish to help children in the foster system. That is the biggest reason why I would like to adopt, no two ways about it.

But, I won't pretend that there aren't some selfish reasons involved. I want a family of my own. I don't want to go through pregnancy (I'm not vain about my body, but pregnancy and childbirth freaks me out).

Before anyone starts asking why I think I have a right to another's child, I don't. However, if they give up their own rights willingly or through abuse and neglect, I would like to take up the responsibility.

I have an ESA, and the university's housing services is asking when she was spayed. I know she is definitely spayed, but I have no idea when, because I was given her by an acquaintance who adopted her from her city's animal shelter who spayed her before they adopted her out. I doubt that they have her records (this was probably about 8 years ago mind you), but is there even the slightest chance that they do?