Need an emotional support dog

[Katlove10]

Hello!

my husband is a firefighter. I am in nursing school. I get anxiety when he is gone (he is gone quite a bit ) and I can't sleep. It's really wearing me down.

L.s.s. I'm getting a dog but would like to make it an emotional support dog. If course, this dog would not actually go to work with me or to school with me . It would go lots of other places though.

Question:::

when applying for a job, can anyone look up medical info and discriminate against me for having an emotional support dog ?

If I didn't tell the hospital I applied at, would there be any way for them to find out prior to hiring me ?

[BuckyBadgerRN, ASN, RN]

This is sarcasm, right?

Just lie about the whole "therapy" thing. Buy a $20 vest on-line, put it on your dog, act indignant when someone in the grocery store asks about your "service dog" and park in the handicap space. You're good to go.

[Mavrick, BSN, RN]

This is sarcasm, right?

Dang, we really do need a sarcasm font.

My wife is a professional dog trainer and she gets requests all the time to "certify" a pet dog so the individual can take it into grocery stores etc. The people are so proud of the fake service vest they purchased on-line and think they're getting away with something.

It really does a disservice to the real service dogs that help those with real disabilities.

Sorry BuckyBadgerRN, have I tarnished my Oracle of Honesty medallion?

[BuckyBadgerRN, ASN, RN]

Lol, nope!!

[Julius Seizure]

I have anxiety, depression & epilepsy. If she has not gone through the proper channels to get the help she needs first, why does she really need the support animal?

If after she sees a therapist, is put on medication & a psychiatrist still believes she needs one, that is different.

I agree! The first step is seeing a doctor or therapist and they can help figure out what would help and then facilitate getting that treatment, whether it be a support animal, meds, therapy, or all of the above :)

Edit to add: After reading further into the thread, it seems like what OP is looking for is a pet, not a support animal. Hopefully OP recognizes that just not wanting to leave the dog at home without a yard isn't a valid reason to certify them as a support animal.

[Crystal-Wings, LVN]

Don't take this wrong way, but I don't think it sounds very realistic to take a dog with you to work every day in a clinical environment like a hospital (unless it was an animal hospital of course). All that stuff about infection control you know? It sounds like a neat idea though! I can't tell you how many times I've dreamed of taking one of my cats to work! I almost did when I was a senior home aide because I had a client that was crazy about cats (she was such a wonderful woman! Probably my favorite client). Good luck! I hope you get things figured out. :)

[Mavrick, BSN, RN]

[h=2]Certification and Vests[/h] The two questions most often asked of the Service Dog Central community are:

1. Where do I get a service dog vest?

2. How do I get my dog certified as a service dog?

Sadly, we are aware that the vast majority of people asking these two questions are actually wanting to find a way to pass their personal pet off as a service dog so they can take it on a plane, keep it in "no pets" housing, or avoid pet fees from hotels or landlords.

From the Servicedogcentral website.

[friggasdistaff]

My son follows me when I go to the bathroom. Haha!

So does my cat!

[Mavrick, BSN, RN]

So does my cat!

In my house you never walk alone. I have two Cocker Spaniels.

[ComeTogether, LPN]

Just in case you aren't a cat person, you should know that if you find the right match they are nothing like most people think.

My girl kitty is so attached to me that she cries when I leave. She comes and gives me rubs and loves and sleeps in the crook of my knees.

My boy cat has his own language (after 16 years I've learned it) and will make little mow sounds when hes hungry. When I get up he walks in front of me and turn around every few seconds to make sure I am following him to his food bowl. He hops up when I'm on the couch and just lays near me and purrs away. Gives head butts when hes really happy and just genuinely loves me.

At the same time, they each do their own thing if I"m too occupied to snuggle with them.

They're fantastic companions and can be left alone for days at a time with lots of food and water left out for them. There are also SO many that get put to sleep every day because they don't get adopted.

Just thought I'd share in case you consider it.

[mariebailey, MSN, RN]

I take my emotional support monkey with me to work EVERY single shift. He actually passes all the meds on my behalf!

[Crystal-Wings, LVN]

Glycerine82,

Your story is really cute! It made me smile. I have a cat that always sleeps next to me every night when I'm at home, and is always in my room when I'm there. When I'm in bed and I lift the covers, a lot of times she will go under them and sleep right next to me! She has this squeaky little mew she always makes when she wants attention. It's so cute! There are 3 other cats at my parents home and I love them all, but Lily is my baby :)

[rnsheri]

Where exactly are you going to work with a service... any animal? I think you should try other avenues, like medication and therapy. With a pet, where in the hospital could you have a part- or full-time job as a nurse with a dog, service or no? And on the job, you'll probably be going 90 to nothing, and so will everyone else. You won't be able to provide the dog with the kind of environment he needs and everyone will trip over him and possibly hurt him. The dog cannot go around immunocompromised patient, which knocks Med/Surg, ICU, ED, and pediatrics out. If you plan on going somewhere else, I don't know the rules. The dog can't wash his hands, and isn't that half of nursing school right there (joking). Dogs could inadvertently carry fleas, and since the dog can't wear a mask, gloves, and a gown, I'd say all contact/airborn/droplet precautions are out.

Now, I have a psychologist who has a service dog. But she doesn't have direct contact with sick patients, and owns her own practice. I don't mean to discourage you. I can tell you that the BON doesn't discriminate for psychological issues, but most employers won't allow a dog. Go either to a therapist, psychiatrist, or physician and get a better idea of your options. There are medications for all of those things, and prescribed meds (anti-seizure, anti-anxiety, antidepressants) are fine, under a doctor's care. It's highly advised to get professional counseling first, and concurrently with medication. I take medications for depression, anxiety, and Lamictal, which is used for both seizures and mood swings. You CAN do it! (Just maybe not with a dog.)