Service Dogs for Invisible and Visible Illnesses

My dog Dixie

When most people think of service dogs they think of guide dogs that assist the blind.  Oh, I know service dogs can help with more than the blind but I didn't have a complete picture. Now my own dog, Dixie, she helps me out as a informal service dog; she is not certified therefore I can't use her help in public. Dixie has had not any formal training; however, she helps me with getting up from a chair, helps me up and down the steps, and she monitors me when I'm really ill (she knows to pester others in the house if I need help). She has helped me get off the floor a time or two (Yes, I hear you, very funny, "She's fallen and she can't get up). It wasn't until I met my daughter's friend, Elise, that I began to more fully understand just what service dogs can do. 

Elise is the Disability Advocate and Volunteer Trainer at Phoenix Assistance Dogs (PAD). She also has a seizure alert dog. Elise began to open my eyes as to what all service dogs can do. By legal definition, a service dog is one specially trained to lessen the effect(s) of a disability. This includes — but is not limited to — disabilities such as: visual, hearing, mobility, seizure, and "invisible" disabilities that are debilitating, but not necessarily obvious to the public. 


Although guide dogs have been use since the mid 16th century, in the 20 years service dogs have expanded their roles. Beside guide dog work, they can help with balance issues, mobility and wheelchairs assistance, hearing, seizure, and migraine alert, they can calm those dealing with anxiety disorders, and assist those with dissociative disorders to become grounded. 


There are close to  180 organizations that train service dogs for those who are disabled. Some are non-profit and do not charge for their dogs but others are for profit. The bad news is that the waiting lists for the non-profit dogs tend to be long. It often takes 2 - 5 years for your name to come up. Dogs that you get through these programs are thoroughly trained and screened. These programs offer follow and continue to help re-certify the dog on a yearly basis (this is an option not a requirement).


It is sad to say that not all dogs make it through the service dog program. Some dogs just aren't service dog material for one reason or other. There are trainers that can assist you to train your own dog; however, you run the risk of choosing a dog that may wash out. And then what will you do. If you want a service dog, you will need to carefully consider the pros and cons of self training program vs a program trained dog.

I know that I don't want to risk getting attached to a dog and then have to give it back. So I don't believe the owner training program is for me; physically I can't handle it either. I am involved in a program where I can choose either the owner training program or I can have them raise the puppy for me. I know for this particular program the waiting list is about 18 - 24 months for a program trained puppy. Right now I am fairly certain I'll have them raise the dog, but I'll keep my options open.

Elise and her service dog Burke

Promoting Understanding of Chronic Illnesses

Source

There are millions of visible and invisible illnesses out there. There are even ones that medical science hasn't even named and which they are totally baffled by. I should know it took years for them to diagnose me. 

My symptoms reared their ugly heads when I was a teen and then went into remission. Periodically they would pop up and then go away. In October of 2006, they came to stay. However, I wasn't until 2012 that I was finally diagnosed with Mixed Connective Tissue Disorder. Mixed Connective Tissue  Disorder has overlapping features of Lupus, Rheumatoid Arthritis, Sjögren's, Polymyositis, and/or Scleroderma. 

Over the years, I've been told that I have been faking my disease by some people. I've also been told it is all in my head (yup, that's where Chronic Migraine's resided). I have been told by a dear friend, "I don't think you want to be well". Still others have told me that I don't have enough faith. Still others want to lay hands on me to be "HEALED". And when I wasn't, it was because my faith wasn't strong enough. Doctors have argued in my presence as to which of a variety of diseases I have and then because I was an RN have them say, ""which one of these do you think you it is" I must seriously consider never going to that ER again)? 

Yet at at some point or other for whatever reason, somehow someway the person with disease (me) is found defective, guilty, and/or lacking in some way because the medication/treatment isn't working and according to the assumptions of friends and family members you should be well. These statements, although said with the best of intentions and are made in order to motivate us to health, are hurtful. Until now I hadn't found a good way to explain chronic exhausting long term pain to them.  That was until I came upon a video which explains Lupus and other chronic illnesses through the story of Spoon Theory. I hope it touches your heart and the hearts of your loved ones as it did mine. 

Character picture and video are provided by Christine Miserandino. The video is available in this format on youtube and a slightly differnent format on the website butyoudontlooksick.com