> Like what if a veteran struggling with PTSD has a therapy dog to help keep them emotionally regulated?
Is that actually a real thing? As in: I'm sure some people struggling with PTSD greatly benefit from their pets, but do they really need them at their sides 24/7 for "emotional support" and can't do some shopping without one?
One example I’ve heard of (not endorsing the veracity, just something I’ve heard) is dogs being trained to recognize panic attacks and respond by lifting itself up and rest its forelegs on its owners shoulders and its chest on its owners chest, basically giving them a hug (which is adorable, tragedy aside).
So yes, in that context they’d be there 24/7, or near enough, but obviously that’s a different story from someone’s yorkie yapping at the DMV or whatever.
I don't have any special domain knowledge in this space, but I know that's an advertised use case for emotional support animals.[0]
I don't know if the client needs the service animal around 24/7, but if you have severe PTSD and could experience severe symptoms unexpectedly while shopping, it seems reasonable to bring along the support animal.
That's kind of what I mean: reading that page, it just sounds like normal pet ownership, with many of the benefits that many pet owners get. That's a great thing to encourage and research, but it's not clear to me why there needs to be a special "emotional support animal" classification or the like.
Is that actually a real thing? As in: I'm sure some people struggling with PTSD greatly benefit from their pets, but do they really need them at their sides 24/7 for "emotional support" and can't do some shopping without one?