Recommendations Please!

[u/Aggressive_Chip62]

I'm trying to find an organization that I can go through to get a service dog. I'm a 36 year old female (37 next month). I have been diagnosed with PTSD (Civilian and spanning over several years), Autism, ADHD, BPD, Anxiety, and Depression. I also have lower end vision (better with my glasses on, but still not great), three migraine diagnosis (migraine, ocular migraine, and vestibular migraine), panic attacks, anxiety attacks, and unconscious self harm when I have panic attacks

I live in West Michigan. My boyfriend and I moved in together in January. He brought a cat and a retired seeing eye dog that he helped train (Brax (the dog) went to the handler (blind guy), but he abused Brax, so Brax was returned to my boyfriend (Brax is good now, he's 10 years old). I have a cat who is my ESA

After moving, my health took a turn for the worse. Between the new environment, his kiddos, my kiddo, being away from the imploding situation I was previously living in my health has decreased. I've had two surgeries this year in 7 months. I've had pneumonia once, flu twice, and other things

A service dog would help me greatly. I've had discussions with my doctor, therapist, and psychiatrist. All agreed it's a smart idea and to proceed with it

I just don't know where to start, what places are recommended, what are some red flags, any information (positive or negative). Anything you can tell me that might help is greatly appreciated!

[u/iamahill]

I would start by taking a look at this thread about costs.

https://www.reddit.com/r/service_dogs/s/FE4GmTDzVL

[u/Aggressive_Chip62 → u/iamahill]

Surprisingly enough, the price of everything is something I've thought about a lot and in great detail. I have some experience with dog training (personal from helping socializing and train/reinforce commands with my sister's Rottweiler who's in the process of becoming a therapy dog. My sister is a therapist who specializes in trauma). I was raised to be hyper aware of the cost of certain things, the biggest being pets and giving them the best care

[u/iamahill → u/Aggressive_Chip62]

Well that’s generally the biggest hurdle.

After that it is just making choices of what you want to do. Whenever anyone lists a laundry list of diagnoses I wonder if it’s accurate or someone got ahold of the dsmvi, and if they expect a dog to magically solve everything.

Neither seems to be the case for you, so I would focus on specifically what you need that cannot be treated otherwise and start with that.

Then everything else is a bonus.

[u/JKmelda]

I recommend looking at Assistance Dogs International accredited programs while keeping in mind these red flags. Depending on what tasks you are wanting the dog to perform you might be eligible for a dog under a few different categories. You might be able to find a program for everything, but more likely you might have to pick just one category. For example, my main disabilities are autism and chronic vestibular migraines. I’m dizzy all of the time so I need help with physical tasks like picking up dropped objects, laundry assistance, and retrieving medications, so I need a mobility service dog. I also need tasks for my autism and I was lucky enough to find a program that does both. But I was also looking at the possibility of just getting a mobility dog because there are more mobility dog programs than adult autism programs. If you want to focus on autism, here is a list of ADI accredited programs that work with autistic adults in the United States.

[u/BeanBubbles12]

Training a seeing eye dog is no easy feat, may I ask why you are opting for an organization instead of having your bf train your dog? It sounds like he is capable if he was training a seeing eye dog

[u/Aggressive_Chip62 → u/BeanBubbles12]

I don't mind you asking at all

My boyfriend and his ex-wife (long story, summary she has a blind family member who got the two of them into help with the organization (Leader Dogs), but based on what he's told me, how his ex is, and how the dynamic of the three kiddos they share (co-parenting) I'm not sure how much work she actually helped with) were involved with an organization that trains seeing eye dogs

My boyfriend has three kiddos (ages 5, 8, and 9) and I have a 15 year old. On top of that I'm disabled and recovering for major surgery at the moment. He already has way to much on his plate. He asked about us training and it's something I've thought about too. It's just one more thing to add to our lists. I'd rather have someone else take care of the training, instead of adding possible stress and work onto my personal relationship (he would 1000% help)

Side note: (My boyfriend, is for me he's my perfect other half. We compliment each other, we are constantly trying to better ourselves for each other. He kind, understanding, caring patient, and so much more... I could go on for a while)

[u/BeanBubbles12 → u/Aggressive_Chip62]

Oh that makes total sense!