Having a Service Animal and What It Means to Me

Journal of Psychiatry Reform vol. 11 #11, October 9, 2024

                                                   Author  Mike Christmas

In a lonely world suffering from severe PTSD, which is just one of my diagnoses, I
depend solely on my service animal to get me through my day. Sometimes I have
good days and sometimes bad. When I have my triggers, my friend Ethel knows
exactly how to detect those triggers. She paws at me, wanting my attention. This
distraction allows me to remember I carry medication that can help calm me
down. She has saved me from many bad thoughts that would allow me to leave
the world we live in. She’s a friend, a comfort, and I wish people would recognize
that service animals are a big deal in people’s lives that suffer so greatly with
mental health. I know for a fact that I would not be here today if it wasn’t for my
dear friend, my service animal Ethel.

There was a period in my life when I had to completely distance myself from my
family for several years. I couldn’t even take their calls because my thoughts
were so deep and painful that I couldn’t structure my own life or handle even the
smallest tasks. Everything was extremely difficult. However, things have changed
now. I have reunited with my family, and it’s all thanks to a service animal.
As I navigate the world now, I go into stores, restaurants, walk down the street,
and even use public transportation such as trains, buses, planes and ferries with
her beside me. We have done it all. Just as you would be able to do it all, what’s
simple to you is not at all simple to me. I have run into many situations where I’m
not welcome because I have a service animal. Those are barriers that we need to
break down and teach people the importance of having a service animal, that
they’re not pets, but in fact, they are for medical purposes.

I ask that those of you in the psychiatric community that might be having
difficulty accepting that service animals might not serve a purpose for your
patient please do some research, take the time because it is a conversation you
will encounter as a physician with some of your patients. Know the rights that
your patient has by having a service animal to assist them in their daily life and
think about the fact that you could possibly be saving your patient’s life by
allowing them to have a service animal.

When I first saw my psychiatrist, we had the conversation about having
a service animal. He was a bit apprehensive about writing me the letter that
was required by the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA) but he did,
and I was thankful. Over the years of being his patient, he was able to see
what a difference Ethel made in my life. As I went to his office with her in my arms
or walking beside me, he was amazed to see how she reacted to different situations
with me when I got upset.

As of 2024, at the golden age of 14, she is retiring and is just going to be a dog.

I have another dog that’s 2 years old that is stepping into her shoes. He is well mannered
and I’m training him to watch for triggers and he’s doing well. His name is Buster.

So, my life will continue to function outside the four walls of my home.

In closing, I remind you again if you ever run into the situation where you have a
patient that asks if it’s possible to have a service animal, give it some deep
thought because you could be saving a life!

Mike Christmas
Feel free to reach out to me at any time if you have any questions:
[email protected]