Episode #14: Debra Sloss is joined by Rita & dog trainer Lori Katz to discuss the important roles that specially trained Psychiatric Service Dogs perform. These dogs help their owners with conditions like Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), depression, and severe anxiety. Trained in obedience and task performance, and working in distracting public environments, these dogs help mitigate their handler’s psychiatric disability. These animals not only provide emotional support, but execute tasks that enable their handler to function in ordinary ways that the non-disabled person might take for granted. Rita shares her experiences of having had a psychiatric service dog and of training dogs for herself and her son. Lori, a longtime dog trainer, helps us understand how these dogs are trained, the kinds of services they can provide, and where and how someone might go about training or obtaining a psychiatric service dog. Lori also clarifies the differences between the increasingly popular “emotional support animal” and a psychiatric service dog. Also joining us for the interview are Rita’s service dog in training, Momo, and Lori’s dog, Chopa.
Broadcast: 1/5/20
Special thanks to my co-producer Lauren Fein, our audio editor Jeanne Baldzikowski, and Jennifer Young, who assists with research and outreach. And finally, thanks to acoustic guitarist Adrian Legg for composing, performing, and donating the use of our theme music.
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RESOURCES
Dog Training
Atlas Assistance Dogs
Organization offers customized service dog training and support to dog trainers and to individuals who qualify to have a certified assistance dog under the Americans with Disabilities Act.
www.AtlasDog.org
Little Angels Service Dogs
Provides psychiatric (and autism assistance, seizure response, and hearing alert) service dogs to children and adults. They require that you and a support person attend a two-week personalized training in the San Diego area when your dog has completed their program
http://www.littleangelsservicedogs.org/
Kindred Spirit: Dog Training with Heart
Lori Katz, owner/trainer
www.DogTrainNow.com
Lorikatz@aol.com
(831)685-DOGS(3647)
Information
Examples of Service Dog Tasks including some Psychiatric Service Dog Tasks:
https://www.anythingpawsable.com/100-examples-service-dog-tasks/
Public Access Test
This public access test details Psychiatric Service Dog Partners’ minimum public access behaviors for responsible service dog handling.
https://www.psychdogpartners.org/resources/public-access/public-access-test
Other
To Be of Service – A Netflix film that follows some veterans with PTSD and their journeys with their Psychiatric Service Dogs.
https://www.tobeofservicefilm.com/
Pick of the Litter – A film that follows five spirited puppies from the moment they’re born through their quest to become guide dogs for the blind. Learn more about the scope of training that goes into a service dog.
pick of the litter film trailer
Chart of descriptors of Service Dog, Therapy Animal, and Emotional Support Animal
https://static.wixstatic.com/media/d35c6d_4bae84239d044313a2eb593d55fc7d96~mv2.png
Family Service Agency (FSA) of the Central Coast is a dedicated underwriter of State of Mind. FSA provides resources, support, and counseling services to adults and children. FSA believes in the power and potential of people of all ages and backgrounds to discover their own creative solutions and welcomes people of diverse cultures, genders, sexual orientations, ages, faiths, socio-economic backgrounds. FSA Counseling Offices offer Medi-Cal, Medicare, and low-cost, sliding scale services in both downtown Santa Cruz 831-423-9444 x200 and in Soquel 831-346-6767 x200.
