[nagdu] Service dog helps control anxiety attacks

[Ginger Kutsch]

This service dog helps control anxiety attacks
By Steve Lathrop, Albany Democrat-Herald 
Posted: Monday, May 24, 2010 4:00 pm | 
 
Desiree Carlson holds her 2-year-old son Neo near her emotional
support dog Bramma Love. (Mark Ylen/Democrat-Herald) .
..When Bramma Love detects the signals, she doesn't hesitate to
go into action. And that's what Desiree "Dezi" Carlson counts on.
 
Bramma Love, a 5-year-old American Staffordshire terrier, alerts
Carlson to oncoming anxiety and panic attacks, which she has had
since she was 10.
 
"She's more to me than a service dog. I don't know what I'd do
without her," said Carlson, 23. "I totally love her."
 
Carlson, a single mother who lives in Albany with her 2-year-old
son and trains dogs part time, trained Bramma herself after
realizing the dog reacted to the approaching attacks.
 
"She knew what was coming," Carlson said. "She instinctively knew
how to calm me and when it was done."
 
It took several years to fully train Bramma and get her service
tags. Carlson has trained dogs and been around animals most of
her life. She didn't know much about Bramma's breed except that
it didn't have a good reputation.
 
"It was a challenge I wanted to take and I found out that the
breed is really considered very human-oriented and affectionate,"
she said, noting that her son, Neo, and Bramma are best of
friends.
 
Claustrophobia, particularly in stores, contributes to the
attacks, which may last five minutes or half an hour. Carlson
says Bramma reflects attention.
 
"I get anxious in stores and try to get in and out as quickly as
I can. She keeps me focused on doing that," Carlson said. "She
interacts well with people and other dogs and puts the pressure
on her and not me."
 
The attacks can be severe. Labored breathing, shaking and even
the possibility of blacking out are symptoms. Bramma controls the
situation by isolating Carlson, which lets her know she needs to
relax.
 
She said that Bramma's temperament helped in the training
process. Carlson made socializing a priority.
 
"That wasn't hard because she interacts so well with everyone,"
said Carlson.
 
Bramma wears tags indicating her designation as a service dog
because the typical halters irritate her chest. Carlson also
carries an ID tag for Bramma in her purse.
 
Most stores, including Safeway and Fred Meyer, have accepted
Bramma once they know she's a service animal, Carlson said.
Shanna Chess, assistant manager at Safeway, said she did not know
of any complaints and added that any animal with tags or a vest
identifying it as a service animal is welcome.
 
"I can't take her into restaurants and movie theaters and I
understand that," Carlson said. "But she's with me everywhere
else. She's the diary I don't carry. She knows all my secrets."
 
Source:
http://www.democratherald.com/news/local/article_f57030c4-6770-11
df-9d86-001cc4c03286.html