[nagdu] Service dog helps control anxiety attacks

[Nicole B. Torcolini]

Good article.  Two things that seem wrong, though:
1. Although the dog does not wear any kind of other identification, the tags 
should not be necessary.
2. Shouldn't the dog be allowed everywhere?  Are the laws about self-trained 
service dogs different from those about self-trained guide dogs?

Nicole

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Ginger Kutsch" <gingerKutsch at yahoo.com>
To: "'NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog Users'" 
<nagdu at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Tuesday, May 25, 2010 6:35 PM
Subject: [nagdu] Service dog helps control anxiety attacks


> 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
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