MS service animal?

[Lyssi458]

Does anyone currently or previously owned a service animal ?

[Kenu]

I have not had a service dog 🐕 but several emotional 🐶. Here in Boise Idaho I always see a service dog every time I go out👍. There are a lot of Goldendoodle and labordoodles as service dogs here. A couple of the ones I have talked to say they have a group of 150 service doodles here. I do see some labs and golden retriever but not any German shepherds? Cool dogs 👍🙏😊😉. Ken 🐾🐾

[falalalala]

He's not certified as a service animal but I have trained my dog to wait for me to go down stairs first as I don't want to get mowed down.lol! He will also stand by me to help me up after floor exercises.

Another time I fell and he laid right next to me until my husband came home to help me up. He is very smart and there is so much more I can teach him.

I am working on having him pick up things for me (and not take off with them -Lol!)

[Lyssi458]

That’s awesome. I want to look further into it with my wobbly self, I’m getting a walker at my house soon but I figured with my anxiety and depression along with the MS a support animal would make more sense I just haven’t heard many stories about them

[falalalala in reply to Lyssi458]

I think any kind of pet is a good thing.

We have two cats along with the dog.The cats are very relaxing pets and very good company.The dog is a lot of fun and also good company.

Aquariums are nice and relaxing too.

[rjoneslaw]

If you go through my post you will see a posting about service dogs.

[Lyssi458 in reply to rjoneslaw]

I couldn’t find it. Do you have the URL?

[rjoneslaw in reply to Lyssi458]

I dont but I know the MSAA could help you.

[goatgal]

Amartinez215 One of the MS service organization magazines had a long piece on service animals (it was a while back, tho). Service animals are expensive and require training. If you are more interested in an emotional support animal, there are many many options and many many animals grateful for a loving home. I cannot imagine living without animals for company. Currently I have Maggie, an anxiety ridden rescued Weimaraner adopted from a shelter, and Molly an Australian shepherd mix abandoned by her owners who came with my house (which means her previous owner must have lived somewhere along my road). Molly is whip-smart and probably could be trained as a support/therapy animal, but because of her years living by her wits/foraging in the woods for her food, she is quite independent. Maggie is an old gal now, probably 13 or so, Molly a bit younger but they are both content to stay inside on cold days and find a sunny spot for a nap when the weather is better. They are not guard dogs, Molly barks only when the bear arrives, and they both love people. I think they love me more when I am more active; they think this broken ankle of mine has made me a dullard.

[Peruzzot]

I've never met anyone with a service animal specific to MS. I did however meet a lady on a plane several years ago now who had a seeing eye miniature horse. I asked her about it when I got the chance. She said that the cost and time to train the horse was the same as a dog but horses have a much longer life span and service capability. Her horse helped her navigate the seeing world and helped her with balance issues. I don't know where she got the horse trained. But maybe an internet search would find a similar service.

[Guava69]

Local internet search is always a great option. A local MS support may have info or know other MSers that are using a service animal. Hope you find exactly what you need ☺️🙏☺️