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Erin Cedar hasn't added a story.
We are Erin and Joy, and we are seeking support to help us become the best team we can be.
I, Erin (they/them), live with a Complex Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (C-PTSD) disability. I was diagnosed with this three years ago following a series of severe traumas coupled with workplace burnout (in frontline mental health and addictions work). My primary income since is PWD (Person with Disabilities) assistance, which provides only $1410/month all in and makes it next to impossible to afford basics like stable housing or to access unfunded disability supports.
I have a service dog prescription from my doctor. However, for some inexplicable reason PTSD service dogs are only provided for military veterans and first responders, not for any other people with PTSD (including former social workers like myself who also responded to emergency situations and experienced occupational trauma). The rest of us must self-finance a service dog ($30 000 for a fully trained dog) or self-train our own dog to the very high standard required - a pretty tall order for people who are already living with disabilities and usually far below the poverty line!
I took a risk, followed my dream, and adopted sweet Joy two years ago, choosing a very special puppy and self-training her basics with Youtube videos. She is a wonderful, bright and loving companion who presently functions as my Emotional Support Dog. It is tremendous what Joy does to help me ground and to regulate my nervous system. She comes with me almost everywhere, and her presence significantly reduces the severity and frequency of the trigger responses and overwhelm that I experience, thus supporting me to participate much more fully in life and society than I otherwise could.
However, there are places where Joy is not allowed to come, and these can be some of the most challenging places for me (like the grocery store, the doctor's office, and housing that prohibits pets). The only way around this is to get Joy certified as a service dog through the Justice Institute of BC (JIBC), which would give us a legally protected right of access to all public spaces and to all housing even if pets aren't allowed. In addition, Joy can learn skills to even more deliberately and effectively interrupt my C-PTSD episodes and support my wellness.
Last week Joy and I participated in a Service Dog Suitability Assessment with professional trainer Donna Hill from the Service Dog Training Institute. Donna was very impressed with Joy's temperament and intelligence, and with the deep connection between Joy and I. She found that Joy "will make an excellent service dog" and she helped us to design a training plan. I will be self-training Joy with Donna's support. This is the most cost-effective and accessible option, but there are still costs associated with the process including:
- Online training materials (videos, online courses)
- Webcam consultations or occasional in-person training sessions with Donna to troubleshoot and to prepare for the exam
- Travel costs for any in-person sessions (Southern Gulf Islands to Nanaimo and back), and for urban practice sessions (we need to learn skills for the exam that don't apply in the rural island context we live in)
- A vest for Joy to wear that instructs people not to distract her while she is working
- JIBC certification exam fee ($200 per attempt, not including travel to major city)
- The ongoing costs of caring for a dog including high-quality food, training treats, pet insurance and veterinary care (which of course I am already paying for, but on a $1410/month income, every little bit helps!).
I am asking for your help in covering the costs of Joy's service dog training and certification. This would help us to live our best lives, including better access to housing, support for me to gradually return to work or school with Joy's presence, helping me navigate daily life with a calmer and more regulated nervous system, and ultimately helping me get back to sharing my own gifts with the world and supporting others. Joy is also happiest when she gets to come with me everywhere and has a mentally and physically stimulating job to do, so it is a win/win.
Supportive thoughts, prayers, and sending positive energy are also very welcome! Thank you.
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