Bring Peach Home

Quick Summary; 

I suffer from PTSD and BPD but due to the nature of my illness, the Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP) will not cover the funding for my service animal & because I am not a veteran my PTSD is not covered by the not-for-profit(s) that provide service animals within my area code. I am looking for help to raise $8,000 for the adoption and training fees of my service dog.

What happened? 

I was diagnosed at an early age with a psychiatric disability and lost my formative adolescent years to the hospital system, but I never gave up fighting. After battling my way through Post-Traumatic-Stress-Disorder (PTSD) and Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) I recovered from two of my main diagnoses co-occupant disorders Bulimia Nervosa & Benzodiazepine Addiction. With all of these disorders and psychiatric disabilities hitting me in my adolescence I was given a 40% chance of survival due to malnutrition, impulsivity, and brain damage. 

Due to 9 years of hospitalization, I have been unable to form the skills of a normal young adult, therefore, I never learned how to self-regulate. Throughout this journey, I was able to attain my GED and I actually got accepted to McMaster University. I have accommodations in place since my concentration and memory are heavily impaired due to my heavy medication and previous brain damage. As you can probably guess...it's hard for me to work and go to school full-time. Especially since my self-regulation & social skills are only advanced to a 13-year-old level, therefore, it would take me several years of constant work to be able to afford my service dog. 

Some long-term physical effects of my struggles include osteoporosis, fainting spells, auditory hallucinations, muscle and nerve damage, trembling, a speech stutter, and problems controlling my extremities. 

To learn more about my story click here.

The Problem

The province of Ontario has many opportunities to provide care from a service dog for those with autism, motor impairments, hearing or vision loss, and seizures, however, because I am diagnosed with a psychiatric disability I do not get the chance to apply for a fully-funded service dog within my area code. Veterans are taken priority for PTSD service dogs, therefore, all waiting lists in my area code are closed. 



What about the safety of the dog?

Many people worry about the safety of the animal while it is in the care of someone with a severe mental impairment. The stigma around mental illness surrounds violence against others, however, this is completely false and is defined as discrimination. People with mental illness (BPD especially) are 80% more likely to be abused than to do the abusing. I have a 100% clean background check, I am a registered sitter on Rover.com, I'm vegan, I have professional experience in grooming animals, I live with my rescue cat,  and I have several fundraisers for local animal shelters and sanctuaries.I love all animals and I dedicate my life to making them happy and healthy.


"People with psychiatric disabilities are far more likely to be victims than perpetrators of violent crime (Appleby, et al., 2001). People with severe mental illnesses, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder or psychosis, are 2 ½ times more likely to be attacked, raped or mugged than the general population (Hiday, et al.,1999).”




Why a service dog?

Peach will provide me purpose, responsibility, motivation, inspiration, and with the support, I need to maintain an as high level of functioning as possible for my outpatient status. I've been out of the hospital for 2 years now and my life is finally becoming stable. Being able to have a service dog will provide me with a solid foundation in this next chapter of my life allowing me to heal in a normal environment rather than in a hospital bed. 

To learn about specific psychiatric dog services click here. 


Some examples are...
1. Finding lost keys, wallet, phone 
2. Alerting others to possible danger
3. Distraction from impulsive and compulsive actions
4. Medication reminders
5. Social integration
6. Deep-pressure therapy during dissociation, anxiety attacks, PTSD flashbacks, intrusive thoughts & images, and depersonalization
7. Reminders to do daily hygiene practices
8. Grounding throughout auditory hallucinations 




Why are you raising funds?

It is $8,000 for adoption and training fees. I will be funded by the Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP) once the dog IS ALREADY adopted AND trained.

Medical Information...Functioning Ability 
A healthy person functions at 100%...
I function at...
Axis 4: GAF of 50 - 60 (general functioning ability) 

If you have any questions please message me! 

Twitter: @crazeemalvern

Website: www.myzeemalvern.com

Email: [email redacted]