Psychiatric Service Dog for Chloe

Hi there. My name is Chloe Cruz and I am student at Central Michigan University. I am a pre-veterinary student in the Honors college. I’m a member of the Chippewa Marching Band. While my life may seem like it is going on an amazing trajectory with me being an honors college student and a member of the marching band… not everything is as it seems.


I was 15 years old when I was diagnosed with Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD), Major Depressive Disorder (MDD), and Panic Disorder (PD). I am now 19 and not many things have changed since my original diagnosis. I am often plagued with panic and anxiety attacks, sometimes as much as 2 to 5 times a day. A regular day in my life may include crying, screaming, and harming myself through scratching my hands and legs. I can disassociate due to stress, blanking and forgetting large chunks of time, pacing back and forth and pulling at my hair. I often isolate myself, as I find it difficult to go anywhere by myself due to my anxiety. Most social situations and most social places (grocery stores, malls, restaurants, etc.) trigger anxiety for me, leaving me hyper-vigilant and on edge the entire time. Most trips result in panic or anxiety attacks.


I have gone through countless different medications (I am currently on six) and I have done multiple different types of therapy, but nothing seems to help me manage. My medical team believes it would be a strong next step for me to get a PSD, or Psychiatric Service Dog. A PSD is a dog that is specially trained to perform tasks that help their handlers mitigate their symptoms related to psychiatric disabilities.


A PSD would be able to help with my anxiety or panic attacks by interrupting episodes where I am hurting myself. He/She would be able to help calm me down after my anxiety attacks using deep pressure therapy. He/She would be able to interrupt disassociation episodes and ground me quicker than I would be able to on my own. He/She would be able to help notify me of my ticks which precede anxiety/panic attacks. Not only that, but he/she would be able to help me leave my home again with a sense of peace. I would be able to know that if I do have an anxiety attack or panic attack, that they would be there to help me through it and help me get myself to a safe place. They would be able to revive my sense of freedom again and help me cope.



I have decided to work with Shyann Hilla from Hamilton Pines Kennels. She is breeding her German Shepherds of the kennel, creating a bloodline fit for service work. The puppy will come from her and go through a 2 year training program to learn proper obedience, tasks, and other skills. The cost of the puppy from Hamilton Pines Kennels is $1,400 and the training costs $10,000.



These things are not something I want to hold me back, even though they haven’t in the past. I have dreams and goals.  I want to be a beacon of hope for those who suffer with these disabilities in silence, I want to be an inspiration and role model for those who suffer. I envision myself standing on the drum major podium once again as the drum major of the CMB. I envision myself finishing my degree and graduating with Honors. I envision myself going into veterinary school at Michigan State University. I don’t envision my disabilities holding me back, and with this partner by my side, I know that they won’t. I’ll be able to have someone to support me when others cannot. I’ll be able to have a friend and amazing ally on my journey forward.


I am asking for my family, friends, and community to support me through this journey and help me on a path to independence, as part of the process is fundraising to bring awareness. Thank you all for your generosity and support through this journey. <3