Help Ky Achieve Goals with a Service Dog

My name is Ky,

I have struggled with PTSD and other mental health issues since I was a kid. It is something that I have had to learn to accept and gain an understanding of, including how I perceive different situations and ways to handle them best. It has been a challenging transition into living independently, which I have wanted to do for a while.

I recently had to say goodbye to my fantastic companion cat, Mittens, due to a serious medical issue that was not curable and would impact his quality of life going forward. Losing Mittens has been heartbreaking and as I look back on the impact he had on my mental health, I realize the changes in my life I need to make going forward. I believe that having a dog would encourage me to go outside the house, take them out for walks, attend social events, etc. I want to gain confidence going out into the community and not isolate, which leads me into depression.

I am fundraising to get a psychiatric service dog, which can cost up to $30,000 because they are trained to perform specific tasks for their owner. For instance, she/he would perform tasks such as bringing me my medication when I have a panic attack and am unable to move, apply deep pressure therapy to assist with re-grounding during a trauma response, and interrupting self-injurious behavior. I firmly believe that having a service dog can help in situations both within the home and also out in the community where I have difficulty attending events due to social anxiety.

I have made a lot of progress over the years and have reached the point of living alone, attending graduate school, and working full-time. However, I want to enjoy life fully, feel comfortable participating in social events, and feel safe knowing I can live independently and have support. I want to be able to continue making progress and be able to obtain my goal of becoming a therapist.

Unfortunately, service dogs are incredibly expensive due to the specific and extensive training that they must go through to learn how to best support their owners and be 100% focused on the task at hand. Although the dog would be a service dog, it would also be my companion, and with that comes responsibility. I am committed to taking full responsibility for the dog both physically and emotionally, knowing that they also need to be able to be a dog and play, get exercise, and have time to unwind just like us.

I hope you will please consider helping me achieve my goal of having a service dog to help me be able to live a more normal life.