Hi, Everyone!
If I may be so bold everyone, but I really
don't think anyone consciously meant any illwill towards anyone.
This is a wonderful group and I never took any offense. I don't
believe anyone needs to apologize!
Elizabeth
--- On Fri, 1/9/09, readytorv <[email protected]> wrote:
From: readytorv <[email protected]>
Subject: Re: Fw: [Chihuahuas] service animals
To: [email protected]
Date: Friday, January 9, 2009, 11:38 AM
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Like
you said Cim; disability isn't always obvious. Like you, I
have fibromyalgia, a ruptured lumbar disc, very bad knees that I've had
surgery on one already. But looking at me you can't see any of
that. I also have diabetes and anxiety/stress. I'm now on
medication for that and am doing a lot better. I've lost over 100
lbs thru WW to help with diabetes and the stress on my knees and
back. All without exercise as it's impossible. I do some
water therapy. So, I can see exactly where Sharon is coming
from. And... people can be so nosey!
Only you and God know your heart.
Helen
-------Original Message----- --
Date: 08/01/2009 10:52:19 PM
Subject: Fw: [Chihuahuas] service animals
I want to appoigize, I am glad you
told us but I said what I did so you didn't have to. Sometimes
people especially out in the world just doesn't understand that some
disabilities can't be seen on the outside. I have fibromyalgia,
discoid lupus, and a anxiety/stress disorder and a bad knee that needs
surgery. I am not considered disable by my state but I do
understand what it means not being able to walk that far because of
pain either in my back or my knee, not being able to bend over to pick
something up because well is it worth the pain.
When Tianna was born I planned on
training her to pick things up and get things for me just around home,
and maybe to alert me before I had an anxiety/stress attack. That
didn't work out, She decided early on that she wasn't going to be
trained any further than sit and drop and that's right go (when she
gets into trouble).LOL I'm hoping one day I will be able to get
another chi that can help me just a little bit.
Honestly if we would meet on the
street no one would think anything was wrong with me, I also do
things that I know I shouldn't because I have to. I was just
trying to say please don't judge just because no one else can see the
disability.
Again sorry,
cim
----- Original Message -----
Sent: Thursday, January 08, 2009 8:42 PM
Subject: Re: [Chihuahuas] service animals
I need to make several points.
First, I have been disabled since 1978. My disability is not
physical. Mine is the result of growing up in a nightmare of a
home - a place that thought nothing of locking me inside a home-built
coffin, a mother who set me up time and time again to be sexually
abused, a father who blinded my sister by punching her, a brutally
sadistic brother who (never mind - I'm not getting into that
here). So my disability is mental/emotional. This
disability sometimes makes life VERY difficult. So
difficult that I tried to kill myself on June 2, 2007.
At this point in my life, I have
been homebound (agoraphobia) for almost 11 years. Since I got
Katie, I have actually taken her for walks!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!! !
This is a MAJOR accomplishment for me!! Admittedly, these have
been rather short walks - about a block out. But the fact that I
have left my apartment at all is a very good sign of just how much
Katie is helping me. As you all know, I need surgery. In an
effort to take a step toward getting the surgery and help with my other
problems, I contacted a therapist. When she heard how much Katie
has already helped me, she suggested I make Katie my service dog.
I told her I had no idea how to do it. She sent me a link with
this statement posted on the home page:
"IMPORTANT:
It is illegal to label your dog as a Service Dog if you are not
disabled. The ADA defines a Service Animal as any guide dog,
signal dog, or other animal individually trained to provide assistance
to an individual with a disability. If they meet this definition,
animals are considered service animals under the ADA regardless of
whether they have been licensed or certified by a state or local
government."
Katie
meets the requirements of the ADA - she assists me in being able to
leave my home. Therefore, she is my Service Dog even though she
has not been licensed or certified by any state or local
government. Katie is the only 'thing' that has gotten me to leave
my apartment in almost 11 years. With her help, I
will get to a therapist and I will get to a doctor and then the
hospital for the surgery. Eventually I will get to the point
where I will no longer need Katie by my side just to leave my
apartment. But in the meantime, she will be with me every time I
go out. She gives me courage and strength.
I did
not make her my Service Dog just so I can take her her everywhere and
show her off. Without her, I would not be going anywhere!!!!
!!!!!!!!! I made her my Service Dog to save my life!!!!!!!!
!!!!!!!!! !
Sharon & Katie
----- Original Message -----
Sent: Thursday, January 08, 2009 8:06 PM
Subject: Re: [Chihuahuas] service animals
We also have to remember that just
because a person looks normal doesn't mean they are. Service dogs
are now used for people with diabetes to alert when there sugar is
getting low, people with seizures to alert when they might have an
episode, there are many other reasons, people with curtain heart
problems, people with asthma both to alert with things are going bad
before the person realizes because it maybe to late at that time.
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