Register psychiatric service dogs

Registration of service dogs for people with psychiatric disabilities is an important step in the life of every service animal handler. By doing that, you show the world your dog is not just a pet; it is individually trained to perform tasks for you in order to make life a little bit easier.

After registration, it is also possible to get an additional ID card and other accessories for the PSD that will be very helpful in demonstrating to people it is currently working and cannot be distracted. Even though the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) regulations claim it is not obligatory to register service animals, many owners still do it in order to confirm their status.

You can register your dog as a psychiatric service dog fast and easily at the My Service Animal registry. Contact our customer support team if you have any troubles doing it on your own or if you are not sure about the process itself.

What is a psychiatric service animal?

Psychiatric service animals are animals that are trained to do tasks for those with mental health problems that substantially limits one or more major life activities for the person. The issues may include depression, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), panic attack, bipolar disorder, OCD (Obsessive Compulsive Disorder), anxiety, learning disabilities, etc.

Because PSDs are not only assisting people in tasks from their everyday routine but also support their handlers a lot, they are often confused with an emotional support animal (ESA). However, these types of animals are entirely different.

If your dog is a psychiatric service dog, it may perform such tasks as alerting about the upcoming panic attacks; helping to be present and do not let to zone out; helping in socialization and communication; guiding the handler to a safe place in case they have social anxiety; reminding to take medications on time; preventing destructive behavior, etc.

Benefits of psychiatric service dog registration

If you still do not understand why it is important to register your animal, here is a list of benefits this status gives to you and your dog:

• Easier access to public places. Service animals are allowed in public establishments, yes. However, some people are not aware of that and may cause a lot of trouble because of their unawareness. Confirmed by the law status of the animal will spread the awareness on this topic, protect you from uncomfortable situations, and show employees they can’t refuse to let you in just because you have a dog;
• Traveling becomes much more manageable. If you do not want your psychiatric service dog to be confused with a regular pet, you need to register it and provide a certificate of registration at the airport. In this way, employees will allow the dog to sit with you (near your legs between the seats) during the flight. Just warn people in the airport about this situation before the actual flight, and demonstrate your certificate if it is required. Some airports may ask you to send a copy of the registration certificate via email;
• You are allowed to go to any housing with your dog. It doesn’t matter if it is a hotel, a rented apartment, or bed&breakfast. If you require the help of a service animal, it can always be with you, even if the place has a pet-free policy. Moreover, they are not allowed to charge extra for living with a pet or an extra cleaning in the room. If employees try doing that, you can contact the ADA and have authorities discuss it with them.

Don’t worry that some people may not understand the importance of a service animal in your life. This can seem unusual for some of them, but everyone is able to learn and discover new things for themselves. Your comfort is the most important here.

What information is needed to register your dog?

In order to qualify for a psychiatric service dog, you need to get a recommendation letter from a mental health professional that proves you require a PSD due to the disability that stops you from living a full life. Then, you may apply for a PSD and register it at My Service Animal after you get one.

In order to register the dog, you will need to provide us with the following information:

• Name and breed of the dog;
• Name and phone number of the dog owner;
• Street address;
• City and the state;
• The photo of your pet (it is not required).

After registering, your service dog will be added to the database on our website, so you will be able to demonstrate the status of your pet on the phone. If you order any accessories, they will be delivered to your address in 1-3 working days (sometimes, delays are possible in the post office). If you are not sure how to register your dog as a service dog, contact customer support; we will gladly help you with this process.