Page 1017 - Total War on PTSD

discouraged. That’s exactly what it’s like when people come up and distract your working dog because she is pretty. They don’t walk up and take an amputee’s cane or prosthetic leg, or a persons’ wheelchair who is paralyzed, so they shouldn't distract a working dog when someone’s life literally depends on the dog. There are so many different types of Service Dogs in today’s world for example medical alert dogs, like seizure alert, diabetic alert, among others such as PTSD dogs, Balance Assistance Dogs and many more. No matter what type of Service Dog the handler depends on the dog and distractions can be life changing or life ending!
Distractions are also a lot more than petting, calling the dog, kissing and speaking to the dog. Even eye contact is a form of distraction. We as the handlers are given a sense of our old selves back with our Service Dogs, it’s an extremely difficult thing to express verbally or emotionally unless you see it first-hand either by watching a loved one with their Service Dog or seeing yourself after sometime in reflection.
A funny story that happened while my Service Dog, family, and I were at our VA and an older gentleman followed us around for approximately 30-45 minutes barking at myself, my Service Dog, who was vested and the vest clearly marked. During this time, I grew more and more nervous and impatient and finally told my family friend, “If he doesn’t stop, I’m going to turn around and say something and it’s not going to be kind.” However I was beaten to the proverbial punch when someone turned around and demanded to know if he had a problem! He then smiled and “No, but I like your dog,” then turned around and walked away! All I could think was that I get sent for mental health services on a weekly basis and I’m thinking here’s this guy who had probably missed years of services! I laughed it off and walked to my car, at which point I realized that maybe I’m not as “crazy” as I thought.
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