For many years, service dogs have been assisting people with disabilities such as blindness or mobility impairments; now they’re helping people with mental health concerns such as PTSD or severe depression as well. They can interrupt panic and anxiety attacks, wake their handlers from nightmares, create physical space around their handlers in public places, and perform many more helpful tasks. Psychiatric service dogs (PSDs) offer a powerful package of practical tasks that directly address symptoms wrapped in natural dog affection.  Quite simply, they help people return to greater participation in the world.

As exciting as the possibilities are, teaming up with a highly-trained PSD isn’t a good solution for everyone, and it comes with potential drawbacks as well as benefits. It’s a long-term, expensive commitment that doesn’t always work out as hoped. Before taking the plunge it’s important to understand what makes a dog a service dog, who can have one, how to get one, and what it’s really like to navigate life with a service dog at your side.

Realistic expectations and knowledge are the keys to successfully partnering with a PSD, but unfortunately there’s a lot of confusion and even outright scams related to service dog use. The new book Saved by the Dog: Unleashing Potential with Psychiatric Service Dogs cuts straight through the noise and misinformation and brings you the facts.  With it, you’ll be able to make an informed choice about whether or not partnering with a service dog is right for you or someone you love, and if it is, be guided through the process of becoming a successful service dog handler. Whether you’re looking into getting a psychiatric service dog for yourself or a loved one, or you’re just interested in the phenomenon, this is the book to read.

Saved by the Dog: Unleashing Potential with Psychiatric Service Dogs, by Anne Martinez, is available on Amazon.com and through the book’s companion website, ServiceDogSpot.com