Psych Dogs Help Treat Patients with Psychiatric Disorders

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by Fox Charlotte

Story Created: Jun 30, 2011 at 11:17 PM EDT

Story Updated: Jun 30, 2011 at 11:17 PM EDT

CHARLOTTE, N.C. - "It's important to have a big dog," says south Charlotte resident Darryl Savage of his puppy Taylor.  She's only 53 pounds now, but when the six-month-old bull mastiff is full grown, she'll weigh well over 100 pounds.

That's why Savage chose her.  "I have PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder) and a dissociative disorder," says Savage.

He is currently teaching Taylor the command "ground."  When she hears it, she climbs into his lap and leans up against him, to "ground him" when he's having a panic attack.

Over the years, Savage has tried different medications, but didn't like some of the side effects and some just didn't work.  His doctor recommended a psychiatric service dog.  She says, "Taylor's just my medicine!"

"The dog doesn't have any other side effects," says Dr. Tia Konzer.  Konzer is a doctor of osteopathic medicine at Presbyterian Psychiatric Associates.  

Konzer says she's noticed a change in her patient's mood since he got the puppy.  She says, "He seems to be more happy, a little more spark to him."

Konzer says she's only seen a few studies on psychiatric service dogs.  One published in May shows they can be used to help patients with major depression, panic, bipolar,social phobias, PTSD, obsessive compulsive disorder, dissociative identity disorder, even schizophrenia.
    
Konzer has three patients in Charlotte who uses psych dogs, but she's not aware of any local organizations dedicated to the concept.  She says, "I don't think anybody knows about it to be quite honest."

Savage is hoping to change that.  He recently created "Psych Dog Charlotte" on Facebook to help educate people on what these dogs do for their owners.  He says, "It's really as critical as somebody taking medicine!"

Getting a physician's order is the first step toward getting a psych service dog.  Under the Americans with Disabilities Act, it's a federal civil rights violation to refuse equal access to people with disabilities and their service animal.
 

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