Emotional Support Animals & Links
The Importance of Service Animals for CRPS
While there’s no known cure for CRPS (Complex Regional Pain Syndrome), numerous treatments and medications exist to alleviate its symptoms. Many doctors are now recommending that their patients consider the support of four-legged friends and other animal companions as Service Animals. These animals possess a unique quality that humans don’t – an innate and unwavering desire to please their owners, accompanied by unconditional love and loyalty.
According to Assistance Dogs International, service animals play a multifaceted role in assisting those dealing with chronic pain and CRPS. They provide emotional support, physical assistance, medical alerts, and therapy. These roles encompass various types of service animals, including Emotional Support Dogs, Service therapy dogs, and Service Dog-Medical Alert Dogs.
Service Dogs and the Parasympathetic Nervous System
Emotional Support Dogs (ESDs) offer comfort and companionship through affection and emotional support. For individuals battling CRPS, which resides within the brain’s emotional center (the Limbic System), maintaining emotional calmness is crucial to avoid triggers that can exacerbate flare-ups. Simple acts like petting a dog have been shown to activate the Parasympathetic Nervous System, the body’s natural defense against CRPS. It’s important to note that ESDs are not covered by ADA regulations but are recognized under the Fair Housing Amendment Act and the Amended Air Carrier Access Act.
Therapy Dogs provide an alternative for those unable to take on the responsibilities of pet ownership.
Therapy Dogs for Chronic Pain
Therapy dogs offer therapeutic benefits without the full-time commitment of pet ownership. They are part of a prescribed treatment plan and accompany their owners on therapy visits to institutions like nursing homes and hospitals. The AKC’s Therapy Dog information site provides further details on Therapy Dogs.
However, Service Dogs are the choice for those needing constant companionship and care.
Service Dogs for CRPS
Service Dogs undergo extensive training to perform specific tasks that assist individuals with disabilities. Their ability to execute observable tasks on command distinguishes them from emotional support or therapy dogs. Examples of their tasks include providing balance and support, retrieving dropped items, fetching medications, and summoning help when required.
Medical Alert Dogs are available for individuals requiring even more specialized medical services.
Medical Alert Dogs for Chronic Pain
Medical Alert Dogs are trained to alert their owners or others to specific reactions or situations. They may be trained to call emergency services during a crisis, remind their owners to take medications, retrieve items out of reach, provide stability while sitting, standing, or walking, operate switches or open doors, and alert to allergen exposure, low blood sugar, or impending seizures, among other tasks tailored to individual needs.
Whether it’s an Emotional Support Dog, Therapy Dog, or Medical Alert Dog, one thing is sure – Service Animals are invaluable for those dealing with CRPS.
The Essential Role of Service Animals for CRPS Sufferers
Beyond offering comfort, animals, including dogs, provide physical support and can be trained to perform tasks that their owners with chronic pain cannot manage on their own. Service Animals have proven to be indispensable companions for those facing the challenges of CRPS.
Links For Your Convenience
National Organizations
BANFIELD FOUNDATION
Banfield Foundation – The Banfield Foundation has a resource list for pet owners seeking assistance with veterinary costs and primary care. To learn more about these programs and for a state-by-state listing of additional programs.
For Banfield Pet Hospital’s Hope Funds for emergency care.
You can also download a coupon for a free first visit to Banfield.
Brown Dog Foundation – Provides assistance for one-time life-saving medical treatments as well as for short-term help with the cost of life-sustaining medication for dogs and cats.
DEAF DOG EDUCATION ACTION FUND
The Deaf Dog Education Action Fund helps with urgent care for newly-placed deaf dogs.
DIABETIC CATS IN NEED
Diabetic Cats In Need assists with the treatment of diabetes for cats.
FRANKIE’S FRIENDS
Frankie’s Friends provides help with the treatment of life-threatening conditions.
THE HUMANE SOCIETY OF THE UNITED STATES
The following HSUS link provides links for pet assistance organizations in each state, including spay and neuter and primary care resources.
IAADP MEMBER VETERINARY CARE PARTNERSHIP PROGRAM
The International Association of Assistance Dog Partners has a program for IADDP members whose assistance dogs require emergency veterinary care. This program is available for IADDP members for sudden illness or injury with an assistance dog, which requires expensive veterinary care. Only the veterinarian can make the request for a grant, and members (or nonmembers) contacting the program directly will be barred from grant eligibility.
IAN SOMERHALDER FOUNDATION
The Ian Somerhalder Foundation provides assistance with medical emergencies.
JOSHUA LOUIS ANIMAL CANCER FOUNDATION
The Joshua Louis Animal Cancer Foundation assists with the cost of treatment for dogs and cats with cancer.
K9 Carts – assistance with donated carts for dogs.
The Magic Bullet Fund – assists with the cost of treatment for dogs and cats with cancer.
The Mosby Foundation – provides help with urgent treatment for dogs.
My Pet Child is a resource list for additional links to organizations that help with veterinary care.
The Onyx and Breezy Foundation will accept applications for grants for medical care for dogs and cats.
The Paws 4 A Cure provides assistance with urgent care for dogs and cats.
Pet Assistance Inc. provides help with urgent care for cats and dogs.
Poodle Angels, Inc. provides assistance for Poodle owners with medical expenses, including medical treatment, surgery, and emergency veterinary expenses.
Red Rover – provides financial assistance grants so pet owners, Good Samaritans, and rescuers can care for animals who need urgent veterinary care.
Riedel and Cody Fund – provides funding for dogs and cats with cancer.
Shakespeare Animal Fund – provides assistance with emergencies for dogs and cats.
US DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS
United States Department of Veterans Affairs – For veterans who have service dogs, Title 38 Section 1714 enables veterans to ask their caseworkers to file VA Form 10-2641 in order to receive financial assistance for veterinary care of service animals.
The Zeus Oncology Fund covers cancer treatment for rescue dogs only.
Actors and Others are available to assist with urgent animal medical care for residents of Los Angeles and surrounding counties.
Animal Health Foundation, in partnership with the Southern California Veterinary Medical Association (SCVMA) provides assistance with funding for non-elective medical and surgical procedures for Los Angeles and Orange County, CA, residents. Participating veterinarians must be members of SCVMA to be eligible for funding.
AMC Patient Assistance Fund is available to help with the cost of animal medical care for NY residents.
Buster’s Legacy helps homeless animals by supporting costs for Kern County, CA’s animal rescue and shelter community. Buster’s Legacy will assist with the cost of spay and neuter surgeries as well as medical care for injured homeless/shelter pets for Kern County dogs and cats.
CDSS ASSISTANCE DOG SPECIAL ALLOWANCE PROGRAM
California Department of Social Services Assistance Dog Special Allowance Program – This program, available to residents of California, will provide $50 monthly for the care of registered service dogs.
Phone 916-657-2628
Pets Forever is a Colorado State University-sponsored program that works with low-income seniors or disabled Larimer County residents with needed resources, including in-home animal care, transportation to the vet, pet food, and supplies.
Phone 970-221-4535
Lexie’s Love offers medical assistance grants for low and fixed-income families to treat illnesses that are considered non-emergency in nature but which will significantly affect the quality and length of life of a companion animal. Currently, Lexie’s Love only works within Missouri.
Email lexieslove1@gmail.com with requests for help
The FACE Foundation provides financial assistance for San Diego animal owners who are unable to afford the cost of their pets’ emergency veterinary care.
Phone 858-450-FACE
LUKE AND LILY LEARNER SPAY AND NEUTER CLINIC
Tufts University Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine – The Luke and Lilly Lerner Spay and Neuter Clinic at Tufts University provides free spay services to low-income pet owners in Massachusetts.
MSU COLLEGE OF VETERINARY MEDICINE
Michigan State University College of Veterinary Medicine – has a fund called The Lucky Fund for pet owners whose animals have a good chance of recovery but who cannot afford the costs involved.
Phone 517-353-4523
NY Save helps with urgent care animal medical needs for New York City residents.
ORANGE COUNTY SPCA ANIMAL RESCUE FUND
The Orange County SPCA Animal Rescue Fund assists low-income pet owners with emergency veterinary care and provides subsidized spay/neuter assistance.
PAWS provides assistance with veterinary costs and companion animal maintenance for low-income seniors and persons with disabilities in the San Diego Area.
PAWS San Francisco – PAWS provides assistance with veterinary costs and companion animal maintenance for low-income seniors and persons with disabilities in the San Francisco Area.
PAWS provides assistance with veterinary costs and companion animal maintenance for low-income seniors and persons with disabilities in the Los Angeles Area.
The Pixie Project Care Clinic provides veterinary services to homeless and low-income residents of Portland, Oregon.
Email surgery@pixieproject.org
The Pongo Fund is a pet food bank that also helps with medical care for residents of Oregon.
Phone 503-939-7555
The Respond Fund, University of Wisconsin School of Veterinary Medicine – This fund is available to elderly and disabled residents of Madison, WI.
Phone 608-263-7600
Rocket Dog Rescue is an all-volunteer nonprofit group dedicated to saving homeless and abandoned animals from euthanasia in overcrowded Bay Area shelters. Rocket Dog Rescue also provides assistance to individuals and animal rescue groups fostering dogs in need of permanent new homes.
Phone 415-642-4786
The Sam Simon Foundation’s mobile veterinary clinic now provides FREE Surgical Services. If you have a cat or dog in need of a non-orthopedic surgical procedure, contact the foundation at the phone number below to speak with a technician about setting up an appointment. To qualify, the family bringing in its pet must have a total household income of less than $40,000 per year, and the pet must either be already sterilized or be sterilized at the time of the surgery. Services are only available in the Los Angeles Area, and pet owners must make arrangements to bring their animals in for rechecks after surgery is performed
Phone 888-364-7729 (by appointment only).
ST. FRANCIS HOUSE PET CARE CLINIC
The clinic is operated in conjunction with the University of Florida College of Veterinary Medicine. Primary veterinary care is available free of charge to low-income residents of Gainesville, FL, who qualify for the program.
Texas A&M College of Veterinary Medicine Stevenson Companion Animal Life-Care Center – This Texas A&M program provides a home and care for companion animals whose owners can no longer care for their animals. Eligible assistance recipients include pet owners entering a retirement home or being hospitalized for an extended period.
Phone 979-845-1188
UC DAVIS TEACHING HOSPITAL SMALL ANIMAL CLINIC
The School of Veterinary Medicine at the University of California at Davis – (Veterinary Medicine Teaching Hospital Small Animal Clinic) has a fund called the Angel Fund available for residents of Northern California. Funds are only available for specific conditions and are given at the discretion of the clinic directors.
Phone 530-752-1393
The Wisconsin Humane Society – has a veterinary assistance program for residents of Wisconsin.
Phone 414-ANIMALS (414-264-6257)
Washington State University Good Samaritan Program – This program works with animals at the College of Veterinary Medicine at Washington State University. The fund is used exclusively to treat ownerless or special needs animals, presenting a teaching opportunity for vet students.
