katie
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Post by katie on Nov 12, 2012 11:36:54 GMT -6
I am frustrated... Where we live we are allowed cats or one fish for a pet. It would want any other type of pet you need to get a letter from your doctor stating it would be a benefit to your family to have a companion pet. We lost our dog to cancer a year and a half ago. We miss her terribly and the kids (especially Dd) cry that they miss their dog. We are at a point that we have been looking at dogs for the past 6 months. I finally found one that I think would be perfect for our family. Only problem is, my doctor said she won't write a note because it isn't medically necessary for us to have a dog. Note when I talked to our management company they said it didn't have to be medically necessary. It could just be that the kids would be taught responsibility or that it would be a companion to them (or us). She still won't give me a letter. I left a message for my pediatrician and hope that she would be willing to write a letter. I don't see why it is such a big deal. There are several dogs at our complex and they all were able to get letters, so I have no idea why she is so against it.
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katie
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Post by katie on Nov 12, 2012 11:38:06 GMT -6
Note I would also love a cat but I am extremely allergic to them and my asthma gets really bad so that is out of the question.
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Post by merrr on Nov 12, 2012 13:03:50 GMT -6
Reach out to a theripist's office too. Pets do wonders for a person's mental health And... technically... Vets are doctors. hehehehe.....
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katie
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Post by katie on Nov 12, 2012 16:34:45 GMT -6
I have anxiety and depression and am on meds and she still wouldn't do it. I am still waiting for the pecs office. If it is still a no go I will have to figure something out. I think it is a win win. A dog needs a home and we really want a pet again.
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katie
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Post by katie on Nov 12, 2012 16:35:06 GMT -6
*peds
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Post by Samantha on Nov 12, 2012 18:19:46 GMT -6
Psychiatrists and psychologists are really for it, so if you have insurance and have anxiety and depression you should try one of those or just go to a different doctor.
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Post by Samantha on Nov 12, 2012 18:21:25 GMT -6
I bet your doctor is an animal hater.
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katie
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Post by katie on Nov 12, 2012 18:42:05 GMT -6
Samantha that is what I said. Time for a new doctor
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Post by momof3anddog on Nov 14, 2012 7:20:09 GMT -6
Or she could be an "animal lover"; Pet ownership is not just about what is "right" for the people; It is what is right for the dog too; Sometimes there is too much going on in someone's household for an animal to be a "good fit" or it has to be a certain tempermant of dog to be a "good fit." That is no slam on you and what you have shared in this post. However, doctors deal with dogs and kids that are not a "good fit" -- unknown allergies found out and the dog then has to be given up and kids are heart-broken about it or the parent won't and the kid is repeatedly ill from it; Or parent won't follow through with very expensive involved allergy tx for kids for obvious reasons -- like cost, insurance issues, shots being involved on regular scedule for a child, etc. ; Also there is the issue of dog bites which every doctor deals with multiple times in their career. Dogs can be very therapeutic; They can also be a disaster if is itsn't well thought out and training for the parents, kids and dogs, about how to tx an animal or not put animal in situation where they respond with a bite (such as taking kids taking toys from the dog or being around them when they eat and getting in their space if they have food or toy protectiveness -- very common behavior in many dogs that can/cannot be trained out of them depending on the dog); I only know this because I have grown up with dogs my whole life (as hunting dogs, house pets, etc.) In addition, I did have two trained hearing service dog (hearing impairment; I've had two when I was single living alone from age 24-34); I got them for safety reasons -- slept through a dorm fire cause I didn't hear the fire alarm. I had to "prove" both physical and mental stability in order to apply for both of them by getting statements from doctors. That is because the dog training agency didn't want to place a dog with me if I couldn't care for it appropriately and manage it's training. I also had to show some financial stability as well as dogs even mixed breeds or dogs specifically picked for a program -- can develop significant health issues that you need to address. I will tell you that both of the dogs did have weird expensive issues that did develop about 2 years into the ownership of the trained dog. I have not had a service dog since, due to the cost and now living with husband and three children. We have a "plain old dog" that we got through a rescue agency that we also had to go through a whole adoption procedure of providing proof of stable household before we were allowed to take him home. He is a member of the family for last 4 years; However he is expensive and demanding as he also has some medical quirks that require taking him to vet on regular basis that did not show up until we had him for awhile. I just got back from walking him and it was not even 7 AM; I walk him every day in AM - usually between 5:30 AM - 7 AM usually for 30 minutes -- depending on what else I have to get done in am to get kids off to school/daycare on time; Husband walks him in PM often after 10 PM as that is when kids are finally asleep; So it is a signficant committement. There is often more to a doctor writing a statement than you think. So talk to her and find out why she won't write one. I think you are owed explanation and then you can use that information to figure out what it is that she is reluctant to do it and whether there is a "valid" reason there. Something you need to think about and figure out how to address for both your, children and any dog's sake before you get one. Usually doctors have more insight than we think about a us, and people in general, just because of their multiple experiences with everyone.
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katie
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Post by katie on Nov 18, 2012 21:41:13 GMT -6
We are animal lovers. Both my husband and I have always had animals. Our dog passed from cancer last year and it has been difficult for us. We did what we could to help her and even did surgery to remove the cancer but it came back again and had spread. Our pets are apart of our family. They sleep on the furniture, snuggle and are played with all the time. I don't take owning a pet lightly. I know it is a big responsibility and we have chosen the type of dog we have been looking for because we think it is the best fit for our family. It isn't something that we just decided, I have been watching for a dog for over 6 months and we thought we found the perfect fit for us. Yes, the doctor knows my medical history (not much there). Yes I am on meds for anxiety/ depression but it is under control and she also knows that. If we could have gotten her to sign the paperwork we would have gotten the dog a couple days after I was done with finals. After that I will be home until next fall with the kids. This would allow for time to train the dog and to spend plenty of time helping it adjust to our family and our family to her. I still haven't heard back from the kids' doctor from the message I left on the 14th. I have been busy with school this past week so I haven't followed up yet.
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Post by bumblebee23 on Nov 19, 2012 9:02:16 GMT -6
I think you should go straight to your physciatrist/physcologist. It is a known fact especially against mental health professionals that having a pet can be very calming and relaxing to someone with depression and anxiety. They would probably be more willing to give you an ok.
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katie
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Post by katie on Nov 20, 2012 21:36:55 GMT -6
I have never gone to a mental health doctor. I have gotten my anxiety meds from my family practice doctor. I did get a call today that our pediatrician will write a note so just waiting to get it in the mail. Fingers crossed the dog is still available. Thanks for listening to my vent. We really want a pet and I really think this one is perfect.
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Post by onlyoneboy on Nov 21, 2012 7:51:43 GMT -6
I'm glad the pediatrician was able to write the letter for you. Hope you find the right dog for you.
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