Service Dog for Anastasia

Please help me fund my service dog!

Hey, everyone! My name is Anastasia Murphy, and after several years of thinking about it, I have finally begun the process of obtaining a medical assistance dog.

So why am I pursuing a service dog?
I have struggled with my health since I was 14 years old. I have been diagnosed with a number of conditions including Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS), Ehler's-Danlos Syndrome (EDS), and chronic migraines. These cause fatigue, sudden unexplained leg weakness, chronic pain, and a number of other life-altering symptoms, the most difficult being chronic fainting. Anything from heat to overexertion to simply going from sitting to standing can cause me to faint. Although fainting itself is not dangerous, my EDS gives me very fragile joints and makes me more prone to injuring myself upon falling. Fainting in public, especially when I'm alone, is very alarming and causes a decent amount of stress and anxiety for both me and people around me when going out.


In addition to my physical conditions, I also struggle with my mental health. I have moderate Major Depressive Disorder, Panic Disorder, and anxiety, resulting in a ten day hospital stay during the spring semester of my first year in college.

For me, a service dog would give me peace of mind as I begin making the transition to becoming an independent adult. Going out and being on my own is a source of stress and anxiety for me because I never know if I am going to faint, or whether I will be able to get the help I need. They would be able to respond to a fainting episode by bringing my phone and a bottle of water, as well as alerting someone nearby that I am in need of assistance. My service dog will also have a number of other tasks they are trained to do which will assist me in my day-to-day living. On days when I am experiencing leg weakness or near-fainting, a service dog can bring me my phone or my water, as well as picking up small items off the floor for me when my body isn't tolerating changes in position. 

In addition to trained tasks, a service dog would provide encouragement and companionship in times of high anxiety/panic or depression. The theraputic properties of animals are demonstrated time and time again as being effective in the treatment of depression and anxiety, and I believe it would be imensely helpful for me. A service dog would give me someone to encourage me to get out of my room, get some exercise, and take care of myself when my mental health is doing poorly.

(Updated 5/26/18)
I was initially working with a local organization to obtain a fully trained service dog; however, the organization ended up having to decline my application. 

I am now looking to self-train a service dog with the assistance of trainers both in Dallas and in Shreveport.   I will be updating my total amount when I have a better understanding of the relative costs of training my own service dog.

(Updated 6/2/18)
On June 1st, I officially adopted my future service dog, Cal. He is a lab mix from the local shelter, and he is so sweet and bright. He's 3-4 months old, and already settling in well.

First, we have to work on mastering beginning obedience skills like crate training, sit, stay, retrieve, and leash walking. Then, we can move on to public access skills to start working in public.