Psychiatrist approved it for me. I keep the referral letter in my file at home. I have a service dog, not a therapy or companion dog. ADA outlines the difference.

I used the ADA guidelines for services provided by a dog, and the behavioral requirements as well. Unfortunately, not everyone who claims to have a service dog should be allowed access because of their dog's misbehavior. It makes my doctors appreciate the fact that my dog lies still on her blanket on the floor, whether it's 15 minutes or an hour. She's appreciated at the infusion center, as well, where she lies still for more than 3 hours while I have IVig infusions two days a month. Not every breed does that easily. That said, my Border Collie is known to be an active herding dog, but they respond to stay command. All kinds of breeds are used, depending partly on the service they provide. I wish my last one had lived as long as yours, but he had a stroke at 9, even though he was in good health. My Sadie is around 9 now, and I've started looking ahead at what I'll do when I lose her. It's always hard, even when they're geriatric. I wish you the best.

Jim