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PSYCHIATRIC SERVICE DOG PARTNERS: DOGS SAVING LIVES

PSYCHIATRIC SERVICE DOG PARTNERS: DOGS SAVING LIVES

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We don’t provide service dogs or scams. We inform all comers through sensible guidance and free resources from our all-volunteer community of peers. Learn about our mission, history, and how we use our expertise to help.

News

In the foreground, a woman in a wheelchair with a bag holding 2 japanese chin listens to a woman across from her. Nearby, a golden retriever and an australian shepherd relax, while in the focus of the picture a woman bends over to give a treat to a min pin as a woman and young boy watch.

July 7, 2022—This year’s convention pictures are now posted!

Three service dog teams of various ages and breeds, two of them in wheelchairs, smile joyfully for a picture at Shoreline Village with boat masts and building in the background and "love locks" on the short rail fencing just behind them.

June 30–July 15, 2022—Once again, we’re fighting against the creation of a harmful service dog standard. It’s quick and easy to help by pasting a message and submitting it. See our top advocacy item!

May 29, 2022—Carrying a small service dog in a pouch used to be looked down on as “unprofessional” in the service dog community. Dr. Veronica Morris trailblazes a more disability-friendly perspective in “Disabled needs over others’ comfort—my service dog pouching evolution“, with important lessons for everyone about our priorities.

A white woman in a white mask stands outside with a small white and sable Japanese Chin dog sticking out of a multi-colored pouch; the sky is clear and a saturated blue.

May 20, 2022—We updated our popular public access test! Now it will work even better for different disabilities and ways of working with a service dog. Our PAT also now includes the explanations of our public access standard, so there’s no need to use separate documents.

Click to reveal more news items on this page…

January 10, 2022—2021’s community pictures are now posted!

A woman and her giant German Shepherd sit next to a Buddha statue.

December 9, 2021—It would be hard on disabled people for one company’s detailed service dog standard to become law—there are plenty of good arguments showing this. PSDP’s recent short video (also on our advocacy page) goes further and reveals how “Service dog standards undermine their own goals”.

December 2, 2021—Looking for your community? Consider the life-changing experience of finding your chosen family at our 2022 Psychiatric Service Dog Partners convention. Long Beach, CA, April 29–May 2.

A group of smiling service dog users lines up along a wall outside of a mall.

November 26, 2021—Just out for errands and you don’t want to spend your time educating everyone about service dogs? Hand our updated FAQ flyer to the politely curious and everyone wins!

The first page of a tri-fold flyer, "Service Dog FAQ/ answers to common questions about psychiatric service dogs"

October 28, 2021—This year’s convention pictures are now posted! The 2021 convention pictures come in three links below:

Pictures: part 1 (Friday night and Saturday)

Pictures: part 2 (Sunday)

Portraits

In a hotel meeting room with a PSDP banner in the background, a young handler with a sable Standard Poodle service dog pushes another handler in a manual wheelchair as a small white and black Japanese Chin dog sits on her lap.

September 24, 2021—Don’t let the dominos fall against owner-trainers! Paste the email addresses and message on our advocacy page now to stand up against another state (Michigan) trying to give access only to an exclusive set of people training service dogs. Estimated time it takes to help stop this: 60 seconds.

September 20, 2021—Linden tells an important story in a new addition to our Training section, “A personal lesson: paying attention to your dog to pace your training“.

A smiling white woman with long, curly gray hair kneels and poses facing the camera with a lying German Shepherd with grass in the background.

May 20, 2021—Many folks get confused about how assistance animal accommodations work in housing. We break down some of the common sources of confusion. Even better, PSDP’s new housing tools walk you through whether and how HUD’s regulations and guidance apply to your situation.

Image of a colorful flowchart titled "Fair Housing Act—what's exempt?".

April 16, 2021—The proposal to create an international (ISO) service dog standard failed, ensuring this will not create more barriers for disabled people. Read more about this and our efforts on our USAUSA coalition page.

April 15, 2021—Our socialization/exposure checklist is crowdsourced from our service dog user community. The PDF checklist is paired with an intro article and photos to help you get set for the most basic kind of public access training.

First page of the exposure checklist, a text-based PDF.

April 14, 2021—PSDP is encouraging good reporting on service dog teams by offering an Award for Excellence in Service Dog Reporting. This award is accompanied by a $500 prize. See the press release on the award.

A smiling white woman sits with a small white and black dog in her lap, in a room where she is surrounded by lighting and filming equipment.

 

 

3: Restaurants and social hour


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Part of the fun is sharing meals and social time with friends new and old.

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< 2: Heeling seminar and around town     4: Testing >


Donate button, takes you to a page with descriptions of ways to donate or help otherwise

 

 

Badge: GreatNonprofits 2021 Top-Rated Nonprofit. Volunteer. Donate. Review.


 

Black rectangular button that reads "Contact PSDP" in white and gold text.

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