Ricky and Blue: Companionship and Life Beyond Anxiety

Episode transcript

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[Music]
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Join us today as we dive into the world of emotional support animals and the incredible impact they have on their lives of their handlers. This show is
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dedicated to give you an inside look at the people and the stories behind these amazing animals. In each episode, we connect with registered emotional
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support animal handlers who are officially listed with the emotional support animals registry in the UK. Our guests share their personal journeys,
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the unique ways their ESAs have transformed their lives, and the invaluable bond they share with their
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companions. Um, whether you're an ESA handler yourself, consider getting one, or just curious about the role these animals play in mental and emotional well-being, you're in the right place.
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So, sit back, relax, and let's dive into another episode of the Emotional Support Animal Show. Let's get started. Hi,
Chapter 2: Meet Ricky and Blue
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Ricky, and thanks for coming to the show. Can you start by introducing yourself and telling us a bit about your ESA and what kind of animal do you have
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and what is their name? Yeah, hello there. So, my name is Ricky um and my
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dog is Blue. So, is a Chinese sharpi um and has been with me for uh 5 years.
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So uh when I was really needed and when the doctor approached me and say I think the animal will be will be good for you.
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So uh since then um we've been together so for that five years though.
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Okay. What led you to decide uh you needed an emotional support animal? Was there a specific moment or reason? Yes.
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So um I've been diagnostic with um generalized anxiety disorder. Um and
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I've been fighting this for many many years. Um five years ago uh one of the doctors approached me and said like have
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you been taught to have an animal? you know uh it's animals there where he can support you and he can help you doing
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some daily tasks you know and helping you you know helping you going out uh so and and I start thinking you know I had
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dogs in the past and it's true so I was thinking about why not why why I don't have a dog and I can see maybe this is
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what is missing in my life and that that's when I took that decision and and and I said to the doctor you know what I'm going to pick a dog and and yeah So,
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I got the dog with me. I got Blue. Uh, it's it's it's been wonderful and and amazing.
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Okay. How has having an emotional support animal impacted your day-to-day life and mental well-being? Uh, that's
Chapter 3: Impact on mental health
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it's I think it's it's no words to say that, you know. Sorry, I'm getting a little bit emotional.
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And this is and this is because you know blue um has opened the doors for me a
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lot. Um he saved my life once. Uh so in the first year we worked together. I think when blue approached uh and he
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came in my life he said oh my god your your life is a mess. I'm going to help
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you out. Um and and and basically Blue has been around and helped me take me
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out of the house. Um as uh it's what people say, oh is not a trained dog.
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Sometimes the dogs don't need to be trained to support you or to help you.
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Uh so the the all Whoops. Sorry. some some as usual
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technical problems. No worries. So, sorry we missed all of that. So, sorry about that. How has having an emotional
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support animal impacted your day-to-day life and mental mental well-being? Yeah.
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So um so it's like it's no words to have that and like I said it's make it make me a lot emotional talking about that
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because blue has been a big impact in my life and one of the big impacts was blue
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saved my life. Um if I was not blue I was not here. Um and and and today when
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I look around and I say and I hear people say oh your dog is not trained to to support you is not helping you is not
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trained properly to to do tasks and help you to do tasks and I say like look to be honest I don't think the dog if the
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dog wants to support you doesn't need any any training because they feel they have that emotions they catch from
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yourself and and yeah so is is is the proof of that you know uh blue saved my
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life without any training. Um and I I can talk about it because I I learned to talk about that in in in all my talk
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therapies. Uh was one of the days I I was trying to take my life and and Blue saved me. So basically my part I was
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asleep and when I decide to take my life during the night and blue jump on it wake up everyone uh took me away from
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the danger and and I think after one week when I start coming back to myself I say like wow wow so that's what has
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been all that impact so far has been doing to me. safe.
Chapter 4: Daily comfort and connection
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Could you share a particular story or instance where your ESA provided comfort or support during a challenging time?
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Yeah, so so one of these ones was on that times uh after after that that uh
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episode happens. Um blue uh has been more next to me. So it's uh it's why in
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the in the joke way I always say it looks like a shadow always follow me wherever I go without I calling him. So even I'm just sat on the sofa just the
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moving to to go to the kitchen, moving to the toilet, he's always follow me because I can see on on him it's more I
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know what you did before. I want to be next to you. I want you to to know I'm here for you. So if you need me, I'm
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here. So uh and and and yeah, so I have days where uh I'm just walking around in
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the house and uh and I start feeling down and all that thoughts coming
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through to your head again and suddenly you see blue jumping on you, you know, trying to, you know, reaching you with a
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paws and trying to scratch you and try to sit down near to me, cuddle me. And that is where he go run to pick up a toy
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and bring the toy back just to to have that play time where he knows he going to distract me and and yeah, so that's
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that's where I can see he's been it's been happening daily. So I can't say it's a specific time or it's daily.
Chapter 5: Public challenges and stigma
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What are some of the biggest benefits you've experienced since getting your emotional support animal? Um so benefits
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um I can say uh is been helped me
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um take me out. So uh improving my mental health.
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uh I was getting stuck at home sometimes and not able to go out, not able to to
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go uh with to the pub with the friends or even just go in the weekend out with a partner and and today it's like it's a
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responsibility I have on my side and he make me go out because he needs to go out in the morning. he needs to go out
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in the end of the day. But but then if I'm alone home and oh I need to do some cooking and he's missing an item, I
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don't I in that case I don't need to wait for my partner and I don't going to call my partner. I have Blue next to me.
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I can take Blue with me. So and this is why I can see the benefits to have Blue. Oh, great. Have you encountered
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any challenges or obstacles in having an emotional support animal especially in public places or specific establishments?
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Yes. Yes. Um so the challenge as as you can see so uh as as as mentioning it's
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it's a sharpey. So it's it's not it's not a recognized not it's recognized
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breed but it's not very known around in UK uh the breed. So when people see the
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dog, they they think it's they they similar think it's it's a pitbull or exbully uh and not discriminating the
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other dogs. And this is when I try to explain them and when they see blue coming in in the shop or in the cafe like oh sorry dogs is not allowed and
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and I I I introduced myself to them and I try to explain them look is a support dog and they come to me oh support dog
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this this is a danger dog how he can be a support dog so and then I try to explain it look it doesn't mean he needs
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to be a golden retriever or a Labrador where people are used to see all these dogs and I say like any dog can be any
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animal can be an assistant can be a service dog. You just need to be trained and be ready for that. So it's like
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everyone and you know if you want to be a doctor you you're going to you're going to learn to be a doctor. So you can not saying like oh just because your
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background you're never going to be a doctor. Yeah. I've just got a photo of you with blue on the screen right now.
Chapter 6: Social life and community
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Um, do you feel that having an emotional support animal has helped you connect with people in your community or has it
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affected your social life? Um, no. As helping a lot. Um, I'm doing a little
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bit of ambassador work as well in my area because people see me around uh
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going with blue in shops uh going with blue uh inside of pubs,
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cafes uh and they they start asking how how you how it's possible you'll be here with a dog. So I explained them uh oh
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but oh are are these legal? So I explain it. So giving that open for them. Um so
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I I think I think it's it's been good and and a little bit sharing my my experience with with the community.
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Community is very happy. They all all all community almost at least in the in the rays of five miles they know blue.
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So sometimes I'm walking oh is this blue? Is this blue? So, they already know Blue and they know he's not he's
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very he's very friendly and he's he's is he's very cuddle. He likes people and he likes to support me.
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Yeah, that's the biggest problem is uh people don't realize that uh animals don't Oh, you're back again.
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Yeah, it happens.
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Um, what's the most surprising thing you've learned about emotional support animals since you got one? So, I what I
Chapter 7: Misconceptions and rights
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learned it's I don't treat them like animals or treat them as pets. So, this is why
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people say like I I call him is a he for me. So, uh I take him as as
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as as he was my son. You're part of the family. Yeah. Yeah. So, so I don't like people say, "Oh, you know, he he needs
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to do." No, I don't I don't stop him to do he have toys to play. He messed the house. I speak with him like like a kid.
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Uh and and people say, "Oh, your dog is a little bit like messy. Uh do you went to a house with full of kids? Can you see the difference?" Sometimes what
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brother do you have? And and I have do a daughter as well. So So I know I had that experience in the past having a small kid in the house. And even my
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daughter when we come when she's coming to visit me and she said like, "Oh, dad, look this house. It looks like you I I have I have a brother around and and and
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so that's that's what I what I think it's always take care of them and they will care about you." And what I learned
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for a long long time is the dogs are the reflex or the mirror of the owner. Yeah.
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Are there any misconceptions about emotional support animals that you would like to clear up for the viewers? Yeah, so I what I can say is like emotional
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support animals are are like the same or when you see someone in the wheelchair, they governments and countries are
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trying to not recognize them. But they forgot one thing. We need them to to take us out of the house like the same
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of a person in the wheelchair or in crutches needs them to walk out of the house. Yeah. Medical. Yeah. Our support
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animal is the same. I need blue to take me out. Otherwise, I'm going to be enclosed in my house. I will not go out.
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Uh it's impossible to me to feel safe if I go out. Uh and when I have that past.
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So I understand sometimes people think about emotional support animal. Oh, they're not trained. They not do this.
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They not being they don't do nothing to help you out. They do. They really do.
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And like I mentioned before, they don't need to be trained. If the not if you treat the dog and the dog know he you
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need him and he needs you, he he will do everything he he can to help you out in the in the emergency situation, in the
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most needed situation. So I think if you are thinking like to get the support animal to help in your health just get get it because it's going to help you.
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Don't think about that stigma about oh no it's a challenge uh and is a is fighting for us and we are fighting for
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that as well to to bring this up and and and just I don't say legalize but
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recognize more what these animals do for us.
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Yeah. How does your emotional support animal help you manage specific symptoms of your disability, hidden disability or
Chapter 8: Managing specific symptoms
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condition? Yeah. So, I have like days where Blue knows I'm completely down and
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I'm in bed and he knows his time. So, he have that time. He knows he needs to go out. So, he knows if I'm not out of the
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bed on that day, what normally do to help me out. He doesn't push me. is not that dog is start crying say like let's
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go let's go we need to go I I really need to go out blue jump on the bed cuddle me uh and and give me the time
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for me to okay to breathe gain that strength and and and going out uh I have
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that days where I'm just standing cooking in the kitchen and and Bloom
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noticed I'm I'm not paying paying attention or or anything to or or to the cooker or to the air fryer and and he
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starts scratching my my my my legs or jumping on me saying like hey come back come back okay so wake up because I
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start drifting around so my my mind start drifting and he can feel that so he start distract me say hey I'm here so
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and people start ask oh how do you know that how how you know how you never been trained Like I said, it's a connection.
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We're going to create with the dog and we create that connection because if you want to have a dog just to to be able to take him to the shopping mall and you
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don't have any condition and you just going to treat him and you're going to have uh the dog locked in the crate and he doesn't let you don't let him rooming
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around in the house following you, learning you about what you need and what what your need is. In that case, I
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don't think it's it's it's a good option to have a support animal. But if you really want to have a support animal, create that connection because you don't
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need to train him. He's going to create that connection. He's going to be with you all the time. He's going to be that that sticker.
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[Music]
Chapter 9: Navigating business access
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How receptive has businesses and service providers in your city or town been towards your emotional support animal?
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And have you found certain places more accepting than others? Yes. Um, so because because of the breed of my dog, um, as you can see, um, it's it's hard.
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Uh, every every business I go try to go in, the first thing is like I can see their faces like, "Oh, you're not supposed to have a dog. Do dogs are not
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allowed." But it's I think we need to approach them. And what I do normally sometimes it's because I know that
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situation. I don't want to escalate any any further arguments or even distress for myself. So normally what I try to do
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uh I try to signal them ask them can I ask you a question and show them the cart before I enter the shop or approach
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them directly to the shop instead go straight straight to a table sit down and make the orders no go and explain them the situation and they are very
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receptive for this because I'm I'm let them know so it's like asking them permission but in the same way let them
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know why I'm I'm with that animal with me and and show them sometimes the cart if it's needed. But to be honest, so far
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only with explanations to them. And when I told them it's a support animal, they I never had any problems except sometimes in central London when I go to
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museums. So in the museums, uh yes, it's a little bit radical. They they come a little bit with that rudeness straight
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away. Oh, animals go away. Go away. And so I approached them and say like look that's that's the card as you can see.
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Uh so he he have the routine he he have all the information on on the best because I try to put the most information I can when I take him to
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museums and and yeah so after that that nice explanation without confrontation without like shouting so because they
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are expecting we know we know it's that stigma is there so it's no point for us to like okay it's an service talk no if
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we explain this with now nice calm manner and we in the end of the Today we are the ambassadors for for ISA you know
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so uh we are explain them look is register you know uh this is this card
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this is what you do for me oh okay so it's more acceptable so so far um so far
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at least in the UK uh I never encounter no major ins shoes even when when I go in holidays in UK so I I my stations in
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in here. I always let them know in advance. Uh they always say, "Oh, uh we charge a fee for a dog." But if he's uh
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an assistant dog, there's no fees chargeable. And I never been charged.
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Soon I call them and I show them the card and all the IDs and I I send the letters for them. I never been charged.
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I never been being kicked out or whatever. So I don't know if it's been a lucky person around but so far I think because of that approach I do with them.
Chapter 10: Travel experiences
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It leads me to my next question. If you've traveled with your essa which you have what was the experience like and did you face any specific challenges?
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[Music]
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Flying of course flying still a challenge but I always drive um and I
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drive long drives just because of blue just to take me to take with me. So the I think the best the big challenge
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where sometimes it's I I I'm surprised it's France. So in some places in France where you know
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Yoi the dog they run to you and so even when you explain them you know is a support dog uh they are a little bit
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like they discriminate you a little bit because they take you sometimes imagine they in the restaurant and happens a lot
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when I go to France. So basically they if they have an empty room they're going to put you away in the corner like a punishment. So you go there and stay
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there. And even sometimes where you can have a quick dinner or quick lunch for one hour. It can takes three hours because they ignoring you because you
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are there on that corner and everyone is looking why that person is there. You know because sometimes the blue is laid down on the under the table and it's
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quiet. So people is wondering why they are there. Is this challenge? But other countries, Spain, Italy, um Portugal, I
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never had encountered any any problems uh any any challenge even um aostar. So I take I take the the aero the the
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channel the aero channel. So because blue is going with me in the car I I can't be away from blue like if you take
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the ferry he needs to leave you need to leave him in the car then you need to go to the deck. So, I don't feel confident and even for blue because blue knows he
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he needs to be next to me and for him I think he's going to be more scared and more anxious knowing like oh my gosh I'm
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here and if something happens to my to my father and I'm away and I can't help him out so I don't want to create this
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stress to blue as well. So that's only the challenge we are encounter. I'm so happy to see Italy government. I think I
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saw some news about now they allowed some dogs to travel in the cabins on flights. So I need to explore this this
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area a little bit more. Yeah. The biggest problem with airlines is is they've got a weight limit at the moment which is 5 kilos. And uh a lot of them
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although they take S's um they have to fit under the seat in front of you you know in a cage or a bag which is no good
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for you of course. Um, yeah. So, um, I know some, like you said, are changing that. Maybe, you know, you'll have to
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pay a little bit extra to have the, uh, larger animal with you on the plane, you know. So, do you have something or sorry
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to just I think something they they could do that because even I approached some airlines, I said like I don't mind to pay the full row. I really don't mind
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to pay the full row. just allow my Yeah, maybe they should just like um for person with a assistance animal like
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emotional support animal or whatever, they should have like the last maybe the last seats in the plane for that. Maybe
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that'll help. But um the problem also is is with the UK is is they won't allow any animals coming in in the cabin. So
Chapter 11: Advice for prospective owners
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what advice would you give someone who is considering getting an emotional support animal?
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Don't think twice. Uh don't feel you you are alone.
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Uh we are a big community. Um we've been as we see I'm I'm being you know very
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loyal and long long time a member from ISA. So uh I'm I never want to get get
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away. I want to help and and we if if someone wants to join us, it's is a plus one for for this big community. We are
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here and we still fighting to to have all of that. and um ESF have has helped
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us uh to to carry on with our lives and supporting us uh and helping us to to
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not let's I will want to say legalize you know the the emotional support animals and to make them you know a big
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community where we we can we can make this happen and and and just go just come come to us as Well, come come come
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join us and and we will here you know like I I know Issa is always there and
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if you need any any any informations they can help you out and and come and be part of the community. Don't look
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back. Uh animals are very very helpful for any kind of mental health or any health issues.
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Yeah. Also, what's happening also is I don't know if you know there's a there's an app coming out in a couple weeks as well. So, you'll be able to uh not only
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manage your registration but also um be able to show your card and other documents digitally so you won't you know in case you forget to have them on
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with you. So, that'll help as well. So, and this is I was saying you know is growing and I can see is growing. I'm
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from the time where you get you get you get the card and you get the certificate
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and and the letter and year by year I see improvement. So it means it means
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for me it means uh we are not just you know uh be a member just to be a member
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and where sometimes people say like oh this is someone in the background just trying to make money with us and and you
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you don't you don't see that you see all the money being invested. Yeah. you know and and and what upset me it's it's it's
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no getting no funds no getting no help from government and it's it's just members doing this where I think
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government's supposed to step in and help this because we not it's not a charity but but it's something we can
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help and we are saving money to the government with having a emotional support animal. It's true David Dave and
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this is this is what make me be be a member and a loyal member and be and be happy to be here and to share my exper
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my experience. So do you have any tips for managing the care well-being of an emotional support animal especially for
Chapter 12: Closing thoughts
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people with hidden disabilities or mental health challenges. Um I think I think
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like try to find your right animal. I think it's very important. Um, don't look like, "Oh, I I I don't like dogs.
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I'm I'm scared of dogs." It's not a dog.
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26 minutes, 54 seconds
Don't think about just a dog. Cats, you know, birds, snakes, rabbits, you know, any animal you can see can support you.
27:02
27 minutes, 2 seconds
So it's not just um and and and now with this new new new new show from from MISA
27:09
27 minutes, 9 seconds
you know where people can more look into that read here watch you know and take and take that opportunity to think about
27:18
27 minutes, 18 seconds
it what type of animal when people say like oh you know I wish to have a dog but I'm scared of dogs uh he will change he will change I can
27:28
27 minutes, 28 seconds
say I have one neighbor he was scared of big dogs today he's coming and the sun's coming knock on the door every day just
27:35
27 minutes, 35 seconds
to say hello to blue you know so as you see was a person was scared of dogs and today is he's playing with blue uh so
27:43
27 minutes, 43 seconds
it's it's just choose what is right for you don't just jump saying like oh I'm going to get this because it's going to
27:50
27 minutes, 50 seconds
help you no a dog is for your life is going to be for your life we need to be there for them they're going to be here
27:57
27 minutes, 57 seconds
less than us so we need to support them as well it's not only them be for us, but we need to be there for them as
28:05
28 minutes, 5 seconds
well. Exactly. Lastly, what's the one thing you'd like people to understand or appreciate about emotional support animals that they might not realize?
28:18
28 minutes, 18 seconds
Uh, don't make feelings bad when we go out with the dogs.
28:23
28 minutes, 23 seconds
um ask us as well when we are out and about with with the dog you know if if
28:31
28 minutes, 31 seconds
you can pet because they are working dogs in the end of the day um they are doing their job even when they they they think like oh but he's a little bit away
28:39
28 minutes, 39 seconds
from you he's away from but he never going to lose my sight so he's always pay attention to to me so I think it's
28:49
28 minutes, 49 seconds
it's like take us seriously Don't take us just because we we are trying to oh I have a dog I don't want
28:57
28 minutes, 57 seconds
to leave the dog behind and I don't want to leave the dog at home and and now you're just trying to bring the dog to the to the cafe because no support us
29:06
29 minutes, 6 seconds
because it's it's our wheelchair and our crutches to to take us out and to enjoy life. Without them we can't enjoy life and and and maybe we will not be here.
29:18
29 minutes, 18 seconds
So just respect us. It's a little bit of respect.
29:23
29 minutes, 23 seconds
Okay. So that was it. Thank you for coming on the show. It's been much appreciated and thank you all those viewers watching this show. Uh please
29:31
29 minutes, 31 seconds
subscribe to the channel if you haven't done yet. So hit the thumbs up and of course share the video link on your social media. And Ricky, thank you very
29:39
29 minutes, 39 seconds
much for coming on the show. That's been great. Thank you Dave. Thank you.
29:45
29 minutes, 45 seconds
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