After more than a year of weekly psychiatric appointments and different medications to treat my challenges with C-PTSD, my treatment team recommended looking into a Psychiatric Service Dog to help mitigate my symptoms. By happenstance, the owner of Penny Lane Australian Labradoodles mentioned MLU had a Program Service Dog ready for placement, but she might be too small for crowd control work. An internet search of Star’s bio listed all the qualities I was looking for in a PSD. Once I met Star, we bonded very quickly, and I know from day one we would make a great working team. Training with Lisa and Star in preparation for the transition of handling Star was seamless and rewarding.

Star’s is exactly as described in her MLU bio page, with no “surprises” or hidden behavioral issues after we began working as a full-time team. Is a PSD a good fit for everyone with a disability, probably not; due the cost of acquiring a well-trained dog, all the incidental costs, the investment in time spent keeping your skills as a team sharp, and the long-term commitment to always placing the dog’s needs above your own at times. Since Star joined our family, my happiness and outlook on life has significantly improved, my prayers were answered.