By: Amber Light

My name is Amber. I have had my Service Dog named Smoky since October 2019.

For the majority of my life, I struggled with depression and anxiety related to PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder). I was actively attending counseling and about to start EMDR Therapy, a type of eye movement therapy, when my counselor and I discussed getting a service dog. At the time I was living alone. I was really struggling with going into grocery stores, and restaurants, going to work, and doing everyday tasks due to my anxiety and depression. My counselor and I spoke about natural ways to help me live a “normal lifestyle”. We discussed getting a service dog for myself.

I started to look into the process of getting a service dog. I came across different ways to get a service dog. A few ways were going through an agency or self-training. I decided to self-train. I came across Canine Kismet LLC owned by Rebecca Klinger. We spoke about the process of training a service dog. I then decided since my service dog was going to save me and help my life, I also wanted to save this dog. This is when I decided to rescue a puppy from Buddy’s Second Chance and train him with the help of Rebecca.

When I got Smoky, we did several private lessons with Rebecca in my home and out in the community. We did group classes also. I also brought Smoky with me to my counseling sessions so he could learn when my anxiety would come on. Shortly after I got Smoky, the world shut down due to COVID. One thing that I learned with my depression and anxiety is to not isolate, but everyone was being told to isolate. I worked with Rebecca safely. I watched YouTube videos, and I was out in a park daily training him to become my service dog.

Smoky was a lifesaver for me through COVID. At a time when everyone was isolating, I had Smoky to keep me going and a reason to get out of bed every day when I could have easily gone back into a major depression. Smoky can feel when I start to become anxious, and he will perform the task he needs to perform. I have now been able to go shopping, go out to dinner, and go to work daily. Smoky has traveled with me on airplanes. Smoky has helped me through several surgeries. Unfortunately, I have been discriminated against by just a few different businesses both in the WNY area and in other states, but I do not let that discourage me.

I have been told Smoky is just an emotional support animal, but he is not. He does several tasks when he is with me to help me live every day. I have been asked to disclose my disability. When I do come across some of these situations, I politely tell the person I do not need to disclose my disability; I am protected under the ADA. I tell the person you can only ask me what task my service dog performs. Despite some of these bad experiences, I fully believe and support anyone that has or wants a Service Dog rather than those struggling with a mental health disability or a physical disability. Dogs are an amazing natural way to help humans and should be treated as a precious gift of life and hope.