Anxiety comes in many different forms for many different people. Mine comes to me in waves of high energy and a panic attack usually ensues. There are few things that calm my anxiety and that help my energy level out so that I can become a functioning, non-hyperventilating member of society again. After trying several medications, naturopathy, massage, and other techniques, I found that the presence of a therapy pet is my solution.Now a therapy pet doesn't have any special training or registration process. It is simply an animal that you travel with that helps to alleviate your anxiety and to provide comfort. These types of pets range from the expected such as cats and dogs to the rather unique such as parrots and reptiles. My therapy pet comes in an adorable package of a black, 11 lbs, feline: Samo. She is a bit too intelligent for her own good sometimes: she open cabinets, plays fetch, knows how to lie down on command, and doesn't leave my side for more than a few minutes. She has become my constant companion and I am fairly dependent upon her in anxiety causing situations. But how did she become my legitimate "therapy pet"
I went to my doctor who was well aware of my struggles with anxiety and talked to her about my relationship with Samo. And she suggested that Samo become my therapy pet. This process was not as difficult as one might assume. Unlike with a service animal, a therapy pet does not need to have any special training. My doctor simply wrote me a letter that details my anxiety and list Samo has my therapy pet. The letter is signed by my doctor and expires one year form the date it was written. With this letter Samo is welcome anywhere with me: busses, airplanes (for free - there is no animal fee with a therapy pet on an airline), museums, apartments even with no pet policies...basically any public space which might have previously had qualms about average felines in their space. I simply put Samo in her pet carrier,which also fits underneath an airline seat comfortably, and we are ready to go. She also wears a halter and leash for when she needs to stretch her legs or chew on some grass. This American Airlines carrier is always a good choice because it is made of a fabric so that it can bend a bit under the seat and it is the appropriate airline size as well:
The only downside is going through security with Samo because they do ask that the pet is removed from the pet carrier and held on the passenger's person through the security scanner. But I am luck for Samo has also risen to the challenge and responsibility of being my therapy pet and she quietly purrs while I hold her and walk through the scanner. Some people opt to give their pets tranquilizers during the flight or you can choose not too...but, in my experience, most therapy pets are better behaved than people's children that occupy the flight.
So if your anxiety has been controlling parts of your life, I would suggest giving a therapy pet a try. It's an easy solution and easy process...there's nothing to lose.
