To the editor:
I am writing to express my deep concern regarding the lack of understanding and discriminatory practices I have encountered within Peabody’s local government concerning mental health and the rights of individuals with psychiatric service dogs.
Recently, I attempted to license my psychiatric service dog with the City Clerk’s office in Peabody. I was informed that my dog was considered an emotional support animal and, therefore, not recognized as a service animal under what I was told were Peabody guidelines and Massachusetts law. The clerk stated that because my dog does not provide “physical help,” the standard license fee would not be waived, as it is for recognized service animals.
This experience highlights a significant issue: the pervasive stigma surrounding mental health and a lack of understanding regarding the crucial role psychiatric service dogs play in the lives of individuals with disabilities. My psychiatric service dog is prescribed by a medical professional and has undergone 120 hours of rigorous Public Access Training to perform specific tasks that mitigate my disability. He is not simply an emotional support animal; he is a vital medical tool that enables me to function and participate in daily life.
The distinction between emotional support animals and psychiatric service animals is critical. Emotional support animals provide comfort through their presence, while psychiatric service dogs are trained to perform specific tasks directly related to their handler’s mental health disability. These tasks can include interrupting harmful behaviors, reminding handlers to take medication, providing deep pressure therapy, and alerting to changes in emotional state. To dismiss a trained psychiatric service dog as merely an emotional support animal demonstrates a profound lack of understanding and perpetuates harmful stigma.
Furthermore, the assertion that Massachusetts law does not recognize psychiatric service dogs in the same way as other service dogs is inaccurate. While there can be nuances in interpretation, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) clearly protects the rights of individuals with psychiatric service animals in public accommodations, and Massachusetts law generally aligns with these federal protections.
I am deeply troubled by the implication that mental health disabilities are somehow less valid or require less support than physical disabilities. Will the stigma surrounding mental health ever end if our local government fails to acknowledge and understand the legitimate role of psychiatric service animals in providing essential support and independence to individuals with mental health conditions? Perhaps the city should consider encouraging and defining what constitutes mental health therapy to foster greater understanding and acceptance.
I have already filed a complaint with the Massachusetts Commission Against Discrimination (MCAD) regarding this matter. However, I believe it is crucial to raise public awareness about this issue and advocate for broader mental health understanding within our community.
I urge the City of Peabody to:
- Immediately recognize psychiatric service dogs as legitimate service animals under city guidelines.
- Issue my dog’s license without penalty.
- Review and update city policies to accurately reflect state and federal laws regarding service animals, including psychiatric service dogs.
- Provide training to city staff on the differences between emotional support animals and psychiatric service animals and the rights of individuals with disabilities.
- Actively work to reduce mental health stigma within our community by promoting education and understanding of mental health conditions and available support systems.
It is my hope that by addressing this issue, Peabody can become a more inclusive and understanding community for all its residents, including those living with mental health disabilities. Perhaps it is not my service dog that needs to be “tried,” but rather the outdated perceptions and lack of understanding within our local government.
Sincerely,
Daveta Redding
Peabody Resident
