Emotional Support dogs in the trucking industry
Sassy is my emotional support dog. She’s a very necessary part of relieving my general anxiety and I thought I would share her with you as well as how this is accomplished in the trucking industry.
I picked her carefully looking for a submissive personality as well as no anxiety. A support dog is to comfort an individual and they being stressed can have the opposite effect. I also allow her time to be a dog, run in the park, socialize and walk trails with me. Most people know the road is difficult to manage to eat properly never mind care for a dog but I make time work the best I can for both of our sakes. She is happy and healthy and thriving out here and I take better care of me because I make the time. The breed of dog doesn’t matter really, it’s the bond you form with your dog that centers you. She needs an hour a day and I need an hour a day to get things done and still drive the 600-700 miles I need to everyday. We get lucky a lot where we deliver and I usually unhook and take off to the nearest park to run around. I plan where I reset my hours to make sure there’s a park close by.
I have talked to a few other drivers with Emotional support dogs and it seems anxiety and depression are common factors. Social anxiety requires their dog to accompany them into truck stops and restaurants so the dogs can be taught different skills according to what your needs are. There are lots of sites that encourage you to register your dog but I know ESD’S do not require registering or cards in fact depending on the state or province, people can not even ask because of privacy laws.
I do know according to a service dog site that in Ontario you require a note from a doctor or nurse in a restaurant or shopping center. I would research though before you end up somewhere with your dog that you shouldn’t be.
Over-the-road driving is tough on a person for many reasons, lack of time to live outside of the truck and feeling like you’re a wanderer with no home can really do a number on your emotions and minds out here. Sassy provides the grounding necessary for my life and I am thankful to have her.
Carol and Sassy
Carol Pritchard is an owner operator at Pride Group Logistics . Carol is also a director of WTFC.
You can reach Carol at carolp@wtfc.ca
