How do I get an emotional support dog?

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Hi. I decided to post this here because I figured some of your children may have such dogs.

I just recently got out of the hospital because I had lapsed into a depression and started having bad thoughts and doing stuff.....It's a very scary place for someone with Aspergers.
Anyways, I can't always tell when those depressions are about to happen to me. I also cannot always tell if I am sick. I also don't always know when I'm anxious and need help. I've confused anxiety and depression for illness and vice versa. Which has probably made me look like I love attention but I assure you, I hate this.
I'm most worried about the depressions and the bad thoughts. I was recently put on meds which may work some but I don't want to live too doped up so I thought a dog like this would be a nice addition. I also go to therapy.
I am diagnosed with Aspergers, Major Depression (MD only stops my normal living before my period) PMDD and severe anxiety.

Thank you for your help

I don't have personal experience and I don't know if you need a script or not to get a therapy dog, (or some kind of documentation from a doctor) but the doctors that you currently trust to treat you, might be a good source of information. Alternately, if you have any local asperger/autism resources or even resources for people who need service dogs might be able to give you info on therapy dogs, even though it is not their specific niche.

Emotional support animals, comfort animals, and therapy dogs are not service animals under Title II and Title III of the ADA. So, you get them just like any other pet. And since they don't fall under the ADA, anyone can set up a company and act as a "register" and for say, $70, send you a certificate and a vest for the dog. There are many such companies. However, since such a dog is not a service animal it does not enjoy all of the unrestricted access that such dogs enjoy.

"Emotional Support Animals are not required to undergo specialized training. Their primary roles are to provide their disabled owners with emotional comfort. Emotional support animals can benefit a disabled individual, psychologically, tremendously. The seemingly basic gift of companionship and unconditional affection can be just the right therapy to counter a condition like debilitating depression.

While the ADA does not grant owners of emotional support animals the right to be accompanied by these animals in establishments that do not permit pets, the DOJ/HUD’s Fair Housing Act does allow for disabled owners of emotional support animals to reside in housing that has a “No Pets” policy, as a reasonable accommodation. The DOT’s Air Carrier Access Act also allows those with proof of a disability the accommodation of being accompanied by an emotional support animal. "

(from: http://pleasedontpetme.com/differences.php )

So, to get an emotional support dog, you simply find a dog that can do the job. Easier said than done sometimes, it may require "interviewing" or trying out a number of animals until you find one that reacts to you the way you need it to when things are going bad. Luckily, a number of breeds are well known for such behavior.

I agree, pets can be very comforting!!
If you check with your local no kill animal shelter, a lot of times they can help match you up with a suitable dog that matches your needs.
Sometimes they will have 1 or 2 year old dogs or older available and can let you know their personality and if they like and give a lot of affection, etc., if that's what you're looking for. Sometimes they will let you "foster to adopt" , to make sure it's a good match.
Good luck!

I'm looking into getting a service dog. Service dogs have access to most public places and are often trained to help Aspies avoid a meltdown.

I don't know if Emotional Support Dogs are trained to do anything. However, I have heard Emotional Support Dogs don't have access to most public venues (any more than an 'ordinary' dog would).

Anyway, I may be correct in what I wrote above, or maybe I just misunderstand; but what I wrote above is what I believe is correct.

I hope it's helpful.

~Doug

Emotional support animals: Since an emotional support animal's role is solely to provide comfort to a person disabled by a mental illness, no special training is necessary, and like Edenthiel said, you can get one just like you would a pet. The legal distinction between a pet and an ESA only comes into play with no pets housing and flying. A prescription from the doctor who is treating you for your mental illness is only needed in these situations. (The online registries are complete scams. The certificates and whatnot that they sell are completely meaningless and useless since no registration is necessary and the certificates don't replace the need for a doctor's note. And since ESAs don't have public access rights like service dogs do, there is not need to get a vest for an ESA.)
There's a lot of great information about ESAs and articles on ESAs in housing and on airplanes, including a sample doctors letter, here:
http://servicedogcentral.org/content/ESA

I personally recommend getting an adult dog. Raising an emotionally healthy puppy when you have an anxiety disorder is difficult. Since puppies look to their handler to learn what things in the world are dangerous by watching their emotions, by having a handler who is always anxious, the puppy then thinks the whole world is dangerous. You also want to find a dog that isn't distressed by your anxiety. If you don't already have a lot of experience interpreting dog body language, I'd consult a canine behaviorist to make sure, since some of a dog's distress signs are often mistaken for affection.

Having an ESA that's distressed by your anxiety isn't helpful. My cat is distressed by my anxiety and tends to scratch and avoid me when i most need his comfort.