On many college campuses, pets are not allowed. This is true for my campus as well. However, for those who have mental disabilities like anxiety and depression, one may be approved to have a specific animal on campus.

I have a dog on campus who helps me cope with my depression and severe anxiety every day. When I feel an anxiety attack coming on, I lay with my dog and go through my calming strategies so that I can function properly throughout the remainder of my day.

Unfortunately, I often get the question, “How did you go about getting your dog on campus?” as they go off attempting to get their own dog approved on campus. When I ask if they mind sharing their reasoning for getting their dog approved, I often get a very offensive response. Most people simply just want to have their pet on campus or, even worse, “who doesn’t want to have their dog at school with them?”. These responses are not only a violation of school policy and a blatant lie to the university, but they are genuinely offensive for those of us who actually need an animal to get us through the day.

My dog is not just a pet or a family member or whatever excuse people come up with in an attempt to un-justify her approval. My dog is an aid to protect, strengthen, and stabilize my mental health. Anxiety and depression are chemical imbalances within the brain and are not things that can be controlled by my own free-will.

Your dog may help you but my dog gives me the ability to function properly throughout every single day.