Hi, my name is Zamaria Nichelson and my puppies name is Onyx. She’s 4 months old Mixed Pit bull Terrier and I’m reaching out for help with something that could truly change my life: training a psychiatric service dog.
Living with Generalized Anxiety Disorder, Major Depressive Disorder, BPD(Borderline), ADHD, and Mild Schizophrenia, along with 2 chronic illnesses can be an atrocious and exhausting experience. Everyday tasks can feel impossible, and moments of calm are few and far between, on top of self harm behaviors and having terrible episodes. After consulting with my healthcare providers and doing a lot of research, I’ve decided that a psychiatric service dog is not only another helpful option—it’s a life-changing necessity.
Psychiatric service dogs are specially trained to assist with tasks such as interrupting panic attacks, providing grounding during dissociative episodes, waking me from night terrors, reminding me to take medication, and more. These dogs undergo rigorous training to respond to specific medical needs and improve quality of life on a daily basis.
The cost of getting her to start service dog training is substantial—ranging between $2,500 to $3,000. I’m doing everything I can to cover what I can on my own, but I can’t do this alone.
All of your support will go directly toward:
• Professional psychiatric service dog training
• Ongoing obedience and task-specific training
• Equipment and gear for training and working
• Veterinary care during the training period
This journey is deeply personal, and all my life, I’ve struggled asking for help, it’s not easy. If you’re able to donate, no matter how small, it’d be greatly appreciated, even simply sharing this campaign, it would mean the world to me.
