Hello, my name is Vanessa and I have actually needed an assistance dog for a long time. I grew up with dogs and can't imagine my life without a companion. Why I need an assistance dog: I have lived with mental and physical health problems since early childhood. I have suffered from allergic asthma since I was 8 years old. In 2012 I was first diagnosed with emotionally unstable borderline personality disorder and affective schizophrenia. This year, I was re-diagnosed with emotionally unstable borderline personality disorder and was also diagnosed with anxiety disorder, recurrent major depression and PTSD. What kind of support I would like from an assistance dog: everything quickly becomes far too much for me in everyday life. I suffer from panic attacks both at home and when I'm out and about (when shopping, on the train and generally when I'm out and about), which usually lead to self-harming behaviour. An assistance dog could give me security and be an anchor for me to cope better in the outside world and, if necessary, shield me from other people when everything becomes too much for me. I often suffer from nightmares and flashbacks, especially at night, and sometimes sleepwalk, so his support would be very helpful to help me calm down again. Of course, a dog would also give me something to do again and help me to get a better grip on the symptoms of my depression so that, for example, lying in bed for days on end is simply no longer possible. Due to my emotionally unstable borderline personality disorder, I often suffer from high emotional and physical tension, which I usually notice too late, and he could also help me here so that I can act earlier and no longer engage in self-harming behaviour so often. And as far as allergic asthma is concerned, it would of course be very practical to have someone who is able to get help in the event of an anaphylactic shock or asthma attack. I just want a loyal companion who I can count on and who also needs me so that we can simply be a good team.

Maybe you can help me make this dream come true.