My German Shepherd Kota Has Already Saved My Life

by Deb Phillips
(Marysville, CA)

My Kota is a female 4 year old long-coated GSD. I acquired her about 1 ½ years ago. Kota is a Mobility and Psychiatric Service Dog.

I trained her mostly myself and with the help of a professional when needed.

I suffered from severe suicidal tendencies, SI, and chronic depression. Within 2 months of having Kota, all of these issues were completely removed from my life.

I also suffer from PTSD, agoraphobia, severe social phobia, panic disorder, dissociation, night terrors, nightmares, migraines and other MI issues.

Because of our close bond, Kota began to alert on these things. Using positive reinforcement, I shaped her alerts into behaviors that could be given in public, along with the response that mitigates the problem.

With Kota at my side 24/7, I can leave my house, go shopping or anywhere normal people do. Kota alerts on my mental health issues and then is trained to mitigate them so that they are greatly lessened or even completely averted.

Kota knows how to find the door in any store or building to lead me out to a safe place when I’m getting panicky or feeling too overwhelmed. She keeps me grounded in reality.

Thanks to Kota, I can do just about anything you can do! She has already saved my life. Kota is my life and I would anything for her. She is my heart-dog. Without her I simply would not be alive.