Listservs are free online discussion groups.  Once subscribed to a listserv, you will receive email on a daily basis from other members of the group.  The amount of email you receive from the group will depend upon how ‘talkative’ members are on any particular day.  After receiving these emails, you may contribute to the ongoing discussion or initiate a new discussion topic by sending email to the listserv address (which will be provided to you at the time of subscription).  Your email will be automatically circulated to all members of the group, who may or may not respond to you, depending upon their interests. 

Listservs are great for building a service dog support network, a necessity for all service dog handlers.  On a service dog listserv, you will meet other service dog handlers from around the country, who are doing or have done what you are now trying to do.  There are some excellent trainers who hang out on these listservs, and many of them are happy to offer tips and training advice to new handlers.   When you’ve had an unpleasant access challenge at some store for example, you can bring your frustrations to the listserv and with members’ input examine the episode post facto.  What could I have done differently?  What will I do next time?  In fact, any service dog-related question can be sent to the listserv.  It is an invaluable learning tool. 

The Psychiatric Service Dog Society (PSDS) hosts a listserv for individuals living with invisible disabilities, including psychiatric disabilities.  Our listserv community has been online for over eight years.  It is as much of a learning environment, as it is a support environment.   Many of us have been with the group since the beginning, and we take a stewardship role towards new members.  We are here to help you. 

Please consider joining our listserv, or any of the numerous service dog listservs currently on the internet. Each listserv is hosted by an individual(s), who is responsible for subscribing and unsubscribing members, facilitating discussion, enforcing community rules, etc.. Each listserv has its own unique culture. Some enforce a strict topic rule; others do not. Be aware that some members of the online service dog community do not support the idea that persons living with mental illness can successfully utilize a well-trained dog to assist with symptom management. Such opinions reflect the ongoing stigma around mental illness. Our listserv is of course, fully supportive of the Psychiatric Service Dog (PSD) concept.

If you would like to join our listserv, please send an email to joan.esnayra@mac.com and explain your interest in service dogs. Provide a telephone number and the best times to call. Dr. Esnayra or another PSDS staff member will contact you to discuss your interest in joining the group and to answer any questions you may have about Psychiatric Service Dogs.

NOTICE: The wait for a call-back is currently 2-3 weeks. We apologize in advance for this delay.