Services Dogs & Emotional Support Animals
Service Dogs (SDs) and Emotional Support Animals (ESAs) are something that a lot of queer folks utilize due to mental and physical health needs.
Founder & CEO of Releasing the Phoenix, Sage Nestler, MSW, had an ESA who tragically passed away in 2023.
Fat Louie was a cat who was in tune to Sage’s needs, to the point of helping alert him when crises were about to occur with Sage’s health concerns.
While ESAs and SDs differ regarding their rights, training, and other aspects, they are both essential in so many ways.
We are dedicated to providing education on both types of animals and how they can assist those with mental health and physical health conditions - as well as supporting those who have lost SDs and ESAs through peer support groups.
Sage is available to speak on topics regarding ESAs and provide support and guidance for getting proper documentation.
In Loving Memory of Fat Louie
Fat Louie passed in October 2023 due to a sudden and severe illness. He was Sage’s emotional support animal (ESA) who had proper documentation from Sage’s psychiatrist.
He was in tune with Sage to the point of being able to anticipate when Sage would be struggling with purging connected to his eating disorder and blocking them from the bathroom. He also had the ability to warn Sage when severe panic attacks and dissociation were about to occur, among other things.
While not all ESAs have this level of connection with their owners and don’t go through training like service dogs (SDs) they can provide such comfort and necessary companionship for their owners. Their presence can be life saving.
Lazarus Klein
Pronouns: They/He
Certified Master Canine Behavioralist
Lazarus lives in southeast Michigan (the Detroit area). While their area of expertise is focused on dogs with behavioral and health concerns, they offer guidance for various other needs - including Service Dog (SD) and Emotional Support Animal (ESA) topics.
Virtual Consultant: Lazarus provides personal & individualized consultations through video calls that generally last 30 - 60 minutes. They work on a sliding scale but typically charge $100 for basic evaluation & consultation. However, Lazarus is willing to do charitable cases that have a high level of need.
Consultation is available for any point in the SD or ESA journey - from consideration to training to detailed resources and problem solving, as well as navigating specific things.