About Why Mom Has Me, Moyo...South Africa's First Officially Registered Emotional Support Dog

So. Mom thought she would show you this information. She said Moyo, chances are that some people have not managed to get as far as the page on your blog which is all about the reason why you are what you are - a Famous E.S.A.

Me, Moyo. And Cecil

Also, said Mom, Maybe there are people who need to know more about stuff like Complex Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and Panic Attacks and Such. And Maybe, Moyo, people need to also know that there are places and people who can Help Them.

That page on my website which says All About Sadag is all about this sort of stuff and it has some Useful Information on it, too. And if You don't live in South Africa, Mom says there are people and places in Your Country who do the same work - and the truth? The way to Start Feeling Better is to Ask for Help. And even, says Mom, You could look at getting a Grand Helper Like Me, Moyo.

Mom has me, Moyo because she has C-PTSD (Complex Post Traumatic Stress Disorder) which is like having a Monster Huge Panic Disorder. My job is to remind Mom that she is SAFE. And when Mom has a Bad Episode I am Right There to Love her and to Lean Close and to Watch Over her. I take my Job Very Seriously.

In the Very Beginning of Our Love I was Just Moyo - I wasn't Officially an E.S.A. (Emotional Support Animal) but I did my Work with All My Heart still. Then one day S.A.D.A.G (The South African Anxiety and Depression Group) managed to get the South African Health Department on-board and they started a formal Registry for Emotional Support Animals. This is different from Guide Dogs - those are the dogs who work with people who are blind or have other disadvantages that make it hard for them to do stuff without the help of a specially trained pooch.

The E.S.A. Registry was begun - certified by the S.A.Health Department and controlled by S.A.D.A.G. - and I was THE VERY FIRST DOG TO BE REGISTERED. Me, Moyo. I got an Official Title for the Work I do with Mom and I got Papers and a Card which Mom can show people.

This is my CARD

This means that I am Allowed to Go Everywhere with Mom now. Even into restaurants and movie houses, on buses, trains, and airplanes. Wherever my Mom goes? So do I. Because I am The Famous First Official S.A. E.S.A. Even when we are in Another Country - like here in Canada? I wear my Special E.S.A. Harness which has Shiny Tags on it and a Special Leash which says Emotional Support Animal on it and I go EVERYWHERE with Mom.

You most likely know that I Flew on the Airplane from South Africa with Mom. I had my Own Seat and Those Air Host People loved me and made sure I was Very Comfortable. Mom had to have Special Papers and Special permission to have me on that Airplane with her (and she says she is willing to help any one else who needs to Know The Steps! Just Get Hold of Mom. Or Me.) First I flew with Mom from South Africa to America.

Mom and me, Moyo. On the Airplane. About to Fly to America.

OOOOPS!!!! WRONG PICTURE!! But It's a Grand Idea for you to Look @ It, Anyway! :-)

(This is me, Moyo when Mom Made Me Wings and I was Magic Dragon Dog Moyo!)

So. This is me, Moyo. In Miami Airport.

Wearing my Red Working Harness and Shiny Tags.

That was Amazing. In America the Security People Loved me, too and they were all Very Kind. Even when we went to fetch our bags and there was a Special Security Dog there who made this Mad Baying Noise when he smelled me? They came to Mom and told her to Stay Here Until we remove our dog. And then they did and then they came to fetch Mom and me. Moyo and took us to get our bags.

Then we flew from America to Central America - and I went on Another Airplane. In Central America I needed to have an Import Permit - but I didn't need one for America. Only Rabies. Which I always have. Every year. (Only now? Here in Canada? I have just gone to have All my Injections again and here they give me, Moyo, a THREE YEAR Rabies jab - so I can look forward to not having that injection for another 3 years! YAY, CANADA!!)

And then? We went from Central America to Canada and again I flew with Mom in Another Airplane. See, I am NOT a PET. I am a Working Dog. That's ALMOST like being a V.I.P. Actually? It is Just that. A Very Impressive Pooch!

And though I don't always wear my Special Red Harness with the Shiny Tags, and though I get to be An Ordinary Dog, too, I am ALWAYS with my Mom. And I ALWAYS watch out for her. Even when I sleep. I make sure I am Right By Wherever Mom Sleeps - just in case she has a Bad Turn in the night and needs me. And Do You Know What?

I KNOW when my Mom is about to have a Bad Turn or is Just Having a Small Bad Turn - I can tell from her Voice. I can tell from her Body. I can tell from the way she Walks. I Just Know. Because I Can Want To Know When my Mom Needs me. Moyo, MORE! And if Someone walks FUNNY near my Mom I make sure I press into her legs to remind her that I am there with her. Me, Moyo. And sometimes, people who wear a HAT or SUNGLASSES, or TALK TOO LOUDLY LIKE SHOUTING near my Mom can make me be a BIT CROSS and then I Bubble A Little Bit In My Throat to Warn Them to STAY AWAY. I will not EVER BITE. I just BUBBLE. And I KEEP CLOSER THAN CLOSE to my Mom.

My Job? It's to remind Mom she is SAFE with me to Watch Over Her. It is to Remind Mom she is OK! It's to Remind Mom that Everything is Just Fine and that she is Getting Betterer and Betterer EVERY SINGLE DAY!

So? Go and read MORE on that page that says All About SADAG to see some Information.

For now, though, Mom said I should tell you a Bit about C-PSTD and Panic Stuff, and she said to tell you that if you have a heart which has been bent in two or a spirit which has been hurt so badly you don't know which way is up or out, or have had something horrid happen to you which has made you feel afraid or bad about yourself? Then you need to know that You Are NOT Alone.

Mom says You know, Moyo. If someone has a broken Leg everyone can see it because it has a great, big cast on it and they hobble around on crutches. And then Moyo? Most everyone is very solicitous and helps them get up stairs and to drive and get stuff done. No-one asks them to run a marathon or go skiing. Because they can see that the person is hurt.

But, Moyo says Mom, When someone has a broken heart or has experienced some things that makes them feel so bad deep down inside, no-one can see the bruises and scars. And then sometimes people are not all that kind to those aching people and they can still be expected to "run life's marathons" as if everything was still good and strong and solid.

And worst of all, Moyo? Sometimes the aching people are the cruelest of all to themselves. And they say bad things to themselves and think that nothing they can do is ever right or worth being loved for. And they get these HUGE, BIG SCARY moments where they might feel like they Can't Breathe. Or they might Shake like Jelly. Or Just Feel SO SO SO SCARED.

And then, Moyo? How can they Get Through A Day? That's when they Need Help The MOSTEST! To help them see that they can Figure The Trigger and get to Understand WHAT it is that makes them Feel So Bad and WHY. And Once you know the What and the Why, Moyo? You can start on the road to knowing you can be Well In Your Heart Again.

So, because Mom has told me all these things and because I know my Mom so well I am here to tell you that you CAN reach out for HELP. Asking for help is never a sign that you are weak. It's never a sign that you have failed. And most of all? It's NEVER a sign that you cannot be whole and well and loved.

Mom has started speaking about her "hidden bruising" and it has really helped her so very, very much. It's a terrifically long process and there are times when she feels she goes all the way back to the start again - as if she was playing some vast game of Snakes-and-Bloody-Ladders. But she keeps on working to get better inside - and I help her. Me, Moyo - I help my mom as much as I can. Between me, Moyo, Several Special People in Mom's Life (and here I want to say a Massive Moyo Thank You to Dad, Mom's Kids, and Grandkids - and to Mom's Friends Who Love her - You All Rock!) and Mom's Psychologist, Mom is Getting Better all the time.

On that page, you can find LINKS to S.A.D.A.G. and we are sure that there are similar agencies in whatever country you may live in. USE THEM!

(Go here.... https://kerrylynwr.wixsite.com/moyoandcecil/all-about-sadag )

You will find Stuff you need to know about COMPLEX-POST TRAUMATIC STRESS DISORDER and Stuff you might need to KNOW ABOUT PTSD. You will even find what you need to know about PANIC DISORDER​ and also a Most Useful Link to Help You if You EXPERIENCE PANIC ATTACKS.

There is an FYI about SADAG'S PROFILE, and THE INFORMATION ABOUT HOW TO HAVE A FAMOUS E.S.A. LIKE ME.

Lots of love to EVERYONE,

Moyo. And Cecil, of course.