Andy Black

This is something I didn’t think I’d ever need to post, but apparently, I’m a horrible person who needs to defend her right to have and use something that’s legally considered medical equipment.

I went to Warped Tour in Dallas TX this year (07/28/2017), and I brought my Service Dog, Ahyoka, who I need to be with me when I’m out in public, along so I could actually enjoy the day. While I was waiting to meet Andy Biersack/Black, the infamous “MYanni” (aka “Turkamayne”) tweeted something rude that was directed at me (screenshot of tweet is at the bottom of this post, as well as the link to it, though I don’t know how long the link will work), literally while he was about three or four feet away from Andy. He said it “wasn’t cool” to have a dog at Warped, “service dog or not”, and that I should’ve skipped going this year.

I have checked with the venue, and to their knowledge, I was the ONLY attendee there with an SD for that show. Out of the countless people who were there and saw her, it seems that he was the only one who had a problem with it. Hell, Andy was excited to see her and had a huge smile on his face!

I can rarely leave home for more than 10-15 minutes at a time if she’s not with me. She gives me the ability to go out and do things I love, one of which is going to concerts and seeing my favorite artists.

While at Warped Tour, Ahyoka was cared for properly and has suffered absolutely NO ILL EFFECTS from going, except for being tired (but who isn’t tired for a day or so after Warped Tour?). Her paw pads were protected with a high quality balm specifically meant to protect them from hot AND freezing concrete/asphalt/etc. Said paw pads were uninjured upon returning home, and actually weren’t as dry as they were before I put the stuff on (it moisturizes the pads too).

I gave her cold water every 5-10 minutes to prevent dehydration and help keep her cool. We were in the shade about 90% of the time we were even THERE. Her fur was repeatedly soaked with cool water during every rest in the shade except the first two (which were very brief, maybe 5-10 minutes each, because we were trying to work out who to see and when/where their sets were and she didn’t want to go into the stage with me for New Years Day’s set, so for that she rested in shade backstage with my mother). Yes, she was hot, but so was EVERYONE THERE.

Someone else has started attacking me on Twitter, actually directed straight at me as replies to me, and has said that I need to be a “responsible dog owner first and foremost”. So, what, taking such good care of her that she’s 100% fine with not even the slightest bit of heat exhaustion (which I got a bad case of) or any type of injury is being irresponsible?

I know some will say I am because I exposed her to heat. Thing is, dogs survived in worse weather than that before being domesticated and kept as housepets, and countless stray/homeless dogs do it every single day of every single year. If she needed a break five minutes after we finished one, we’d find the nearest shady spot and take another one.

I took MUCH better care of her than I did myself. I put her needs and wants before mine the entire time there. I spent several months learning everything I possibly could on keeping her safe, cool, and happy in high heat. I talked to her vet, who cleared her to attend with all of the methods and precautions I was taking to ensure her wellbeing. I even had Pedialyte, Gatorade, and electrolyte water at home ready for us both for when we got back (yes, very small amounts of Gatorade are safe for dogs if they need something stronger than Pedialyte).

Am I not allowed to have a life because I’m disabled and the tool I use to manage my disablity is a Service Dog? Am I supposed to just stay home and never go out anywhere? Am I wrong for doing what works best for me to regain my independance?

No. No I’m not. Those who think that are wrong. I don’t think anyone would tell someone who can’t walk that they’re irresponsible for going somwhere with their wheelchair that’s not exactly designed for wheelchairs when they do everyting they can to keep it in good condition and have it prepared to be there, would you? What about someone wth an oxygen tank? Or even someone who’s blind?

If you answered “no” to all three of those, then why would you say something like that to someone like me with a Service Dog?

She had a ball at Warped Tour, and she generally enjoys going to concerts with me because she likes people and it’s rare she doesn’t get a lot of compliments from random people when we’re out anywhere.

I am not ashamed of my choice, and no one will make me feel shame for it no matter how hard they try. They should feel ashamed for trying to make a disabled girl feel bad about herself and how she manages her disability. I care about my Service Dog, who’s a cherished and completely irreplaceable member of the family I love more than anything, much more than I could ever care about myself. She will stay by my side until she’s ready to retire from working, and I will stay by her side until her time on this Earth is up.

She will continue to by my partner, and to go with me wherever I go, including concerts. You don’t have to like it, you can throw all the temper tantrums you want to, but it won’t change a thing. I’m not going to apologize for my condition or my need of an SD. And that’s my final word on the subject. 

https://twitter.com/MYanni89/status/891032347071696896