• Can he traverse a grocery store without sticking his nose in the produce? … Uncertain, never tried.

• Can he tolerate walking inches away from cars going past at 30 MPH? … Yes

• Will he get back on track if distracted by other animals? … Yes, as long as he doesn’t feel threatened.

• Can he board and ride an elevator, escalator, bus, or plane without panicking? … He doesn’t exactly have experience with all those things, but he has no problem getting back in the vehicle when called, and he knows how to navigate the stairs back home.

• Will he tolerate a fixed bathroom schedule and can he hold it for hours if that schedule cannot be met? … Yes, he’s totally housebroken.

• Can he ignore others trying to pet or feed him? … No, he can’t quite handle that like he ought to, he loves the company of others, sometimes to a puppy brain fault…

• Will he lie still and quiet in an unfamiliar place? … Yes.

Brownie is like 80% awesome, 19% dumb, and 1℅ ankle biter if he feels any threats around…

Thank you and other helpful commenters for the good advice, but by far this is the most clear and concise advice 👍

🦮

Oh come on now, it only costs about $4 to feed Brownie for an entire month. Roommate’s previous insurance covered that no problem, so what’s it hurt to ask advice on his behalf?

Geez, just trying to see if I can help an old fella save $4 a month.

Tell me you work for an insurance company without telling me you work for an insurance company…

What the hell is wrong with you? It only costs ~$8 for about 2 months of food to feed Brownie, and his previous health insurance covered that no problem.

You act as if I’m looking to do some scam or some shit. No, just trying to help my roommate see if it’s possible to save him $4 a month with his new insurance. His previous insurance covered it, so what’s it hurt to ask simple advice?

My roommate can’t remember off the top of his head what brand of food it was, but he’ll recognize it the next time he sees it in the store. It’s just basically plain small dry kibble, we give it to him mixed about 50/50 with water once a day.

He keeps the food in a repurposed 5 gallon ice/water cooler, minus the ice or water, to keep it fresh. A fresh bag fills that up about 80℅, so basically ~4 gallons of dry kibble, for ~$8 ain’t bad huh?

Oh it’s not exactly a dire financial struggle, hell one big bag of dog food for him costs something like $8 a bag, and might last upwards of 2 months. And yes he has a dedicated airtight container to keep the food fresh.

Just looking and talking around to see what all, if any options he might have with his new health insurance provider to try to save a few dollars here and there.

Best I’ve gathered so far from comments here, I’ve already advised him to just talk to his doctors and perhaps his case manager next time he’s got an appointment.

His previous health insurance allowed him to purchase both human and dog food, but he’s changed insurance providers and has been on the phone with their customer support to see what all they will or won’t allow him to purchase.

A $10 bag of dog food ends up lasting Brownie almost 2 months, so it’s not like some huge massive money saving hack, I’m just trying to see what if any options he might have to perhaps save a few bucks here and there.

I’ve already advised him that he should talk to his doctors and perhaps his case worker about his options the next time he goes in for an appointment.

Thank you for the advice 👍

I’ve actually already suggested that for him, but he can be a butthead at times and just not want to listen to advice 🤷

I dunno, but I’m still gonna be myself and try to help my fam, friends and neighbors as best as I can…

Brownie is reasonably affordable for him, and he keeps roommate alert and aware of situations around him and where he stays.

Reasonably affordable doesn’t mean roommate is wealthy though.

I take care of elderly and disabled people, and I promise you, none of them are wealthy, they just need help…

Why in the holy fuck do people keep insisting I’m somehow lying about my roommate? He’s 66 years old and doesn’t fully understand modern technology.

And I’m only 43 years old, and I don’t have all the answers for him…

Fuck you once for accusing me of abusing anything, I just asked a question.

Fuck you twice for implying my roommate doesn’t have emotional issues.

Brownie is an awesome emotional support animal, he’s just not registered.

So, if you don’t have useful information or suggestions, then please kindly fuckoff.

Did you see how fat Brownie is? He’s definitely not starving…

Roommate’s health insurance changed this year, he’s just trying to figure out what to do…

Umm, do you realize it takes 60 days for my roommate to register or process anything?

Yeah, I figured I might try helping him by asking other people.

Guess you’re no help then, thanks.

He’s not my dog, he’s my elderly roommate’s dog.

I’m just asking basic advice on where to start and how to help my roommate…

Damn. Awesome, but damn…

Brownie is already like everyone’s unofficial support animal around here, at least the people Brownie knows anyways. Brownie is a rescue, some lousy ass sack of shit of a human dropped him off at our city park almost 2 years ago. ☹️

Brownie has his forever home now with my roommate…

Not my dog, roommate’s dog. Brownie is awesome though 👍

I dunno, just trying to help him get dog food…

I do thank you for your advice, but I’m just not sure.

His previous healthcare provider allowed him to purchase dog food, but he switched providers and not sure if there’s a proper solution to that this year…

I dunno, just trying to help my roommate ya know.

I don’t have my hopes up, but I don’t have my hopes down either. Just asking around ya know…

Again, airplane not necessary, my roommate ain’t planning to fly anywhere.

I’m just curious to try to help him get qualified to purchase dog food from his health insurance card…

Emotional support horses have been allowed on airplanes. The least I could try to help my roommate with is trying to help get his dog qualified to purchase dog food off his health insurance card. Airplane not necessary.

Like fuck, there’s gotta be a way, right? Where to start though?..

Oh I get that, and I don’t expect Brownie is in any way smart enough to fully qualify as a proper service animal.

But I do think he brings love and joy to practically everyone, no matter what age the people are. And he’s very much housebroken, so no accidents indoors.

Hell, there have been registered emotional support horses and alligators before, no joke, so I just find myself wondering if I can help find a way for my roommate to get Brownie registered as an emotional support dog… 🤷