What Are Therapy Animals?
Animals that are trained to provide comfort and support to people are called therapy animals. As society learns more about the health benefits of the human-animal bond, the use of therapy animals (mainly dogs) is becoming more common. Sick or older people can benefit greatly from interacting with therapy animals, and many pet owners volunteer their time and pets at recovery centers or nursing homes. There are strict formal training programs for therapy animals and their owners to ensure they provide effective support.
Mental health professionals, including psychologists and therapists, are increasingly incorporating animal interactions into patient treatment plans. Some mental health facilities and even prisons now offer animal-assisted therapy.
What Are Service and Working Dogs?
Dogs that are trained to assist people with disabilities are called service dogs. Though their role in helping individuals who have problems seeing is well-known, service dogs can also help people with hearing loss, difficulty moving, and other disabilities. They can even be trained to detect medical events, such as seizures or changes in blood sugar levels, before these events occur, which can be lifesaving for people with seizure disorders or diabetes.
Service animals are not just for people with physical disabilities. They also serve individuals with mental health issues. For example, some service dogs are trained to assist people with schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, anxiety, or autism. A trained service dog can act to calm someone with autism or to soothe a person during a mental health crisis. The long-term bond that develops between a service dog and its owner can be healing as well.
Service dog
Working dogs help police or military officers with tasks such as search and rescue or detecting drugs and explosives. Many people remember the important role working dogs played in the United States after the 9/11 attacks. However, they also assist on a daily basis by helping police capture criminals, working at airports, and performing other duties.
Training service and working dogs requires a lot of time and money. Service dog caretakers develop strong emotional bonds with their dogs, often spending all their waking hours together. Although some working dogs may stay in separate housing from their caretakers when they are not on duty, many live with them and their families.
