Therapy Dogs – Service Dogs - Emotional Support Animals
Dogs are great companions, very affectionate and often able to help and comfort people living under poor conditions or suffering from different illnesses. Although they have the same basic qualities, therapy dogs, service dogs and emotional support animals are different because of their training, status and tasks that they are performing.
Service dogs are trained to help people with different disabilities; they are trained to perform specific tasks and their role is not limited to be companions, but to actively help people staying safe and having their independence. Service dogs are not considered pets and must not be mistaken for therapy dogs. They perform different services, they can guide blind people, provide assistance to those who can’t hear, they can move wheelchairs, provide psychiatric assistance and alert if there are problems. Service dogs have legal designations and are allowed in public places where other pets` access is restricted, like hospitals, restaurants, hotels etc. Various acts of law allow people with disabilities to be accompanied by service dogs even in public transportation, without being required to ask for permission, provide certification or asking the dog to prove their capability to perform tasks.
Therapy dogs are registered with an organization, but they do not have to perform tasks. They are only required to be gentle, calm, well-behaved, offering affection to people, making them feel more comfortable and not upsetting them. They must not display any sign of aggression and have the ability to stay calm in uncommon situations. Any breed or mix of breeds can make great therapy dogs, whether we are talking about Labrador retrievers, German shepherds, greyhounds, beagles or any cross-bread. However, coyotes and wolves (hybrids included) are not allowed to become therapy dogs.Therapy dogs do not need to have any special training and are not covered by federal laws, so one must ask permission to bring them in some public places. Studies have demonstrated that the presence of a therapy dog in a care facility increases the calmness in a patient and decreases the stress level and the blood pressure. During their visits, they may be brushed or simply watched while they play; people can hold them in their laps, play games and do all the little things that enhance that wonderful human-animal contact. Therapy dogs interact with the patient for a limited time and then go home with their owner and spend the normal life of a pet. Although it is not necessary, therapy dogs may wear special collars, bandannas or identification tags. They must be regularly checked by vets and provide proof of all vaccination required.
As for the Emotional Support Animals, they are not trained and do not perform any tasks. Their role is simply to be loving companions for disabled patients that experience limitations on life activities because of their illness. Statistics show that almost 40% of U.S. households include dogs and about 35% include cats. Studies prove that there are real benefits for those having pets, including: better mental health, reduced stress, cholesterol and blood pressure, increased activity and more.
