The definition of a Service Animal according to the The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), is any dog that is individually trained to do work or perform tasks for the benefit of an individual with a disability, including a physical, sensory, psychiatric, intellectual, or other mental disability. They provide support for individuals with disabilities or ailments that would benefit from assistance. When most people think of service animals, they think of seeing eye dogs or emotional support animals. These two types of animals serve very different purposes and are also classified differently. Let's take a look at some of the differences between Service Animals and Therapy Animals and some of the amazing things these animals can do.

Service Dogs

Service animals are not pets. They are not covered by the same laws as pets. Service animals are protected under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), and their handlers have the right to take them into public places, such as restaurants, stores, and hotels. Service animals must be trained to behave properly in public and not be a nuisance or danger to other people. For more information about service animals, please see the ADA website at: www.ada.gov/service_animals_2010.htm. Service dogs are specially trained to perform a variety of tasks for people with disabilities. The most common tasks include:

-providing assistance with mobility, including walking and balancing

-picking up dropped items

-pulling a wheelchair

-alerting their handler to sounds, such as a doorbell or smoke alarm

-providing deep pressure to calm anxiety or ease the symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)

Types of Service Dogs

Guide Dog or Seeing Eye Dog: a specially bred dog that is used as a travel aid for people who are blind or visually impaired.

Hearing or Signal Dog: a dog trained to sound an alarm when a person with a significant hearing loss or deafness can't hear a noise, such as someone at the door.

Seizure Response Dog: a type of assistance dog that has been trained to assist someone with a seizure disorder. The person's requirements will determine how the dog serves him or her. During a seizure, the dog might stand guard over the person or depart for assistance. A handful of dogs have learned to anticipate a seizure and notify their owner in advance to sit down or move to a safe location.

CPL Diabetes Alert Dog: are dogs that are trained to detect low blood sugar levels in their early stages, before the low blood sugar levels become dangerous.

Psychiatric Service Dogs: are specially trained to perform tasks that help people with mental illnesses such as schizophrenia or bipolar disorder. These tasks can include:

-reminding the person to take medication

-checking the environment for safety hazards

-providing deep pressure to calm anxiety or ease the symptoms of PTSD

Autism Assistance Dogs: are specially trained to perform specific tasks to help children with autism. These tasks can include:

-standing between the child and a stranger to provide a barrier

-blocking the child from running into the street

-retrieving a lost toy or item

Top Breeds to be Service Animals

These breeds are of the highest intelligence and best tempered breeds. They also have amazing olfactory nerves to help detect some of the issues.

1. Labrador Retriever

2. Golden Retriever

3. German Shepherd

4. Poodle

5. Border Collie

Therapy Dogs

Therapy dogs are not service animals under the ADA. They provide valuable services to people in hospitals, nursing homes, schools, and other settings. Therapy dogs are usually brought into a facility by their handlers on a volunteer basis. The handler will work with staff at the facility to determine what types of activities would be appropriate for the therapy dog, such as visiting with patients or reading books to children. The difference between a service animal and a therapy animal, are the that therapy dogs are not trained to serve a purpose other than to be a friend and provide comfort. There is great value in Therapy dogs, however they are not protected by the same laws as service animals. For more information about therapy dogs, please see the website of Therapy Dogs International at: www.tdi-dog.org.

Conclusion

Service animals, therapy dogs, psychiatric service dogs, and autism assistance dogs can improve the quality of life for their handlers and make it possible for them to live more independently. It's always amazing to us the capabilities of dogs and the things they can detect to help us. From smelling physical abnormalities to just being a companion that can help mental health, these animals are amazing and the people who raise and train them for individuals in need of these animals deserve an award. Do you know anyone with one of these animals? Next time you see one, stop and think to yourself how amazing it is that we can train these animals to do such amazing feats!