Essay On Service Animals

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Service animals also known as assistance animals, support animals, or helper animals depending on the country and the animals’ function, are not considered pets. Any animal trained to do work for or perform tasks for the benefit of an individual with a disability. Dogs are the most common service animals, as well as miniature horses in assisting people. The modern guide dog story, however, begins during the First World War, with thousands of soldiers returning from the Front blinded, often by poison gas. A German doctor, Doctor Gerhard Stalling, got the idea of training dogs en masse to help those affected. While walking with a patient one day through the hospital grounds, he was called away urgently and left his dog with the patient as company. When he returned, he saw signs, from the way the dog …show more content…
Service animals are used around the world, because they are able to help humans mentally, physically, and emotionally. Service animals that are trained to help humans mentally are called mental health service dogs, therapy dogs, and emotional support dogs. (“Question & Answer”). A therapy animal is trained to provide people love and comfort to people in hospitals, retirement homes, nursing homes, schools, and in stressful situations. They must listen to their handlers, allow strangers to touch them all over, not jump on people, walk on a leash without pulling, not mind strange noises and smells, be calm for petting, not be afraid of people walking unsteadily, be current on all vaccines required by the local laws, have a negative fecal test every 12 months, and be cleaned and well groomed. (“About Therapy Dogs”). The term emotional support animal (ESA) refers to an animal that provides a therapeutic benefit to an individual with a disability or an elderly individual. The primary purpose of