Not only do dogs benefit an individual’s health unintentionally, they can also provide lifesaving medical interventions as service and support dogs. These service and support dogs positively impact individual lives, and they also have a profound effect on society as a whole. It can be observed daily, through personal experiences, the impact service dogs have on individuals with certain limitations. Service dogs are used to help individuals with various physical disabilities. Service dogs can be trained to help individuals who are not physically able to accomplish day-to-day tasks. There are service dogs that are specially trained to aid individuals who are blind or hearing impaired. Dogs trained to aid visual and hearing-impaired individuals …show more content…
Dogs benefit society as a whole as they are utilized throughout several occupations to provide numerous tough but necessary tasks. The media frequently displays dogs accomplishing numerous jobs throughout society. Dogs are used by various police organizations to deter criminals. These dogs are trained to assist police in detecting certain substances as well as locating individuals of interest. Bomb units typically have bomb-sniffing dogs, and these dogs are vital to their operations. Dogs are also used by the military in various operations. The military utilizes dogs and their unique talents to complete various tasks (Wagner). Many of these dogs are considered heroes as their work protects their fellow comrades. Search and rescue dogs are used in attempts to locate missing individuals in various situations. Rescue dogs are also utilized in mass casualty situations. For example, after the September 11th terrorist attacks, hundreds of dogs were brought in to participate in efforts to find survivors and remains. Dogs can also be trained as cadaver dogs. These dogs use their sense of smell in attempts to identify missing individuals and human remains. They are imperative to some crime scene investigations. Some courthouses have also employed dogs, as these dogs comfort individuals who may have to give a difficult testimony. Dogs have become essential to certain job fields. The …show more content…
However, when considering them the greatest animal, one must also acknowledge the profound meaning they have for people as well as the life lessons and values they instill. Due to the bond that has developed between dogs and their owners, dogs are now seen as family, not just a pet. When a dog passes away, it is a deep and emotional event for their owner. Dogs and humans have become deeply connected as dogs instill and display valuable attributes. Dogs do not discriminate, they are accepting. Dogs are fiercely loyal companions who are devoted to their owners. They are a source of comfort for many. Dogs can provide individuals with a sense of protection and are a source of joy. Dogs give their owners a sense of purpose and are an important aspect of an individual’s life. Dogs are the greatest animals because their presence promotes the wellbeing of many. As a dog owner, it is evident that dogs play an important role in the lives of
Pit bulls historically have been used as hunting and working dogs, but few people think of one when they hear the words "service dog." Golden Retrievers, Labrador Retrievers and German Shepherd Dogs tend to be the most popular breeds used to assist disabled persons. Pit bulls, however, are loyal, adaptable canines suited to almost any kind of work and can make wonderful service dogs. Unfortunately, a great deal of fear and misconception swirl around this breed, and owning a pit bull service dog evokes unique societal and legal issues.
Dogs are used to keep crime low, reports of a subway which have had at least 20 muggings in the timeframe of a couple of months, later dogs were emplaced down in the dangerous subway and the muggings ceased quickly (Bilger 2). Dogs also patrol crowded places to sniff unattended luggage, vehicles, and planes, for illegal or suspicious or dangerous contents, such as explosives or drugs (Dogs on Duty 1). Dogs also are used to sniff out a dozen kinds of explosives that machinery can consequently miss, providing less risk to passengers, troops, etc. (Blackwell
The use of canines in law enforcement is a tool that has been utilized for years around the world. In the 1970's the use of dogs to a foothold in the United States( 2013, dogsforlawenforcement.org). Canines assist local and federal law enforcement agencies in many ways such as locating and apprehending violent criminals, tracking missing people, sniffing out drugs or bombs
Police officers work with special units that make use of their dogs’ skills. Thornton says, “They work fire scenes; public transportation venues, such as subway stations, train stations, or airports; and large public events that may be the subject of bomb threats. They may also check vehicles or buildings for drugs or other contraband,” (Chapter 28). The Central Intelligence Agency; the U.S Postal Service; the Secret Service; the Drug Enforcement Administration and many more use dogs in their teams. Some of the most known areas the dogs are in are tracking, substance detection, police enforcement and cadaver. Other type of areas for dogs are arson or they are also known as accelerant-detection K9’s.These dogs are trained to sniff out traces of accelerants or other substances used to set fires. Their job is to investigate fire scenes and to determine a fire’s cause. More than 200 arson dog teams are at work in the United States and even in Canada. The handlers have to trust their dogs like any team does with a human partner. Once the dog alerts that something is there, the handler has to investigate further. The trainers need to establish a bond with the dog that will also become their family. At school’s for handlers and dogs to learn arson detections, they have simulated fire scenes, they learn how to locate and identify tiny drops of accelerants and the fuels used to start fires. Those schools also have challenges the handlers and their dogs face like wet grass, wet buildings, mud, ashes and burnt debris. Dogs aren’t the only ones who have to learn things. “Their handlers must also learn to identify hazards, such as dangerous debris or weakened areas that could endanger their dogs or themselves,” says ...
...s, pull wheelchairs, carry baskets/bags, open doors, turn on and off lights, and even balance the owner. They give independence back to a person who, at some time, never thought they would be able to accomplish day-to-day activities. For an emotionally disabled person, they provide affection and comfort in a hospital, retirement home, and even stressful situations. They are trained to wake a handler from nightmares, or panic/anxiety attacks, to bring the person back to “reality”.
Most people are familiar with service dogs and have seen them in action. Animal-assisted therapy is similar service animals in that an animal-human healing partnership is being created. However, the difference is that therapy pets are typically used to treat a mental disability whereas people with physical disabilities use service dogs to help them in many ways. Therapy animals are used in a wide variety of places, such as, hospitals, prisons, nursing homes, therapy sessions, mental healthcare facilities, and even in people’s homes. These amazing animals are used on a wide variety of different disorders, but they are utilized mostly by people suffering from depression, anxiety, and PTSD. For people with these mental health disorders, everything in live can be difficult and challenging, however with the help of animal-assisted therapy, their mood, motivation, and life can dramatically improve. Anyone who hears about these brave, loving animals soon falls in love with them. From a medical standpoint, there have been many successful studies and the support for animal-assisted therapy still continues to grow in doctors and therapists across the nation.
Service dogs are another form of Animal Assisted Therapy. For example, a person that is deaf can own a hearing dog. “In these circumstances, a hearing dog can offer ameliorative benefits aside from alerting the caregiver to the phone ringing. A dog, being a full-time companion, ends up being a conversational partner that responds behaviorally to the statements and moods of other people nearby” (Fine 67). The dog becomes more than just a pet, but acts as a family member that takes full-time care of you.
Owners of service animals are subject to accusations of being a false owner at any time because of the fake owners that have been caught in the act, belittling their purpose. To be able to understand the difference between the real and fake can be shown by the law-given definitions of what a service animal and owner are as well as the protocols they are required to follow to be defined as a real service animal owner. These definitions by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) defined service animals as, “a dog that has been individually trained to do work or perform tasks for an individual with a disability. The task performed by the dog must be directly related to the person's disability” (Service Animals and the ADA).
...dog assisted intervention is yet unknown. Other differential effects of human interaction with dogs and their clinical study situations have not yet expanded the reach of potential research. There is a need for better-designed experiment settings and reliability equation need to be documented for determination of the expanse of patient benefit (Johnson et. al., 2002).
Throughout history there has been a common connection between dogs and humans. Whether you use your dog for work, to help make a living, or just for pure enjoyment dogs have been by our side. Dogs are used by police departments to help track down criminals or illegal substances. In cold places such as Alaska dogs are used to pull sleds as a means of transportation. The common theme with all of these is dogs bring people happiness by being playful, comforting, and give their owners a sense of responsibility.
Thesis Statement: While most owners are aware of the amount of joy and laughter dogs bring to them and their family, they are unaware that their dogs love them unconditionally and can help them have better lives
I wonder how and where service dogs first came about. I wonder who had the idea that a dog could be helpful and work for a person with a disability. Seeing Eye dogs seem the most common type service dog because they obviously help someone who can not see. I saw a list of things that service dogs are used for. That list made me wonder how exactly service dogs are used for people with autism.
There are many different types of service dogs. There are dogs that work with police and firemen, there are dogs that work with the military, there are guide dogs, and there are dogs that help people with a variety of disorders. In Debra McKinney’s online article “Service dogs provide barrier against anxiety” she researches the relationship between a woman named Sara and her service dog Hannah. Sara had a severe case of post-traumatic stress disorder as well as severe depression and social anxiety. She had tried many different medications, different therapists, but her brain was still overwhelmed with constant thoughts of suicide. When it seemed like all was lost, Sara found Hannah. Hannah was a golden retriever Labrador trained specifically to help Sara with her multiple...
Hollingsworth, Shanna. "Psychiatric Service Dogs: Children with Autism." Psychiatric Service Dog Society. 2008. Web. 5 Nov. 2011. .
“A dog is a man’s best friend” goes much deeper than the phrase might initially imply. Recently many medical journals have begun to identify with the many and varied benefits of pet ownership. Men have always relied upon animals for work, transportation, and survival. As times have changed, man has begun to appreciate a different bond with animals. Gone are the days of animals running free outside around the homestead, for now animals are allowed inside and are considered by many to be an integral part of our daily lives! Medical studies have found that animals have a much greater intelligence level than originally thought. Through proper training and experience, animals are not only household pets, but also are becoming an accepted form of medical treatment.