Animals are serving humanity for ages. They have always been man’s best friend. Apart from their being great companions, they are excellent in providing various services. From load carriers to home guards, they are there in all the fields. 

These animals who can take human-made instructions and carry out specific duties are called as service animals. These animals are trained to perform specific tasks like guiding, retrieving, alerting, etc.

Service animals are not only restricted to dogs, but there are many other animals who are qualified as service animals. Such animals are miniature Horses, Ferrets, Parrots, Potbelly Pigs, Boa Constrictors, and Capuchin Monkeys. Service animals are trained and taught to fulfill essential roles like aiding a diseased person. Service animals are also called as therapy animals. 

With the growing popularity of the concept of staying alone, man has made himself distant from his own family. Millions of people now depend upon animals to provide emotional and physical support, which otherwise should have been provided by the family. 

What Are The Different Kinds Of Service Animals?

Emotional Support Providers

Emotional support animals are trained for socializing and obedience. Their main job is to provide comfort to the ailing person merely by his presence.

Therapy Animals

Therapy animals provide comfort to the general population in centers like nursing homes and hospitals. They accompany the ailing people almost everywhere.

Assistance Animals

They assist the ailing person almost everywhere. They move as per their handler’s instructions and thus making their life comfortable.

 For example, a miniature horse is an excellent choice for people who need support to walk. Ferrets provide great emotional support as they burrow close to their owner’s home. Boa constrictors help patients with bipolar disorder and panic disorders. Parrots have the ability to talk to their owners, thus treats them with psychiatric disorders. Potbelly pigs can perform all functions that a service dog can do. The Capuchin Monkeys can easily fetch a glass of water, open doors, and perform basic house chores. Thus they can be an excellent assistance for a person in need.

Apart from the above, dogs have always been man’s best friend, and they come handy as a service animal. They provide assistance at all the three levels mentioned above. 

What Do Service Dogs Do?

• Guide dogs are specially trained to help blind people navigate in the world.
• Hearing dogs alert deaf people to different sounds, such as phone ringing, a knock on the door, or a guest entering the room.
• Psychiatric dogs are trained to heal the ailing person through psychological methods. They offer the patient a sense of belongingness and warmth.
• Service dogs help those people who have a physical limitation. They may open doors or kitchen cabinets. They can easily fetch things that their handler can’t reach. 
• Autism assistance dogs are trained to help people with autism to distinguish necessary sensory signals from other sensory input.
• Service dogs are also trained to assist people that have seizures. They can easily activate life-saving alert systems and call for medical help when needed.

Conclusion      

The bottom line is that there are many disabilities and disorders, which can be easily treated with the use of service animals. These animals not only assist the ailing person but also provide them a ray of hope. The animals cannot cure the disease but can make the process of healing simple and easy.