MANAGING DISABILITIES “PAWSITVELY”
Of the many special gifts that animals offer to humankind, perhaps the most inspiring are the services they render so lovingly and skillfully to people with disabilities. Service animals, represented mainly by dogs but including cats and other species, can be trained to perform a remarkable variety of tasks that make use if their brawn (say, acting as a brace for someone with poor balance) or their alert intelligence (detecting fatigue or knowing when to signal for help). They can also give vital emotional support to people with depression or other mental health problems.
For the caregiver of someone with a disability, the help of a well trained service animal can dial down stress and free up precious time for rest, errands, or employment.
For the partner (as the person receiving service is called), an animal offers new freedom and independence. A service dog can open doors and drawers, push buttons, turn lights on and off, retrieve dropped items, act as an alarm clock, enable a person to move within or outside the home, assist with wheelchair transfers, and distract a person during stressful situations or emotional overload. A dog can get medication from a cupboard and follow up with a beverage for swallowing it down (but cannot assist with injections, unfortunately). These and other services come with loyal companionship that can warm any household and enhance life for both the partner and the caregiver. Not surprisingly, the number of people with disabilities who have a service animal has been growing by the year.
Types of Service Animals
For nearly a century, animals of various species, sizes, and talents have been trained to help people with disabilities.
Dogs—The first formal training of animals for service took place after WW1 in Germany, when German Shepherds were taught to guide blind veterans. The idea of training dogs for people with limited strength and mobility was pioneered in California in 1975. Service dogs are either recruited from animal shelters or bred selectively, and then raised by volunteers before receiving formal training for specific tasks. The most popular breeds are golden retrievers, Labrador retrievers, and German shepherds, all known for their calm natures and intelligence. Large breeds like these and Great Danes are best for physically demanding tasks, such as providing balance or counterbalance, pulling a wheelchair, carrying a heavy backpack, or applying pressure for a calming effect. Labrador/poodle crossbreeds present fewer problems for people with hair or dander allergies.
Cats---Cats can be trained to do many of the lightweight tasks that service dogs perform, although some cats, such as Savannahs, can be as large as a small dog. Cats can retrieve small items, for example, and alert a hearing impaired partner to important noises.
Monkeys---Finger dexterity, intelligence, and alacrity make monkeys (typically Capuchins) uniquely qualified to help people with paralysis or difficulty using their hands or fingers. A monkey can turn the pages of a book, assist with cassettes and CD players, open beverage containers, and bring food.
Miniature Horses---For people who are allergic to (or afraid of) dogs, or who have a special bond with horses, miniature horses can be trained to perform a dog’s tasks. These horses typically live for 30 years or so—a trait that could spare a partner the grief of losing a beloved animal. Of course, transportation issues an outdoor living requirements are disadvantages to having a horse for service.
Other species used in service include pigs, llamas, Bantam chickens and other birds, and rabbits. Still others, such as hamsters and snakes, are used in animal assisted therapy (AAT), a program aimed at improving cognitive and physical disabilities. The Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA) ensures that partners have the right to keep their service animals with them in public places, businesses, apartments, taxis, and hotels that may otherwise bar animals. However, the act at present does not recognize therapy animals ort “companion” animals as service animals. Moreover, there is ongoing debate about revising ADA regulations to define service animals as dogs only.
Points to Ponder About Service Animals
The decision to bring a service animal into the caregiving environment should be made with much thought and due diligence. The animal needs to be cared for even as it provides care. For dogs, care entails daily walking (no matter the weather) for exercise, bodily functions, and socialization; food and water; expressions of affection; patience; ongoing training; and veterinary visits. The partner, caregiver, or other members of the household must be willing and able to provide this care. Financial assistance for animal purchase and care may be available from community and national organizations serving people with disabilities.
Family members will want to discuss the best species or breeds of animals to purchase fo the services needed. Options for training must also be considered. The partner or another family member may decide to undertake training, but many people hire a professional trainer or purchase an animal already custom trained for their specific needs. The policies and procedures of any potential training agency or individual trainer should be fully understood and agreed to with full awareness.
Recommended resources for learning about and obtaining a service animal include:
Delta Society
Assistance Dogs International
www.assistancedogsinternational.org
International Association of Assistance Dog Partners
American Dog Trainers Network