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Service Animal Benefits

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With the Help of an Animal In a recent study conducted by Rebecca Johnson, Ph.D., RN, of the University of Missouri-Columbia Center for the Study of Animal Wellness showed that when humans pet a dog, within minutes there is a huge amount of beneficial hormones known to be associated with health and feelings of well-being.(Becker par. 2) These hormones are called beta endorphin, prolactin, dopamine, oxytocin, and beta phenylethylamine (Becker par. 2). The hormones that are released from the interaction between the animal and the human allow the patients to feel more blissful and trusting. Along with being emotionally benefited from working with animals in assisted therapy; people can benefit physically. For example, people who have physical …show more content…

Animals that are trained to benefit people with physical disabilities or physical needs, have been trained to perform different tasks and are specifically trained for the patient and their needs. (Evans par. 50) Many people with physical impairments rely on their trained service animals to assist them and to improve their quality of life. (Evans Par 40) These animals usually assist people who are visually impaired, have a hearing impairment or even people who have other physical disabilities, such as being in a wheelchair. Hearing aid animals are specially trained to alert their deaf or hard-of-hearing owners of particular noises, such as a knock on the door, a crying baby, a oven timer, doorbell, or smoke alarm. When these noises occur, the animal makes physical contact and leads their owners to the source of the noise. (Evans Par. 44) Trained service dogs are specifically trained to help pull people who are in wheelchairs and help whom are unsteady on their feet, by providing a means of support and balance. (Evans Par. 46) Many service animals have acted as a crutch in many scenarios to their owners that rely on them to perform everyday tasks. In addition to these tasks, many service animals have been trained to help people with debilitating conditions, such as epilepsy, lameness, paralysis, or Parkinson's disease. (Evans Par.45) These animals are trained to pick up dropped items, bring wanted items, open and close doors, turn light switches on and off, and perform other tasks needed. Many medical professionals have used service dogs known to detect when someone has cancer, cancerous cells, or even when a patient is about to have a seizure. (Evans Par. 52) Dogs have been tested in how they are able to detect their findings of cancer and cancerous cells by, a unique scent that the cancer is giving off, the smell

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