Service Dogs: Benefits for Veterans, Inmates, and People with Disabilities

History of the Human-Animal Bond

Humans and dogs have been co-existing for over 8,000 years and continue to play meaningful roles throughout human history. Dogs provide positive value to humans psychologically, physiologically, and socially. Many Americans suffering from seizures, depression, anxiety, autism, and other psychological disorders have found service dogs to be a resourceful tool. However, dogs must pass a rigorous training program before they can be placed with their new handler. In conjunction with this requirement, dogs are now being rescued from shelters and trained by prison inmates involved in a new rehabilitation program. After completing the program, they are placed with war veterans and children with autism. Animals have positive effects on humans mentally and physically through their presence in our lives.

Health Benefits of Animal Companionship

Throughout history, dogs and humans have existed together. They have been co-existing for over 8,000 years. In fact, no one is even certain what originally attracted them to one another. Regardless, both species have found ways to make use of this relationship. Native Americans benefited from wolves in several ways: protection from intruders and assistance with hunting. Some early American settlers even used dogs to track and hunt buffalo, and to transport the buffalo meat from camp to camp. Researchers have noted evidence that dogs appeared during the Arctic period and accompanied human migrations from Asia to America. This unusual connection between humans and these once-wild animals continues to offer a multitude of advantages.

Social inhibitions can be a difficult problem for some people. Studies show that being in the company of a pet allows the owner to be seen as more approachable by friendly strangers. This enables the pet owner to benefit from social interactions. When someone is shy, awkward, and constantly feels rejection from society, positive encounters begin to break down the walls of communication. That is when healthy relationships with other people begin to form. Being united with a companion animal gives the handler an opportunity to be noticed by another person wanting to engage in conversation.

Service Dog Training and Prison Programs

Loneliness is another difficult and painful problem that carries serious health consequences. Studies on loneliness and health outcomes reveal astonishing information. People who are socially deprived are between two and four times more likely to suffer a heart attack compared to people who socialize regularly. Additionally, single people face higher chances of serious health factors when compared to married couples. Loneliness has also been linked to deadly strokes, and recovery from major illness is unlikely for isolated individuals. People deprived of social situations have also been linked to car accidents and other incidents. If loneliness is the common denominator and relief is available without medical treatment, would that be a viable option? Many would agree and would go to great lengths to make a comeback. Service animals can understand their handlers' needs and produce results beneficial to one's recovery.

Professionals have agreed there is a mysterious connection between dogs and humans, yet it remains scientifically unfounded. Researchers have hypothesized different theories, but the exact nature of this bond continues to be a mystery. Dogs' natural devotion to humans and their undying loyalty cause them to become valuable tools for someone with a disability. Once a vigorous training program is passed, the animal can be placed with a new handler. Those who suffer from depression, anxiety, autism, seizures, emotional and social handicaps, and various other disabilities value the help that assistance dogs provide. Assistance dogs award their owners with freedom and grant them independence. Those involved in such programs continue to improve, and their quality of life increases significantly as a result.

Conclusion

Since July 2011, over 40,000 soldiers have been injured in conflicts since 2003. When these soldiers return home, many of them suffer from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), which causes tremendous difficulties in their lives. This need gave rise to service animals with the skills to assist these veterans. Notably, not just dogs and soldiers benefit from this approach—prison inmates are also participating by training these dogs for service. Everyone involved is reaping the benefits of the program. In addition to the impact on veterans, inmates receive time off their sentences for successfully completing the program. It has been reported that inmates who train service dogs are less likely to re-offend. Furthermore, this relatively new program has already shown positive changes in the lives of participating inmates.

Most researchers can agree that dogs and humans have a strange connection. For this reason, different theories have developed, but the attraction to one another remains a mystery. With that being said, a dog's undying devotion is clearly the force that keeps humans and dogs together. Evidence shows dogs appeared during the Arctic period and accompanied human migrations from Asia to America. Furthermore, dogs' loyalty and devotion allow people with disabilities to have the freedom to remain independent. In addition, it seems only fair that humans find some way to reciprocate. As a result, the shelter dog program came along and allowed unwanted dogs to be trained as companion animals. In conjunction with this initiative, these animals receive their training from prison inmates, and both dogs and inmates are reaping benefits. Besides receiving training, these inmates potentially receive time off their sentences, and those involved with the prison program have been shown to be less likely to re-offend. Assistance dogs can assist people with many conditions including depression, loneliness, autism, and injured soldiers of war. They also contribute to better physical health as a direct result of having the need for companionship met. In short, humans and animals, connected throughout history, have developed positive ways to utilize their relationship, and everyone involved reaps the benefits.