Bizz Buzz #3

There are a lot of service animals, but unlike dolphins and horses, dogs can actually live with their owner and provide assistance in more ways than just therapy. Some things these dogs assist humans with would be guide dogs for the blind, retrieving items, helping handicapped people walk, dogs for the deaf, and emotional support. The Canine Society in Georgia trains and provides these dogs free of charge to qualified candidates across the country. Mann says, "People often cry when they inquire about the dogs and discover they are free". According to the "Mother and Child" Organization, "The actual cost per dog is almost $19,000, including training, board, feeding, veterinary care and the cost of bringing the recipient to Georgia. Canine Assistants, like many service-dog training organizations, currently has a waiting list of clients.

There are a lot of success stories about these service animals, in a particular situation someones life supply turned off and the dogs who was trained to turn on switches, flipped the life supply back on and saved the owners life. A child who had seizure disorders and would not go into public because they felt alone started going places regularly because they always had their dog with them. Another child who was crippled and had braces started being able to walk with the help of their dog for stabilization, which would also help him in case he fell when no one was around. Other things these animals can do in general is, guide blind people safely through dangerous situations, notify deaf people of someone at the door, retrieve items such as keys, pull them in a wheelchair, and provide 24/7 companionship. 

Along with the many benefits to the disabled person, these animals have also been a relief to the family members. For a moment, put yourself in their position, having to be with that person everywhere they go, to the store, school, church, social events, and the list goes on. Not that this is a bad thing, but it can become tiring to both individuals. To be able to have a reliable animal that one can trust and always make sure they are safe has been a huge blessing and relief to these families. A study by Elcock says, "The presence of a dog results in a significantly reduced number of hours of paid and family-provided assistance needed for the activities of daily living". Thanks to the devotion of these amazing animals, disabled people have more confidence, self esteem, and have become almost completely independent able to live their lives as if the didn't have any disabilities.

Do you think that there should be more funding for societies to train these dogs? Should it become more common such as a disability check from the government?