First of all, let's differentiate between 'assistance or service dog', 'companion dog' and 'therapy dog'. Terms are not always used consistently but, for our purposes here, these are the definitions:
Assistance or Service Dog
An
Assistance or Service Dog is trained to perform specific physical activities to help someone with a disability, such as opening doors, turning on lights, retrieving dropped items, carrying things, and alerting to sounds. These dogs are normally trained and certified by assistance dog organizations and have full public access rights under the ADA law.
Therapy Dog
A
Therapy Dog is trained in basic obedience that provides companionship but does no particular tasking. These dogs are often graduates of assistance dog organizations and especially suited for this work because of temperament. They normally do not have public access rights and work mostly in the home. However, they are often invited to accompany the child into public places.
Companion Dog
A
Companion Dog is a family pet with no particular training or certification. They do not have public access rights.
All three of these sorts of
dogs will, if partnered correctly with children, provide the main service of all: love, affection, acceptance, and companionship to children too often disenfranchised and lonely. In reality, in many cases, obtaining a four-legged furry 'best pal' will act as a social magnet, attracting other children, and therefore promoting positive relationships that might otherwise be tricky to attain. Children with disabilities are 'different' and those 'differences' are sometimes seen by peers as 'negatives'... something to be afraid of or uncertain about. However, a child with a canine partner, while also seen as 'different' is seen as 'different' in a good and appealing way. So not only does the child have the comfort, security, and benefits of a loyal best friend in their dog, but they frequently acquire more human friends due to the dog.
While adding a furry friend to the family can mean added expenses at the end of the month, it may also be a potential benefit from a tax perspective as well. Of course, completely free taxes would be wonderful: but as most of us know, taxes are a fact of life. That means that the intial purchase of the dog, any costs to train, and expenses related to the maintenance of said animal are completely tax deductible as long as the creature is employed to assist somebody who's physically disabled.
For children with specific physical disabilities, an assistance dog can provide specified help beyond the companionship. A child who must rely on others for everything (retrieval of a dropped toy, opening a door while negotiating a wheelchair or crutches) cannot develop independence in a natural progression. At these times, self-esteem suffers and often there is an accompanying fear of being alone that inhibits natural curiosity and exploration. A child who's afraid of falling is less likely to feel comfortable alone in a room, out in the yard, or even going to the bathroom by themselves, but partnership with a dog tends to lessen fear. Moreover, an assistance dog can 'alert' if there's a problem (barking for help or actually going to get a parent or other adult). In addition, these dogs are able to provide actual physical assistance to a fallen child (the dog stands close and braces while the kid pulls him/herself up by grasping the dog).
Assistance dogs and
therapy dogs can provide great help during various medical procedures also, especially when physical or speech therapy is necessary. Imagine how much more motivated a child would be to walk across a room, in spite of pain, if their very best friend is waiting with wagging tail and smiling face. Even in hospitals, assistance/service and therapy dogs can provide great comfort and distraction from unpleasant medical procedures, and are allowed into facilities in many instances. For speech therapy, reading to a dog has been demonstrated over and over to offer great benefit. A child sitting beside a
dog, petting the fur, while reading aloud literally lowers blood pressure and other stress factors. When this happens the reading experience is much more pleasant for the child, which means more time is spent practicing leading to improved performance.
If you are looking for assistance dogs in Australia, check out
VuCare Assistance Dogs.
VuCare operates as a not for profit organization that provides support with medical aids and has a goal to train Assistance Dogs and
Companion Dogs to improve the quality of life and increases the level of independence for people with disabilities. VuCare Assistance Dogs and Companion Dogs offer their new owners greater independence increased mobility, enhanced confidence, and higher self-esteem.
For more information call us on 1300 830 166 or email us at info@vucare.com.au. Visit VuCare
Assistance Dogs website at
http://vucare.com.au.
