Service dogs are incredibly valuable to certain members of society. For those with disabilities, injuries or mental health disorders, service dogs are often the difference between living an independent life or needing constant assistance from a carer.
These pups are trained to high standards, and are carefully selected from a young age to embark on a very serious career path. They learn to provide emotional support, physical aid, and also to alert their owners of oncoming episodes of ill health.
Sponsoring a service dog helps to fund the intricate training these puppies need to become a life-changing companion. If you can, supporting this noble cause is a rewarding experience. In this post, we’ve collected three heart-warming reasons to sponsor a service dog.
Help someone live independently
For people with mobility issues or disabilities such as blindness and deafness, these special pooches can help by retrieving objects, opening and closing doors, and aid in navigation outside of the home. This helps by giving the person a higher level of independence and confidence to lead a fulfilling life.
Service dogs often specialise in specific areas. For instance, a hearing dog will alert its owner to noises they can’t hear to help keep them safe. From doorbells to smoke alarms, to alerting them of their children crying, these dogs are the difference between these people needing another human present and being able to live independently.
Prevent life-threatening health problems
With an incredible sense of smell that’s over 10,000-100,000 times more acute than ours, dogs can sense changes within the human body long before we can ourselves. For people with type 1 diabetes, a service dog can detect when their blood sugar is falling dangerously low, and thus help to prevent episodes of potentially life-threatening hypoglycemia. They can also help people who have issues with low blood pressure or an irregular heartbeat.
Service dogs can also support people with epilepsy by being a constant source of aid if they should have a seizure. The dog may call for help using a special telephone, bring their owner medication, and offer emotional support as they recover.
Provide an emotional support hero
Pets of all shapes and sizes can provide emotional support, but psychiatric service dogs are specially trained to recognise signs of distress. On top of their loving intuition, they can sense a raised heart rate in their humans and can provide pressure therapy to help calm their family members.
They may also be trained to fetch a specific medication and bring it to their owner, or bring them their phone so they can call for help in case of emergency. Just being close to an animal is proven to reduce blood pressure and calm stress and anxiety.
For children who have special needs or who have experienced trauma, service or therapy dogs can be life-changing. They offer a non-judgemental ear, companionship and unconditional love which these children rely on to help them cope with everyday life.
Not just a furry friend
With so many profound benefits to being able to provide service dogs to people in need, it’s clear that this is a cause worth supporting. Even small donations make a big difference, and with combined efforts and resources, the amazing charities and organisations who train and offer these incredible animals can keep doing what they do best – positively changing lives.
