Service Animals

Service animals are amazing helpers that are trained to assist people with disabilities. Most service animals are dogs, but miniature horses can also be service animals. These special animals go through months of training to learn important skills. They are allowed to go almost everywhere their owner goes.

Types of Service Animals

Guide dogs help people who are blind navigate the world safely. Hearing dogs alert deaf people to important sounds like doorbells and alarms. Mobility dogs help people in wheelchairs pick up dropped items and open doors. Some dogs are trained to detect seizures before they happen and warn their owners.

Rules for Service Animals

Service animals are working animals, not regular pets. In the United States, service dogs are allowed in stores, restaurants, and on airplanes. It is important not to pet or distract a service dog while it is working. If you see a service dog with its harness on, remember that it has an important job to do.

Fun Facts

• It takes about 2 years to fully train a service dog.
• Labrador Retrievers and Golden Retrievers are the most common service dog breeds.
• Some service dogs can smell changes in blood sugar levels and alert people with diabetes.

Did You Know?

The first guide dog school in the United States was founded in 1929 in Nashville, Tennessee. It was called The Seeing Eye, and the organization still trains guide dogs today!