A four-pound (1.8-kg) Yorkshire Terrier found abandoned in the New Guinea jungle became a sensation both during and after World War II, and is remembered not only as a war hero, but also as the first known therapy dog. The story begins in 1944, when a soldier found the dog, later named Smoky, in an…
Every dog owner loves to see their pup sitting calmly in front of a television, despite the fact that the little fella probably just sees a mess of colors emitting strange sounds … or does he? According to Ernst Otto Ropstad, an associate professor at the Norwegian School of Veterinary Science, the new, high-definition TVs…
Therapy dogs might seem like a recent innovation, but one of the world’s greatest psychologists understood the potential benefits of having a puppy tend to patients. Sigmund Freud, the Austrian “father of psychoanalysis,” sometimes allowed his pet Chow Chow, Jofi, to hang out in his office when he was treating patients. While Freud thought the dog…
The Bible is the source of many popular dog names, from Samson to Sheba, but only one breed of dog earned a mention in the Bible: the greyhound. Although generic dogs are noted throughout the Bible, the only time a specific breed is cited is in Proverbs, chapter 30. The King James version of the passage…
As everyone with a furry friend knows, dogs, cats, and other pets can provide us with a great sense of comfort and stability. While we all love our pets, for some people, having an animal companion by their side is integral to their functioning daily. In cases like these, an individual can opt to turn…
An emotional support animal, ESA, is different from a service animal or therapy animal. An emotional support animal is a companion animal that offers stress relief, comfort, and a calming presence to its owner. Usually, an emotional support animal, or ESA, helps its owner cope with mental health conditions day-to-day. There are many types of…
An emotional support dog is a necessary part of life for many who cope with mental health struggles. An emotional support animal offers comfort and love to its owner. An emotional support animal, or ESA, doesn’t have to be a dog but can be any animal. Many popular ESAs include dogs, cats, ferrets, and even…
With so many different types of support animals out there, from therapy dogs to emotional support animals (ESAs) to service animals, it can be difficult to distinguish one type of assistance animal from the next. That’s where we come in. If you are interested in obtaining a psychiatric service dog (PSD), then you’ve come to…
For many of us, life without our furry friends would be unimaginable. That’s why it can be so heartbreaking when it seems like building after building has a “no dogs allowed” rule. The good news? If your dog is a crucial part of your mental health support system, then you may be able to make…
For centuries, animals have been assisting and supporting humans with various activities, whether they are helping with farming, tracking, guarding, guiding, or hunting. Psychiatric service dogs, therapy dogs, service dogs, and emotional support animals all perform significant duties in aiding humans. However, these assistance animal terms are not interchangeable. Each type of assistance animal is…