International Assistance Dog Week celebrates furry heroes known as ‘man’s best friend’.
When Annay, Danny, and Felix from Paws For People Therapy Dogs trotted into the frail care unit at Golden Harvest II, the residents’ faces immediately lit up. They sat up straighter in their chairs, hurriedly put their tea and biscuits to one side, and all vied for the attention of the newcomers. Little Annay and Danny jumped onto the laps of the senior citizens, and Felix, a young German Shepard, settled for just laying his head in their open hands.
As they moved from room to room, each resident opened their arms and welcomed their furry friends into their space, and some even chased after the dogs because they had missed their turn. This is just a mere snippet of the day in the life of a therapy dog.
The work of these dogs and their handlers is unknown to many people in the world but contrastingly means everything to others, and Thursdays at Golden Harvest II have easily become the elderly residents’ favourite days.
Paws For People Therapy Dogs also visit hospitals, special need schools, and care facilities as well as work in Bite Prevention and Responsible Pet Ownership campaigns. Their dogs and handlers have come to embody real-life superheroes.
In all areas of life, dogs have come to represent protectors, companions, or helpers. Their ability to be trained yet still have their own personalities has made them favourites among humans.
This International Assistance Dog Week, running from August 4 to August 10, sees appreciation for all types of service or therapy dogs, big and small, thanking them for their never-ending, unwavering, and unconditional love. This week of awareness was created to recognise the role service dogs play in an individual’s life, including allowing one the freedom and confidence to live a full life.
Assistance dogs come in different types, including guide dogs for the visually impaired, seizure or diabetes alert dogs, service dogs for those with physical disabilities, therapy dogs, and autism support dogs, to name just a few.
However, most public areas do not allow assistance dogs on their premises, besides the most well-known guide dog.
This is due to an element of lack of knowledge about the importance of the dog’s job and role in his or her handler’s life. Whether an assistance dog has one person to assist or aids many at one time, they are devoted to their job with all their heart.
Those needing assistance dogs often feel ostracised or not welcome in certain spaces, and sometimes are stopped from entering a place on its threshold. It is important to discern the difference between having a pet and an assistance dog that is highly trained.
Assistance dogs must undergo training and assessments to be classed as such, and they are chosen such that their temperaments are in line with their job description.
For many handlers, assistance dogs become an extension of themselves, and these dogs serve as faithful companions even after retirement.
FEATURED IMAGE: Annay and Danny sitting on the lap of an elderly lady whose face lit up when they walked into her room. Photo: Victoria Hill
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