What are Service Animals

• Service Animals perform a variety of duties

• Police Dogs, Bomb Dogs, Military Dogs all help protect citizens and their handlers

• Search & Rescue Dogs

• “Service Animals” - are animals that help people with disabilities like the blind or people with seizure disorders.

Police / Military Animals

• The most common animals associated with the police and military are dogs & horses. They go through rigorous training and only the strongest, mentally and physically, pass the test!

Police / Military Animals

• Drug Dogs, Bomb Dogs and Search & Rescue Dogs spend countless hours with standard obedience training, followed by months of advanced training in their fields!

Police / Military Animals

• Military animals provide the same services as their police counter parts but have additional training like:

Free Jumping from Air Craft

Propelling from Chopper

Police / Military Animals• Mules & Horses are

also used for packing and transportation for the military in remote locations. There are training facilities in Raeford, NC specifically for this and Fort Bragg has a 30 horse mounted unit!

Service Animal for Special Needs

• There are all types of services animals for people with special needs. Dogs, cats, horses, monkeys are just a few!

• These special animals help people with disorders such as: vision loss, seizures, mobility issues, mental health and physical therapy.

Service Animals for Special Needs

• Service Animals – much like their combating cousins, go through a long screening and training process. The average cost is $10,000.00 - $50,000.00 in the US for their entire care & training program!

• Carolina Canines based out of Wilmington, NC provides training for these dogs! www.caninesforservice.org

Service Animals for Special Needs• We’ve heard of seeing eye

dogs, but now there are seeing eye ponies!

• Right now the cost of guide horse training is much cheaper than dogs since all horses and training are donated. The horses are then given to people who need them. Everything runs off of donations! This foundation started in NC!

• http://www.guidehorse.org/

Therapy Animals• They provide physical & emotional support

to so many in need!

Conclusion

• Service Animals, no matter what service they are providing, are very special and are an important fixture in our life!

• Support service animals in your community!