Psynergy Centre’s Therapy dog Bina and Emotional Support dog  Ruby play valuable roles in providing comfort, companionship, and emotional support to individuals in need as well as staff and practitioners. While both types of dogs offer therapeutic benefits, they serve different purposes and have distinct roles in supporting their human companions.

Therapy Dogs: Therapy dogs are specially trained to provide comfort, affection, and support to people in various settings, such as hospitals, nursing homes, schools, and disaster areas. Unlike service dogs, therapy dogs are not trained to perform specific tasks for individuals with disabilities. Instead, their primary role is to interact with and provide emotional support to multiple people in a variety of environments and in this case, in therapy appointments. Our onsite facility Therapy Dog is Bina.

Emotional Support Dogs: Emotional support dogs, also known as emotional support animals (ESAs), provide comfort, companionship, and emotional support to individuals with mental health conditions or emotional disorders. These dogs are not required to undergo specific training like service dogs or therapy dogs. Instead, they offer therapeutic benefits simply by being present and offering unconditional love and support to their owners. Our onsite Emotional Support Dog is Ruby.

Roles and Benefits:

• Therapy Dogs: Therapy dogs play a crucial role in providing comfort and emotional support to individuals in need, including patients in hospitals, residents in nursing homes, students in schools, and individuals affected by disasters or traumatic events. Their presence can help reduce stress, anxiety, and loneliness while promoting a sense of calm and well-being.
• Emotional Support Dogs: Emotional support dogs offer companionship and unconditional love to individuals with mental health conditions such as anxiety disorders, depression, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and other emotional disorders. Their calming presence can help alleviate symptoms of anxiety and depression, provide a sense of security, and improve overall emotional well-being.

Differences:

• Training: Therapy dogs undergo specialized training to prepare them for interacting with various individuals in different environments, while emotional support dogs do not require specific training.
• Legal Rights: Therapy dogs typically have access rights to public places such as hospitals, nursing homes, and schools with the permission of the facility or organization they are visiting. Emotional support dogs, on the other hand, are protected under the Fair Housing Act and the Air Carrier Access Act, allowing them to accompany their owners in housing and on flights, but they do not have access rights to public places.

If you are interested in booking our support animals on site or in the community please phone reception  403-527-5911 to book.

If you do not want to have one of our support dogs present during your appointment please let staff know 24 hours ahead of your appointment. Consent is always a pertinent option of our animal assisted therapy.

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On the other hand, Service dogs are more than just highly trained animals; they are lifelines for individuals with disabilities, providing essential assistance and support in navigating the challenges of daily life. Through their specialized training and dedication, service dogs make a profound difference in the lives of their handlers, empowering them to live more independently and with greater confidence. Service dogs play a crucial role in assisting individuals with disabilities by performing specific tasks that enhance their independence, mobility, and quality of life. These highly trained dogs provide invaluable support to individuals with various disabilities, including physical, sensory, psychiatric, and medical conditions.

Definition of Service Dogs: Service dogs are specially trained canines that assist individuals with disabilities by performing specific tasks related to their handler’s disability. These tasks are directly related to mitigating the effects of the individual’s disability and helping them lead more independent lives.

Training Process: Service dogs undergo rigorous training to learn the skills necessary to assist individuals with disabilities effectively. The training process typically involves socialization, obedience training, and specialized task training tailored to the handler’s specific needs. Service dogs are trained to remain calm and focused in various environments and to respond to commands reliably.

Tasks Performed by Service Dogs: Service dogs are trained to perform a wide range of tasks depending on the type of disability they are assisting with. Some common tasks include:

• Guiding individuals who are blind or visually impaired by navigating obstacles and leading them safely.
• Retrieving items for individuals with mobility impairments, such as picking up dropped objects or opening doors.
• Alerting individuals with hearing impairments to important sounds, such as alarms or doorbells.
• Providing stability and balance support for individuals with mobility issues or balance disorders.
• Detecting changes in blood sugar levels or alerting to oncoming seizures for individuals with medical conditions such as diabetes or epilepsy.
• Providing emotional support and assistance to individuals with psychiatric disabilities, such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) or anxiety disorders.

Service dogs are ALWAYS welcome to attend with our clients. If you would like more information on getting a Service or Therapy Dog trained please contact our community collaborator Paws 4 Resiliency 587-404-0660 , on Facebook or www.paws4resiliency.com for more info.