Disability Futures

Therapy animals are holding an ever-more prominent place in our society. Used by people with physical or psychiatric disabilities, service and companion animals can often provide emotional support or perform a specific service or services, such as assisting people with epilepsy. The animal most commonly associated with fulfilling the role of service animal is the dog, however, recently non-traditional animals have been studied and trained as service animals. ABC 7 News looked into this growing trend, and found Professor Aubrey Fine, who has studied the benefits of non-traditional service animals such as birds and pigs. According to Fine, being around animals such as these “changes your neurotransmitters.