A growing number of people are getting dogs for mental health needs, either functioning as emotional support animals or psychiatric service dogs. In the case of service dogs, they are trained specifically to help with mental impairment similar to the way the seeing eye dogs helps the blind. They are also entitled to the same benefits as seeing eye dogs, including accompaniment to all public locales, not just those that allow pets.
Several agencies were created to assist individuals with obtaining service animals. Project HEAL is an organization that trains and breeds assistance dogs and sets up veterans with PTSD with service dogs. For some veterans, where medication was insufficient in relief of anxiety, canines were prescribed.
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Dogs have been used as therapeutic tools, from providing comfort, to partaking in animal assisted therapy, to working as service animals, performing specific tasks to combat psychiatric disabilities.
Research studies have shown that depressed patients partaking in animal assisted therapy programs were more likely to socialize and experience an improvement in mood.
Autistic patients also showed an increase in socialization and an improvement in attention span.
Patients with Altzheimer’s disease were less likely to experience anger outbursts.
Patients with panic disorder with agoraphobia , when accompanied by a canine, felt calmer and more socially competent.

One of the greatest challenges for psychiatric patients is relating to people and having their needs met. Dogs act as a bridge to developing communication skills and confidence. And more important, they help reach patients who would otherwise be resistant to therapy.

Dogs and owners walked the two miles from Mulford Farm to the sea and back followed by contests, silent auctions, music, and agility practice.
Congratulations to all those participating and raising money to help save the lives of other dogs.