Most Unusual Service and Therapy Animals (part 1)

Have you ever thought of what the most unusual service and/or therapy animal may be? Go ahead, think about it, because the chances are, what you are about to read will blow your mind away.
Here's one strange but fascinating case.  A man by the name of Daniel Greene suffers from epilectic seizures. Prepare yourselves, because his service animal is a snake, and to be more precise, a Boa Constrictor. I am being absolutely serious with you right now, I know as impossible as it sounds, his Boa Constrictor, named Redrock, is able to detect when he is about to have a seizure.  He gives his owner a warning about the oncoming seizure by gently squeezing his owners neck. (Redrock the Boa Constrictor)  The following is a photo of Greene and his Boa Constrictor.

What do you guys think of monkeys? (Yes, an actual monkey, and not the next door neighbors kid that sometimes bounce off the walls).  How would you feel living with a monkey? The reason I ask is because, they are another one of those odities when it comes to service animals. Although they are typically with those who are restricted to wheel chairs (paraplegic) Capuchin monkeys make amazing service animals getting whatever the owner may need, whether it be the phone or some food, as well as helping with various other activities.  Here is a Capuchin monkey helping his owner. (Capuchin monkeys)

  I find parrots to be fascinating, mainly because of their ability to talk. A service parrot by the name of Sadie helps her owner calm down in times of stress.  Whenever Jim Eggers was having a psychotic attack, he would repeat to himself a few certain lines.  His parrot one day sensing the oncoming attack began repeating the lines to her owner (Jim) in the hopes of calming him down.  Here is Jim carrying Sadie in a modified backpack that contains her cage. (Sadie the parrot)

 I find it is absolutely incredible how these animals are capable of helping their owners!  Despite not being your typical service and/or therapy animal, I think they have certainly proven themselves in this line of work.

Service Animals

Before we begin, I would like you to reflect (and comment if you would like) on what your definition of a service animal would be, what kind and/or species of animal do you think would make a good service animal and the type of assistance they would be providing for their humans.

According to the Canadian Registry of Therapy Animals and Service Animals (CRTASA) define a service animals as, "any guide dog, signal dog, or other animal officially trained to provide assistance to an individual with a visible of non-visible disability."
Service animals are well known to provide assistance for those who may need to be alerted to certain medical issues, hearing/seeing assistance, or children with disabilities.  The most heard of service animal, in my opinion, would most likely be a guide dog. Although dogs are not the only ones, as you can see, miniature horses (or minis as I call them) do the job just as well for those who may have allergies to dogs or religious beliefs that will not permit dogs in the household.
One aspect of having a service animal that I find interesting is, what happens when they must travel (plane, bus etc), or go to public places where animals would normally not be accommodated (restaurants, schools etc).  According to Air Transportation Regulations, ( Transport Canada) under the section that reads, 'Flying with Animals,' it says, "You may bring your service animals on an aircraft with 30 or more passenger seats if a professional service animal institution trained the animal. The animal must remain properly harnessed and under your control and will not have to be muzzled."  The passenger is not charged for having brought aboard an animal, (most likely because a service animal is not a pet).  One thing that is not clear however is, in the regulations, they acknowledge that there are other service animals (other than dogs), yet all rules are based on dogs, i.e. they ask for the size of the dog so it may fit comfortably at the passengers feat.   As for other modes of public transportation and public venues, no one is allowed to discriminate against someone and their service animal, and as long as the area is open to the public, service animals MUST be permitted access.  (Public places and transportation)

Animal-Assisted Therapy (AAT)

Animal-Assisted Therapy (AAT) is an excellent way to improve the life of those who suffer from various conditions or disorders such as: autism, cancer, developmental, psychiatric, emotion and behavior disorders as well as chronic pain.  A few benefits offered through Animal-Assisted Therapy (AAT) include better  or improved motor or social skills, balance etc. (These are also goals for the patients) because in the eyes of the patient, the animals offer a non-judgmental and non-threatening environment, which is why the patient will have a tendency to open up and trust the animals as opposed to another person whether it be family or nurse or doctor.

 Hippo-therapy is the use of horses in therapeutic programs. I used to volunteer at a therapeutic riding facility, and you would usually see the students before they got on the horse, throwing temper tantrums or unwilling to listen, others are totally stiff and barely able to move (most often because they are restricted to a wheel chair) and can barely get on the horse without assistance.  However, once they were on, the became a completely different person, more independent, listening to what you were asking of them, participating in activities such as games or exercises to get them moving and more flexible.  I remember this one girl who would need a walker before her ride, yet when she got off, she was able to walk pretty much on her own or with someone just barely holding her hand.  

Hippo-therapy is only one among many different forms of AAT but is one of my favorites, perhaps because it involves horses and horses are a favorite of mine because of their power, (they could easily hurt us, but they choose not to) and their willingness to help.  AAT is often seen in hospitals or nursing homes with a quiet pet such as a dog, or perhaps even a cat, yet there are many more animals who are not as recognized (dolphins, alpacas) who play a big role in Animal-Assisted Therapy. Animals don't need to be certified to offer therapy or help, and many people don't know it, but their own animals contribute to their everyday health (and possibly their sanity as well).  What I mean is, who hasn't, in a time of need turned to their pet, because they will listen no matter what?  I have, that's for sure, and I usually feel much better after being around my dog and cats or visiting the barn. 
Information about the animals used as well as which conditions AAT helps to treat can be found on the following website. (http://www.crchealth.com/types-of-therapy/what-is-animal-assisted-therapy/)