Service/Therapy Animals

[sherryinutah]

Do you have a service/therapy pet?  What do you have?  How easy is it to get a therapy pet if you live in a place that doesn't allow pets?

I don't have a pet; mostly because, I live in an apartment that doesn't allow pets.

Within the past 2 months I've crossed paths with someone who has a service animal or therapy pet...where they allow their pet to run loose in a public place.  In one situation, I was in laundromat where the animal had a leash but the owner didn't have a hold on the leash.  That dog was running around barking at people and jumping up on strangers. 

Aren't people required to have their animals on a leash when they're in a public place?

Thank you, in advance, for your comments.   

[SherylsShado]

I think service dogs are the actual, working dogs and every one I have seen has been on a leash or very well behaved.  There are quite a few "service dogs in training" in my area.

Therapy dogs are dogs that visit patients in the hospitals, nursing homes etc.  A "therapy" dog can also be a dog that someone's anxiety issues prompted their mental health counsellor to "prescribe".  We have a few people here who have everything from chihuahuas to a cat wearing a "certified therapy pet" vest.....these are typically pets and would probably be more apt to being seen behaving more "disruptive" in public places because the pets probably aren't professionally trained like the service dogs are.  Therapy pets' job is usually just to socialize and be good company, or be needed for the owners comfort.

[ancmetro]

      Therapy dogs: Love them...because they really love you!

[BOSSLADYNELLY]

I have a cat and dog i would love to have them go to therapy because i love them both and i want to see how it works. i watch alot of therapy videos for people and pets im floored to see how they reacted to it. I know my pets would love it but my cat wouldn't like it as much as my dog. My dog is a people person and my cat is not she just doesn't like people lol