Yes! You’ve probably seen a service dog help someone who is blind or has a disability.1 The dg pfoms spcfiask. 2 It helps the person get around or cross the street. But that’s not all they can do. Dogs are the most common svcurey muh any animal crovdoosupport and improve health. Cats, fish, bds, rbtu namt! You can register a pig, ferret, or mnkey ieelp yoel lsdepressed or anxious. But you can’t tem anyhu w.Only service dogs are recognized by thmians wth Dabtis At, anowelaetos, businesses, and public buildings. Svcd emtinal supot animals c dicere are 5 ws: 1nrshyial atiiyGot a trained service dog? You’re pblocve than polwithout a dog. Research shows that dg owert abu0 minus of ece pek 3 Non-dog owernlt abu59 minus a we. Take Fio foalkK 2anaes Dd yonos ce treto recognize low blood sugar levels? Aot 10oepe in thU.S. have diabetes or pre-diabetes. A service dog can sense low blood sugar levels. When it does, it will warn its owner to test blood sugar lake mdiinr geelp. 4 3. Ipove mnttThere’s a reason support animals are smtims rere“best friend.” Research shows If you want to improve your health, i’s imprant to make smarlifestyle choices, exercise, eat healthy, and follow your doctor’s advice. You shouldn’t rush out and get a service dog or support animal. But research shows a furry friend can improve your health. Woof! A. Q. Cevcd supot anims imrur ht that animals can provide a source of comfort that helps reduce anxiety, depression, loneliness, and other mental health issues. 5 Don’t have a pet? Visit a friend with a pet or volunteer at an animal shelter. 4due srs Felintresd ot? Yo’re n alnbuerent of all adults feel stressed out every day, according to a recent Gallup Poll. So ho yoge sseal otins micdgxeris mdiatin, anonalinnereat least one more. Pet a dog or cat. Reearh shs that pttig a dg oat fot 10 minus recs thtres hroe cro 6 5. Lr bod pesurWhat do 1 in 3 Americans have in cmmn? Hiloresure. I’s a majr rator theag ce of death in the U.S…heart disease. Ho yool bod psExercise. Eat more plant-based foods. Maintain a healthy weight. Reduce ss. Takg ceelp, tohmian Ht Asco found that pet owners tend to have lloresure anower rr heart disease than non-pet owners.7 © Weloren. Al rgteevdoesnl ue olo nt mke uatoid cpe. Wrttn brttny U. CreHcP. I m p r o v e Y o u r H e a l t h ? Re f e r e n c e s 1. Cherniack, E., et al. (2014). The benefits of pets and animal-assisted therapy to the health of older adults. Current Gerontology and Geriatrics Research . From: https://tinyurl.co m/ycw6hhed 2. U.S. Department of Justice. (2015). Frequently asked questions about service animals and the ADA. From: https://tinyurl.com/y6z37tdp 3. Westgarth, C., et al. (2019). Dog owners are more likely to meet physical activity guidelines than people without a dog: An investigation of the association between dog ownership and physical activity levels in a UK community. Scientific Reports , 9, 5704. From: https://tinyurl.co m/y5cb6rog 4. Rooney, N., et al. (2019). How effective are trained dogs at alerting their owners to changes in blood glycaemic levels? Variations in performance of glycæmia alert dogs. PLoS One, 14(1): e0210092. From: https://tinyurl.co m/yy7pkb7u 5. Brooks, H., et al. (2018). The power of support from companion animals for people living with mental health problems: a systematic review and narrative synthesis of the evidence. BMC Psychiatry, 18:31. From: https://tinyurl.com/y2zqg33y 6. Pendry, P., et al. (2019). Animal visitation program (AVP) reduces cortisol levels of university students: A randomized controlled trial. AERA One . From: https://tinyurl.co m/y43ojl4e 7. Levine, G., et al. (2013). Pet ownership and cardiovascular risk: A scientific statement from the American Heart Association. Circulation , 127:23. From: https://tinyurl.co m/yxbnb9wf C a n a S e r v i c e A n i m a l