The Service Animal assists the disabled person overcome their physical and/or emotional disability as an owner/handler team.  Originally a Service Animal was only a Seeing Eye Dog used to help with only the physical disability of loss/severe reduction [legal blindness] of eye sight.  Later Service Animals of all types were introduced to help by alerting people who are deaf, pulling wheelchairs, alerting and protecting a person who is having a seizure, or performing other special tasks such as assist with balance while walking.  More recently title Service Animal includes treating of patients with psychological complications such as PTSD and combat related stress disorders.  This use of Service Animals [Dogs in particular] has proven that the reduction of PTSD related symptoms occurred in as many as 82% of patients studied.

More and more Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans are being written prescriptions for Service Animals to help combat related PTSD.  Service Animals can help alleviate stress, loneliness, anxiety, the feeling of a vulnerable back. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention states that owning a Service Animal can decrease your blood pressure, cholesterol levels, triglyceride levels and feelings of loneliness; they also increase your desire for exercise, outdoor activity, and opportunity for socialization. Caring for a Service Animal requires responsibility and adherence to a daily schedule which are very beneficial in treating combat related PTSD.