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Service Animals

Service animals for people with spinal cord injuries are indispensable for many. From dogs and Capuchin monkeys to miniature horses and even pigs, all kinds of animals can be used as service animals. And these animals help with everything from picking up things off the floor, hitting elevator buttons to even opening patio doors. Both paraplegics and quadriplegics use service animals.

Service animals, also known as therapy dogs (for canines), require years of training before they’re ready to help people with spinal cord injuries, but for every person with a spinal cord injury who receives a service animal, they say their life is forever changed/and better because of it.

Dogs are some of the most common animals used for service animals. Golden retrievers and Labradors are some of the most commonly used breeds. Canine Companions for Independence is one of the most well-known service animal providers in the country. Learn more about them here

Helping Hands Monkey Helpers is one of the oldest service animal organizations in the country. Since the 1970s, they have been training Capuchin monkeys for people spinal cord injuries. You can learn more about them here and in the video below

Click Here — Learn more about service animals and watch thousands of SCI videos on SPINALpedia!


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