A Purdue University study published in May in the American Journal of Occupational Therapy attached a numerical measure to the positive effect of service dogs on humans. Although previous studies demonstrated that service dogs improve people’s quality of life, this study is the first to show measurable benefits of service dogs. According to the study, living with a service dog was most closely associated with less health-related worry, and better overall psychosocial health and emotional functioning, less total family impact from the chronic condition and better emotional health-related quality of life.

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About the author

Covering the pet world for more than 25 years, Melissa L. Kauffman has been an editor/writer for a wide variety of pet magazines and websites from the small critters to parrots to cats and dogs. Her advisory team of rescued pets — dogs Tampa Bay and Justice and parrots Deacon and Pi-Pi — help keep her on top of the latest and greatest pet health research, training and products, anything to give keep them in the high life they are accustomed to. Follow Tampa and his crew on Instagram @tampa.bay.pup.report while Melissa can always be found working on the next issue of Catster and Dogster magazines at caster.com and dogster.com.