The Purpose of AMEN
In the April 3, 1996 (Vol. 272, No. 13) issue of the Journal of the
American Medical Association, Karen Allen, PhD and Jim Blascovich, PhD
revealed the results of a two-year study. Their objective was to assess
the value of service dogs for people with ambulatory disabilities. The
results were surprising to some, yet merely confirmed what this industry
has believed to be true for more than 20 years.
The World Institute on Disabilities declares that there are more than
3.8 million people in the U.S. alone who need some type of personal
assistance (due to a disability), and yet only 850,000 are getting the
assistance that they need. Trained and certified assistance dogs offer
an affordable and empowering method to remedy this problem.
According to the above mentioned study disabled individuals realized
significant increases (within 6 months of receiving a service dog) in
self-esteem, psychological well-being, community integration, school
attendance, and part time employment, while needing less paid and unpaid
assistance hours. Within two years of receiving a dog the following was
realized:
* 3 fold increase in self-esteem
* 4 fold increase in psychological well-being
* 10 fold increase in community integration
* Significant increase in school attendance
* Significant increase in part-time employment
* 2/3 reduction in paid and unpaid assistance hours
Actual financial savings for one family are realized in the second year
after receiving an assistance dog, and increase to more than $60,000
after 8 years.
The reduction in unpaid assistance hours is also significant in that the
burden to family and friends is diminished.
Most of these paid assistance hours come directly from tax dollars, and
are distributed by the state health and human service systems. This
study is telling us that by providing a service (assistance) dogs to
those with disabilities are raising quality of life while saving health
and human service dollars. Careful breeding and a stimulating
environment are the keys to a successful "service dog".
Some puppies held back for service dogs are placed into "puppy handler homes"
for basic training for up to one year. if you are interested in becoming
a puppy handler or sponsoring the growth and training of a puppy, please contact us for more information.