DOGS FOR THE DISABLED - BENEFITS TO RECIPIENTS AND WELFARE OF THE DOG

Dogs for the Disabled is an organisation recently established in the U K to provide trained assistance dogs to enhance the mobility and indep endence of people with physical disabilities. Fifty-seven recipients o f a Dog for the Disabled (90% of all recipients) took part in a questi onnaire survey to assess satisfaction with their dog, commitment to th e dog's welfare, and other changes in their life brought about by obta ining their dog. Subjects reported an increased sense of social integr ation, enhancement to self-perceived health, and an affectionate, ofte n supportive, relationship with their dog. Levels of satisfaction with the dog's work and the quality of the recipient-dog relationship were greater in subjects for whom the idea to have a dog was their own tha n in subjects who were influenced by other people to acquire a dog. Th ese differences were small but statistically significant and may be a useful predictor in future applicants of the success of the working re lationship. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.