Sick dog waiting for treatment is comforted by the resident therapy hound

Therapy dogs make the world a better place. They provide vital support to those in care, disabled people, and those struggling with mental health issues.

These rehab dogs are specially trained to offer love and affection to those who need it, such as those who have experienced trauma in their lives. They are often used in hospitals, retirement homes, schools, and even jails.

Photo: TinoH / Wikimedia commons

Therapy dogs are even being used in airports across the U.S., Canada, and the U.K to help people de-stress before a flight.

According to Therapydogs.com these special hounds have been around since the 9/11 terror attacks to help passengers who were understandably nervous before their flight.

Don’t just benefit people

It costs tens of thousands of dollars to train a dog to become a therapy dog.

Often called Emotional Support Animals (ESA), there are an estimated 200,000 ESAs in the U.S. and you can qualify for one if you have an emotional disability.

But it’s not just us humans who can benefit from therapy dogs. Our four-legged friends also benefit – from these helpful hounds.

A post on the Reddit forum which showed a therapy dog helping to reassure another dog at a vetinary clinic, recently went viral.

User  u / Obito_GF posted the image with the caption: “This veterinarian has a comfort dog assistant that helps sick dog patients know that everything will be alright.”

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Reddit/ u / Obito_GF

The image has caused thousands to share and react to this beautiful sight which shows that our four-legged friends can really make a difference in our lives and in the lives of other dogs ❤️

Please share this article to pay tribute to all the therapy dogs who are making a difference.