Skip to main content

The Roles of Assistance Animals


The three types of assistance animals are

  1. Service animals: Dogs and miniature horses are trained to aid their handlers who have been diagnosed with medical or psychiatric disabilities and have received a prescription for a service animal.
  2. Therapy animals: Therapy animals (with their handlers) are trained to provide comfort and therapeutic interactions to people in need in a variety of settings, including hospitals, private therapy practices, retirement and nursing homes, schools and in the aftermath of disasters.
  3. Emotional support animals: Emotional support animals provide their handlers with comfort and support within their homes.

For more information, check out the resources on the Assistance Animal Division page.