Animals’ Ability to Discover an Owner’s Illness
 Gill Lacey, recently interviewed by CBS News, is convinced that his Dalmatian Trudi saved his life. Trudi showed a great deal of interest in a mole on Gill’s leg, prompting him to have it checked by a doctor. This mole turned out to be a malignant melanoma. Many similar stories have been reported over the years involving different kinds of cancer, including less apparent types such as breast cancer.11 Research by Donald Broom, Professor of Animal Welfare at the Cambridge University Veterinary School in Great Britain, has shown that dogs can be trained to identify bladder cancer in fluid and tissue samples.11
Dogs’ amazing sense of smell has also been beneficial for owners that suffer from epilepsy and diabetes. Dot, a Border Collie I knew when I lived in Manhattan, Kansas, is a family dog that was trained to alert the family’s son, Jon, of upcoming epileptic seizures. Dot’s success at this allowed Jon to live a much more normal teenage life as well as allowing Dot to enjoy many new experiences as she accompanied him throughout the day. Similar situations exist with some animals whose owners are prone to hypoglycemia. These animals are able to inform their guardians soon enough after a drop in blood sugar to avert negative consequences.8
Allergies
Allergies can often be helped by sharing a home with cats and dogs. Researchers at the Medical College of Georgia reported in the Journal of the American Medical Association that “infants in homes with at least two animals were up to 77 percent less likely to develop allergies.”12 They studied 474 children over a six to seven year period, and theorized that the immune systems of those that did not develop allergies may have been strengthened through exposure to bacteria carried by pets.13
Special Needs Children, Disturbed Teens
Children with access to animals have also shown improvements in behavioral health. Aaron Katcher, MD, who works with youngsters diagnosed with attention deficit disorder (ADD), has observed “significant improvement in behavior when the children were allowed to interact with animals.”3,14 Children with autism who live with pets have been shown to exhibit more pro-social behaviors and decreased autistic behaviors.15,16
Professionals have developed programs geared to helping children with special needs. A program called Reading Fur Fun is popular and successful.17 In this program, children with difficulty reading spend time reading to dogs.17 According to Debra Dyjak, a volunteer in the program, “Many kids are reluctant to read, but because a dog doesn’t criticize or correct, they feel more confident reading to him.”17 Studies have also shown that children who have cared for animals have higher levels of self-esteem.3,18
While programs such as Reading Fur Fun increase self-confidence, others increase empathy. Many such programs have been set up in juvenile treatment institutions, with troubled teens being paired with troubled dogs that need to be trained before they qualify for adoption. Tom McGinn, the superintendent at one such treatment facility, says, “Empathy is something most Totem Town residents lack … But it’s an important lesson for them to learn.”19 These problem teens likely see similarities between their own circumstances and those of the dogs. Dogs that change their behaviors get a second chance, a very helpful lesson for teens who also need a second chance. Research has also demonstrated that children have increased scores on empathy and pro-social orientation scales when they live with pets.15
 Seniors: Improved Health and Quality of Life
Children and teens are not the only special populations to benefit from interacting with animals. Investigators have also found that pets have a positive effect on the elderly. According to studies in the Journal of American Geriatrics Society and the Journal of Clinical Nursing, seniors who live with pets have considerably increased physical health and mental well-being.6,20,21 This approach has paid off, literally, in nursing homes. Those that incorporated companion animal programs saw declines in prescription drug use by patients and in the total cost of care.8 Related studies found that people sharing homes with animals experienced fewer minor health problems and needed fewer medical appointments.8,15,22,23 Participants that lived with a dog reported a 50 percent decrease in minor health problems.22
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