Many of us keep dogs for companionship. Some people keep dogs to help them with their disabilities, like the way Guide dogs are used by visually-handicapped people.
Larry Springer takes his Golden Retriever, Jake, to hospital all the time. Not for treatment but to take part in a treatment program. Jake visits Le Bonheur Children's hospital in Memphis, Tennessee, as part of the hospital's "Pet Therapy" project. So far the children has been reacting positively to the dog-tor.
In your own homes where you have dogs, have you noticed anything like this? Are your dogs having a positive effect on you or members of your family in times of sickness?