September is National Service Dog Month, and this year, it also coincided with the Paralympics. Coming off a record-breaking Paris Olympics, the Paralympics follow in the same cities at the same venues every four years. The popularity of competitive sport for individuals with disabilities grew in popularity in the United States after World War II in an effort to rehabilitate wounded soldiers and culminated in the first Paralympic Games in Rome in 1960. Defined by support, inclusivity, and athletic excellence, the Paralympic Games feature some of the best athletes in the world competing on the most competitive stage for athletes that fall under six areas of physical, intellectual, and other disabilities.
Because of the unique qualifying standards surrounding the Paralympics, service dogs are fairly common at the Paralympic Games. Here’s what makes a service dog a service dog and how they help some of the best athletes in the world achieve greatness.
What is a service dog?
Although the terms “service dog,” and “assistance dog” are often used interchangeably, they are similar, but not quite the same. Service dogs are one category within the assistance dog grouping , along with emotional support dogs. “Assistance dog” describes the broader umbrella term for service and emotional support dogs, both of whom perform important tasks for their handlers. Although athletes have been known to benefit from assistance dogs for emotional support (like Beacon, a therapy dog who works with Team USA’s gymnastics team), assistance dogs take center stage at the Paralympics because they are specifically trained to assist individuals with disabilities.
According to 2021 AAHA Working, Assistance, and Therapy Dog Guidelines, service dogs are recognized by the ADA and are “individually trained to do work or perform tasks for the benefit of an individual with a disability including a physical, sensory, psychiatric, intellectual, or other mental disability.” Service dogs can play a variety of roles, including guide dogs, hearing dogs, autism support dogs, and seizure alert dogs.
Other assistance dogs, like emotional support dogs, provide therapeutic support to individuals for disabilities by providing companionship, alleviating loneliness, and helping with anxiety, depression, and certain phobias. Therapy dogs, who are in their own category and are not considered assistance dogs, provide important emotional support by promoting improvements in physical, cognitive, emotional, and/or social contexts.
Who benefits from a service dog?
In short, some of the best athletes in the world benefit from service dogs, including prominent Paralympians in Paris this year.
French Paralympian, Milena Surreau, who won silver in para badminton at the European Paralympic Championships earlier this year, has a Swiss Shepherd named Eugene, who is trained to help her navigate her autism needs and movement impairments due to a neurological disease that causes weakness in her legs. Theodora Paschalidou, a judo champion from Greece, was a flag bearer in the 2024 Opening Ceremony, who was notably accompanied by her guide dog during the ceremony. Paschalidou became the first blind judo athlete from Greece to win a Paralympic medal in the J1 category, which is reserved for athletes with varying degrees of visual impairment. Seated javelin thrower, Justin Phongsavanh, who was the first-ever seated thrower to be invited to the prestigious Drake Relays earlier this year, also has a service dog named Morgan.
Service dogs are also helpful to non-athletes with “physical, sensory, psychiatric, intellectual,” or other mental disabilities. Although other animals can be used for emotional support, only dogs are recognized as service animals. And although it might be tempting to feed or pet one if you see one in public, remember: they’re on the clock helping their owners win gold or to simply making their lives easier, safer, and more accessible.
Photo credit: © eAlisa + via Getty Images Plus
Disclaimer: The views expressed, and topics discussed, in any NEWStat column or article are intended to inform, educate, or entertain, and do not represent an official position by the American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA) or its Board of Directors.
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