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Types of Working & Companion Animals

From highly trained psychiatric service animals to companion pets, Joybound trains dogs and cats to connect with humans in a wide variety of ways. While any animal can provide much-needed companionship, the unique abilities of our working animals make each of them a lifeline to those battling mental health challenges, drastically enhancing their independence and security.

What Types of Animals Are There?

Here is a look at the six different types of working and companion animals you’ll see from Joybound, each of whom fits a specific set of criteria and has unique privileges in the community:

A man wearing sunglasses sits beside a black and tan dog with a harness, both smiling at the camera. They are surrounded by trees, indicating an outdoor setting.

Psychiatric Service Dogs

Service dogs, including psychiatric service dogs, are trained in specific tasks to assist a person with a disability.

  • They are allowed anywhere their handlers are permitted, like a movie theater, hospital, or restaurant.
  • They are highly trained and socialized to be safe in public.
A brown and black service dog in a harness sits beside a person with a visible tattoo on their arm. The person gently holds the dog's head, both appearing calm in a modern indoor setting.

Service Dogs In-Training (SDiT)

Service dog candidates are learning to assist a person with a disability.

  • Generally, they have the same public access rights as a certified service animal. The only difference is they may need to provide proof that they are working with an organization towards certification.
A woman in scrubs smiling while holding a fluffy gray cat in a veterinary setting. The background shows medical equipment and a soft-colored wall.

Facility Dogs & Cats

Facility animals are trained in specific tasks to work alongside professionals and assist their clients.

  • Clients include those in a healthcare or educational setting.
  • They are allowed in the handler’s workplace, but not in other public places that are normally off limits to pets.
A woman in a hospital bed wearing a green patient gown holds a small dog in her arms. They are looking at each other with a calm expression. Medical equipment can be seen in the background, highlighting the hospital environment.

Therapy Dogs & Cats

Therapy animals are certified pets who provide comfort to many people.

  • They provide comfort to people in libraries, schools, hospitals, or other settings.
  • They only wear vests during approved visits.
  • They aren’t allowed in places that are normally off limits to pets.
A young woman with long blonde hair sits on a wooden bench, leaning towards a smiling dog with fluffy fur. The dog is on a leash, and both look content in a natural outdoor setting with greenery in the background.

Emotional Support Dogs & Cats

Emotional support animals provide comfort to people with mental health conditions.

  • They are allowed in housing, even properties with no-pet policies.
  • They are not allowed in public places that are normally off limits to pets.
A man wearing a blue sweatshirt with 'CALIFORNIA' printed in yellow smiles while holding a beige cat in his arms. The background includes a wooden door and a window with decorative glass features.

Companion Dogs & Cats (Pets)

Companion animals bring love and happiness to their families, without any special training or jobs.

  • They are not allowed in any places that are normally off-limits to pets.
  • They don’t need any additional or specialized training.

Is An Assistance Animal Right for You?

Joybound’s Shelter to Service program transforms shelter animals into highly-trained assistance animals for individuals and facilities. We offer a free, personalized matching service to connect each applicant with an animal who will complement their lifestyle and help them achieve their goals.

Learn more about the Shelter to Service program or submit an inquiry to get started.

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We feed our animals high-quality Purina pet food.

You can find all our adorable, adoptable animals on Petfinder

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