Research Paper Argument

One of the best examples of the ways service dogs can impact the lives of their owners is

writer Kate Speer and her dog Wafflenugget. Kate is a writer, the CEO of TheDogist, and a

Mental Health Advocate. In her article for The Dogist, Kate tells her story about her struggle

with mental health. A misdiagnosis and the medication to treat a bipolar disorder she didn’t have

eventually resulted in a suicide attempt when Kate “stopped wanting to live and my brain tricked

me into thinking that no one else wanted me to live either” (Speer, paragraph 14). Mental illness

took over Kate’s life and her world became tiny, full of nothing but “performing OCD rituals and

one walk with (her parents’ Bernese Mountain dog) Sophie per night once the neighbor’s lights

had gone out”(Speer 14). But after her (fortunately failed) suicide attempt, her doctor gave up.

“He sentenced me to a long-term psychiatric facility” (Speer 14). Luckily, Kate’s parents found a

well known behavioral therapist, and after three sessions, he confirmed that Kate did not have

bipolar disorder, but an extreme panic and anxiety disorder which she had had since she was

young. Kate explains that after finding out the truth, she “attacked life with a newfound vigor

and a determination to grow back into joy” (Speer 17). Some time passed and Kate found herself

wanting her own dog. She grew up with dogs and had always said that they made her feel

accepted, and loved unconditionally. So in 2015, Kate and her boyfriend Dave adopted Sophie’s

niece and named her Wafflenugget. Waffle was not trained to be a service dog for Kate, but

“After a month of being inseparable, the strangest thing started happening- Waffle started

jumping in my lap or wrapping her paw around my ankle about thirty seconds before every panic

attack and flashback I experienced” (Speer 21). Waffle had trained herself to be Kate’s service

dog. Kate says that “With her companionship and the newfound ability to know when my brain

was going to blindside me with triggering memories...I found freedom and a bolstered stamina at
work and in life...With Waffle by my side, I devoured online courses in marketing, social media,

brand strategies, and sales...Within a year, I was almost unrecognizable-joyful, motivated,

successful at work and healthier then I had been in my entire life. Waffle was to thank for this”

(Speer 24). A few months later, Kate became the CEO of TheDogist, a community full of people

who love dogs for infinite reasons. Kate posts regularly on her Instagram (@Kate_Speer) about

mental health, her journey, and lots of encouragement for those who may need it. Waffle also

posts on her Instagram, @WaffleNugget, about encouragement and most importantly cookies.

As is made very clear by Kate’s story, and her Waffy, dogs can make a world of

difference. Service dogs do so much for their humans, and while prescription drugs or therapy

may work very well for some, some people need a full time best friend.

via @Wafflenugget on Instagram.

If the emotional connection is not enough to prove the effect animals can have on our

lives, there is an abundance of evidence which shows how real the impact is. In her article

entitled “Puppy love-It’s Better Than You Think”, Jane Weaver, award-winning writer and

health editor for MSNBC.com, explores some of the great ways interacting with animals can

truly improve our health. Weaver tells about a study done in a Missouri study in which 50 dog

owners and 50 non-dog owners spent 15-40 minutes alone with their own dog, a friendly dog

they had not previously met, and a robotic dog; (Robotic dogs are being studied as companions

for those who may not be able to care for an animal). Blood samples were taken in every dog and

human every five minutes throughout the session, in which the humans petted the dogs. The

results showed that “The dogs' blood pressure dropped as soon as they were petted. The humans'

blood pressure dropped by approximately 10 percent about 15 to 30 minutes after they began
petting the animal, at which point blood was again drawn” (Weaver 12). Not only did the study

prove the decrease in blood pressure, but it also showed that “Johnson's study found that

serotonin levels increased when interacting with the human's own dog, but not with the

unfamiliar animal. And serotonin actually decreased when interacting with the robotic dog...Dr.

Alan Beck, director of the Center for the Human-Animal Bond at Purdue University, says the

serotonin changes reveal the "mechanism" of how pets influence our health.” (Weaver 13-14).

These results support the fact that not only does interacting with one’s dog bring benefits for

their physical health, but also for their mental health. So what should be done with this

knowledge? Does this mean getting a dog is the answer to every problem? No. However, owning

a dog, potentially a service animal, can have incredible effects on one’s health and could

improve their lives in many ways; “While Johnson doesn't advise patients to throw away their

antidepressants and instead get a dog, she says animal therapy could be used as an adjunct to

depression treatment” (Weaver 18). Interaction with animals has proven to increase levels of

serotonin in both humans and dogs, which is beneficial to both parties. Weaver states that “As

scientific research continues to validate the importance of animals to human health, Beck expects

to see...more widespread acceptance of animal care as a legitimate healthcare expense. He also

hopes more insurance policies will begin offering coverage for services such as veterinary care

for pets of the elderly, and that eventually, pet owners will receive insurance discounts similar to

the deals given to non-smokers” (Weaver 21). New ideas and more acceptance from the

community means better physical and mental health for people everywhere, and better lives for

everyone. Viewing animal interaction as a real treatment for depression, anxiety, PTSD, and

other mental illnesses can truly make a world of difference for patients. Antidepressants and

prescription drugs do not work for everyone, and some people may be unable to use them as a
means of treatment due to other conditions. Having other solutions readily available and

acceptable throughout society could, for some, truly be the difference between life and death.