How Working Animals Aid Humans

Animals have been our companions for hundreds of years, but they also work along side us in a variety of jobs.

The first working animal that could come to mind might be dogs, they commonly sniff out bombs, detect cancer, sniff out illegal fruit at the border and help find missing people. But there are numerous other animals that work during the day or night as well.

Hero Rats

In an earlier article I wrote about, The Giant Gambian Pouched Rat and how they are originally from Africa and are being used to detect land mines there. The Giant Gambian Pouched Rat may be considered a pest in places like Florida where they are getting into people's trash and scaring the neighborhood cats, but in other places they are saving lives.

According to HeroRat.org "They are true heroes working hand-in-hand with people to create safer communities and a better world. A trained rat can identify landmines quickly and efficiently, or can sniff out deadly pulmonary tuberculosis faster than traditional laboratory microscopy."

K9 and Bomb Sniffing Dogs

Dogs have been loyal loving pets, played the role of hero in TV shows like Lassie and Benji, comforting injured and sick people in hospitals and rest homes and working beside law enforcement to get bad guys and find bombs and drugs.

According to an article I wrote about Police Dogs "German Shepherds are most widely known as being Police dogs, but a few other breeds are also used. Most police dogs are trained to intimidate, find, chase and hold suspects who are either running or hiding from the Police. Police state that the dog's objective is not to bite a fleeing suspect but to find, grab and hold on until the dogs handler gives the release command."

Navy Dolphins

The U.S. Navy has a program called, The Marine Mammal Program where dolphins are trained to use their own echolocation to locate Sea Mines so they can then be removed. The navy trains dolphins and sea lions to work with them by positive reinforcement. Correct responses are rewarded while wrong responses are ignored.

There are countless other animals that help us in our everyday lives and make living easier for us. From rats to pigs we use animals in so many different ways, we depend on them to help us find missing and trapped people and soothe us when we are feeling bad.

Sources:

http://www.herorat.org/

http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/2330516/what_is_a_gambian_giant_pouched_rat.html?cat=17

http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/175234/police%20dogs%20vicious%20animals%20or%20helpers.html?cat=17

http://www.spawar.navy.mil/sandiego/technology/mammals/