SALT LAKE CITY — A North Carolina community will soon have two new therapy animals, but instead of paws, they'll have hooves.
What's happening: Charlotte-Mecklenburg police officer Chad Webster and his family have adopted two pigs named Sarge and Frankie that they are training to be certified therapy animals as part of a "Bacon Response Team."
- According to Webster, Sarge and Frankie already know the following commands: "spin," "ring the bell," and "push toy car." Webster says they're some of the most intelligent animals he's ever met.
- Sarge (9 months old) and Frankie (6 months old) can become officially certified therapy animals and serve alongside Webster for community outreach programs and events once they turn 1, according to WBTV.
https://twitter.com/Chandler_TV/status/1083132076491190273
Why choose pigs? According to the American Mini Pig Association, pigs' intelligence and sensitivity make them good candidates for therapy animals or emotional support certification.
- Pigs can help children who have autism with vocalization and calming, according to the AMPA.
- Pigs have been known to detect and warn of oncoming seizures and they can detect low blood sugar in owners with diabetes.
- Pigs can ease anxiety and panic attacks and have been known to improve symptoms of depression and PTSD in some individuals, the AMPA reports.
Can any animal be a therapy animal? According to Pet Partners, a national nonprofit organization that trains and registers therapy animals, there are exclusions on what animal can be a therapy animal.
- Ducks, exotic and wild animals cannot be therapy animals, for example.
- Qualifying animals need to be at least 1 year old and have lived with their current owner for six months.
Animals that can be therapy animals:
- Dogs
- Cats
- Rabbits
- Birds
- Guinea pigs
- Rats
- Miniature pigs
- Llamas
- Alpacas
- Horses
- Donkeys
- Miniature horses
Emotional support vs. therapy animals: According to Emotional Support Animal Doctors, there is a distinct difference between emotional support animals and therapy animals.
- "Emotional support animals or emotional support dogs do not have any special training and it is not required by law. Their primary role is to provide emotional comfort, companionship, friendship and affection to their owner," according to ESAD.
- Therapy animals are "highly trained" and "taught to be socially adjusted to various people," according to ESAD. Most therapy animals are situated at hospitals, schools or communities that required psychological healing and calming.
- Therapy animals do not have the same level of access as service animals and emotional support animals, according to the ESAD.
Back to the "Bacon Response Team": Sarge and Frankie already have their own Instagram account, which you can follow to receive updates about the two pigs.