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Pet Helpers

This Science Minute was researched and written by Rachel R., Elmira.

Did you know that dogs could be more than pets? They are! Dogs have different jobs helping people. One of the most important jobs is being a guide dog. A guide dog helps blind people find their way around. The guide dog guides the person away from dangers such as holes.

Dogs can also be hearing ear dogs. These dogs react to noises their deaf owners cannot hear such as alarms, doorbells, and phones. Some dogs have "catching" noses. They can sniff out people on airlines carrying illegal food or plants, drugs, or even dangerous weapons.

Some dogs are search-and-rescue dogs. They sniff out trapped people and then they rescue them. Dogs can even be patrol guards. They patrol museums, malls, and other public places. If they were to find trouble, they would alert human guards. All of these dogs are more than pets to someone, and they all provide a service for everyone.