[JoeProBono]

Richard, a bonnet macaque monkey, helps Debby Rose get through the day without debilitating panic attacks

Ann Edie, who is blind, relies on Panda to guide her through her daily activities

Jim Eggers carries his parrot Sadie around with him in this cage converted into a backpack.

A Calming Parrot

The surprises don't end with horses. Jim Eggers, who suffers from bipolar disorder, accidentally discovered that his parrot can help him calm down and avoid destructive behavior.

Sensing that her owner is on the verge of a psychotic episode, Sadie talks him down with, "It's OK, Jim. Calm down, Jim. You're all right, Jim. I'm here, Jim."

He carries her around at all times in a backpack carefully fitted to hold her cage. It's not an arrangement that people are accustomed to and people are often skeptical.

[Steely Tom]

Guide Horse? I don't get it. Perhaps, knowing NPR's fealty to All Things Homosexual, they actually mean horse guide.

[nuconvert]

I like Richard. Does he have a co-pilot’s license?

[ThomasThomas]

I hope this catch on with republicans.

[GeronL]

my helper hippo typed this for me

[Hot Tabasco]

Parrots can’t keep secrets and monkeys are just plain creepy.......

[gogogodzilla]

I always thought parrots would be more useful to the blind than a seeing eye dog. After all, a parrot can tell you what is around you. All a dog can do is tug at your hand.

[Daffynition]

Do they get minimum wage? Coffee breaks? The right to unionize?

[HairOfTheDog]

I think the problem is not in the variety of service animals used... it could very well be that animals other than dogs can be service animals. I am intrigued that parrots and monkeys might be very helpful in doing tactile tasks for those with serious mobility issues.

I think the problem is in the increasingly silly list of human conditions and animals that may or may not help them. On the surface, many seem like silly excuses to take their pets with them everywhere. Panic attack monkey?

[csvset]

A Calming Parrot

Avast there matey ! Ye be upsetting the captain ! Belay that!

[RedStateRocker]

I’m pretty hard of hearing (no, from wonderful Irish healthcare, not playing music).
Many times my Macaw starts saying “hello’ really loudly, turns out the phone is ringing and I wasn’t hearing it.

I’ve also picked up the phone and held it up to him, when caller ID indicates it;s a telemarketer, the poor sot on the other end keeps asking for me or the wife and gets ‘hello’, Dude!’ and such in what sounds like a little girls voice.

[KarlInOhio]

In Ohio stores can post "No Gun" signs prohibiting people from carrying firearms there. Does that apply to my service chimp too?

[csvset]

Um, should Debby Rose be driving if she’s prone to “panic attacks”? WTH? Is the monkey going take the wheel?

[csvset]

Ping for the WTH is this files.