Service Dogs and Persons with Disabilities: When COVID-19 Lockdown Changes Their Relationship

SIMPLE SUMMARY: COVID-19 constitutes a major event with multiple consequences for our intra- and interspecific relationships. Persons with disabilities, who own service dogs, develop strong relationships with them. In the present study, we hypothesized that the COVID-19 lockdown would have influenced people with disabilities/service dog relationships. An online survey was conducted during the first COVID-19 lockdown in France, which included information on the general context prior to and during the COVID-19 lockdown. The results confirm that service dogs, like other pets, constituted a source of emotional support for people during the COVID-19 lockdown. However, it appears that the COVID-19 lockdown elicited a costlier relationship for service dog owners. Our study highlights that, in extreme situations, the characteristics of human–animal relationships can be exacerbated in positive and negative ways. These results are important for organizations providing service dogs to evaluate the support they provide to their recipients. ABSTRACT: Persons with disabilities, who own service dogs, develop strong relationships with them. Since the COVID-19 pandemic decreased the possibility of social contact and modified human relationships, we hypothesized that the COVID-19 lockdown would influence people with disabilities—service dog relationships. An online survey was conducted during the first COVID-19 lockdown in France and included information (e.g., MONASH score) both in the general context prior to and during the COVID-19 lockdown. Seventy owners participated. Compared to the general context, scores for the Perceived Emotional Closeness and Perceived Costs subscales were significantly higher during the COVID-19 lockdown, while scores for the Dog–Owner Interaction subscale were significantly lower during the COVID-19 lockdown. Our study confirmed that service dogs, like other pets, were a source of emotional support for their owners during the COVID-19 lockdown. However, people with disabilities found their relationship with their service dog costlier (e.g., my dog makes too much mess). Our study highlights that, in extreme situations, characteristics of a human–animal relationship can be exacerbated in both positive and negative ways.