What Are These Service Dogs For?

There is a nice thread about the background and history of the different types of assistance and service dogs under a topic called "paws and claws", in a forum site called Building Foundations. I am not familiar with this site, but I like it. I have not been able to find a specific statement as to what this site is about, maybe I missed it. But it appears that it provides emotional support for people who are going through difficult times emotionally and mentally.

I can't guarantee though, that all the information in this thread is entirely accurate. Most likely it is. Either way, it has valuable information.

As I have mentioned in the past, I have a hearing dog. So, this is why sites about service and assistance dogs intrigue me. I keep learning about different type of service dogs that I never heard of before. I've even heard of donkeys, ponies and guinea pigs as service animals. Also, about monkeys for deaf people in another country. Personally, I can't imagine walking around places with a monkey on your shoulder. I like monkeys, but no thanks. I'll stick to the dog ;-)

Building Foundations - Paws & Claws
http://www.buildingfoundations.net/chat/index.php?showtopic=26875

Lock a Lock

I never really thought about their history. It's one of those things that you just don't think about. Besides, I always assumed it was possibly just a few hundreds years old invention. It didn't occurred to me that there is such a rich history for this little thing. But, I discovered that locks have been around long before the birth of Christ. They are often mentioned both in the old testaments and in the mythology. Once I read that, it made sense to me. I've also learned that there are many types of locks with different shapes, purposes and origins. There is even a lock museum in Terryville, Connecticut. I had no idea there is such a museum. It wouldn't even crossed in my mind.

Also. I saw several other good links that I liked. Below are links for three sites that I enjoyed viewing. The first link is focused on the history, the second one is the museum, and the last two links are from the American Lock Collectors Association. There are a truly many amazing pictures of unique shaped locks. There are even locks that are shaped like animals. They are called Figural Locks.

Schlage's History of Locks
http://www.locks.ru/eng/informat/schlagehistory.htm

Lock Museum Of America
http://www.lockmuseum.com/

The ALCA's site has a photo gallery of all kind of locks including historical locks

The American Lock Collectors Association (ALCA)
http://alca.us/PHOTO_GALLERY.html

The ALCA even has a page for fake locks!

ALCA - Fakes
http://alca.us/FAKES.html