There are approximately 56.7 million people in the United States who have been diagnosed with a disability. In other words, one in five people suffers from some type of disability (“Anniversary” par. 2). With such a large portion of the population affected, the search for new and innovative treatments becomes essential. One such alternative treatment is service dogs. Currently, there are approximately 150,000 service dogs actively working to assist disabled people in the United States (“Welcome” para. 4). Service dogs benefit people with disabilities by improving their social, emotional and physical well-being. The social impact of a disability can be devastating. Disabled people are often shunned by those without disabilities. Even though disabled people are recognized, people who interact with them commonly feel uncomfortable with the disability (“Children” par. 6). However, dogs create a significant positive reaction in social situations. In fact, a study conducted showed that dogs increase social interactions even between strangers. Additionally, the study looked at how people would respond if they were poorly dressed with a dog. “The largest effect was between the dog-present and no-dog conditions, regardless of the handler's clothing,” the findings concluded (McNicholas para. 1). The study shows that disabled people will also be brought closer together with a guide dog. Recognition is the initial step in how service dogs improve social well-being. Once a disabled person is recognized, social interactions become easier with a dog. Research has found that guide dogs improve the disabled person's communication skills, which is the foundation of social interactions (“Children” par. 5-6). Once the foundations of communication have been built, “A guide dog can be a great icebreaker, encouraging conversation and friendship formation” (“Children” par.