Currently only humans with certain qualification can be recognized as health care providers. By current standards neither privately practicing animals nor animal companions of humans are recognized by the federal government as health care providers. Despite overwhelming evidence of the therapeutic benefit of pets such as service dogs, stress rabbits, and theraputic pinnipeds, there is no current legislation recognizing these alternative species as healthcare providers. Under current circumstances , certian species such as the Odobenus rosmarus are not entitled to receieve benefits of medicare and medicaid, and are denied access to air transport with human companions on major airlines .
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