Category: Therapy Animals

Therapy animals are volunteer pets who provide therapeutic benefits through animal-assisted activities in community settings like hospitals, schools, and disaster areas. Certification evaluates their training and temperament suitability. Unlike service dogs who assist one person, therapy animals’ goal is to improve wellbeing for many through socialization and emotional support. With their handlers, therapy pets identify populations to serve, like hospitalized patients, troubled youth, and PTSD survivors. These special responder teams provide biochemical and psychological benefits, decreasing pain, isolation, anxiety, and depression by utilizing the scientifically proven healing power of the human-animal bond.