Welfare in Animal-Assisted Therapy

Animal-assisted therapy benefits humans but creates welfare demands on the animals involved, requiring evidence-based standards to protect therapy animal wellbeing.

Key Facts

Dog-assisted therapy is used in hospitals, care homes, and schools globally
Therapy dogs must interact with multiple strangers in potentially stressful environments
Studies show that therapy dogs show elevated cortisol during some AAT sessions
Horses in equine-assisted therapy face handling by inexperienced riders and unfamiliar individuals
Best practice AAT includes welfare monitoring, rest periods, and voluntary participation signals

Welfare Considerations

Therapy animal welfare is easily overlooked because the benefits to human participants are visible and compelling. However, therapy animals are not naturally drawn to hospital environments, stranger interaction, or the predictable unpredictability of working with vulnerable populations. Welfare monitoring during therapy sessions — including cortisol measurement, behavioural observation, and voluntary participation indicators — is emerging as essential practice. Animals that show consistent stress during AAT should be retired from the role.

What You Can Do

Support AAT programmes that include formal welfare monitoring protocols
Advocate for accreditation standards that include therapy animal welfare assessment
Never force animals to participate in therapy interactions — allow voluntary engagement
Choose AAT providers that employ trained welfare observers alongside handlers
Support research into therapy animal welfare indicators and management