Animal-assisted therapy (AAT) is growing in use for human wellbeing, but the welfare of participating animals deserves equal attention to the human benefits.
Animal-assisted therapy provides genuine human benefits, but the welfare of participating animals must be actively managed rather than assumed. Therapy dogs are often selected for calm temperaments, but calm does not mean stress-free — subtle stress signals in calm dogs are easy to miss. High-frequency visits, multiple strangers, unpredictable environments, and inability to avoid contact are all stressors. Horses in equine therapy are particularly vulnerable to client unpredictability. Welfare best practice requires regular animal welfare assessments, clear working limits, mandatory rest days, and training handlers to recognise and respect animal stress signals.