What is pet therapy?

Pet therapy, or animal-assisted therapy, is a type of therapy involving animals as a form of treatment. The goal may be to improve a patient’s social, emotional, or cognitive functioning.

Pet therapy can be offered in a residential aged care setting, retirement living, home and community care, and rehabilitation centres and hospices. Animals used in the therapy may include domesticated pets and farm animals.

Benefits of Pet Therapy

Research has revealed many benefits to pet therapy; some of which may include:

• Decreased blood pressure and stress
• Improved communication and reminiscence
• Many people who are normally unresponsive to other therapies may ‘brighten up’ and ‘chat’ with a pet.
• Pets may motivate and encourage the elderly to stay healthy and exercise, giving them a feeling of being ‘needed’.
• Motor skills may improve with the assistance of an animal trained for pet therapy.