10/09/2026
Ever have a rough day and think, I just want to go home and hug my cat (or dog, or guinea pig or another furry/feathered/scaley friend)?
Well, you are not alone. Companion animals have long been known to provide positive mental health benefits to their owners (and vice versa). In fact, many health groups now incorporate Animal-assisted therapy into their wellness programs. These programs are not limited to hospitals or therapy offices, even college campuses bring therapy dogs around for midterms and finals. While dogs, cats and rabbits are the most common therapy animals, minature horses, cows, pigs, and llamas have also been used as therapy animals (3,4)
Animal-assisted therapy or pet therapy is defined as "a therapeutic intervention that involves animals to enhance the well-being of individuals across various populations and settings." 1
In fact, multiple studies have found Animal-assisted therapy was shown to have positive results for people of varying ages with depression, anxiety, stress, Alzheimer's, PTSD, and more (1, 2).
Another group found, "Overall, there is considerable evidence that people's connections with pets provide direct (e.g., social support, physical health, effective rehabilitation) and indirect (e.g., social capital, better workplaces, greater commitment to the environment) benefits. To be clear, companion animals are not a panacea. For example, pets are expensive, can injure others and instigate interpersonal conflict, and some research reports mixed or null findings (Herzog 2011). " (4)
Who is the animal in your life who helps you relax when stressed?
Happy below are the resources used for this post.
1. Pandey et al., 2024 -The Role of Animal-Assisted Therapy in Enhancing Patients’ Well-Being: Systematic Study of the Qualitative and Quantitative Evidence
2. Handbook on Animal Assisted Therapy - Chapter 5 - The Animal–Human Bond: Health and Wellness - Friedmann 2025
3. Compitus et al., 2024 - Cow cuddling: Cognitive considerations in bovine-assisted therapy
4. McConnell et al., 2025 - Furry Friends: Direct and Indirect Benefits of Human-Animal Relationships on Well-Being