What is pet therapy? How animals are supporting people in UK hospitals, care homes and schools

A dog visiting a care home. A rabbit on a hospital ward. A calm, friendly cat in a school reading corner. You might have seen pet therapy in action without knowing it had a name.

Pet therapy is a simple idea. Animals can help people feel calmer, more connected and more motivated. But there's a lot more to it than turning up with a friendly pet. In this guide, we explain what pet therapy is, how it differs from animal assisted therapy, which therapy animals are used, where it happens in the UK and what the benefits are.

We'll also show you how you could make it part of your career.

What is pet therapy?
Pet therapy is the everyday name for using animals to support people's health, wellbeing or learning. It builds on the natural pull many of us feel towards animals, which we explore in our guide to animal and human bonding.

There's no single official definition. Mental health charity Rethink Mental Illness points out that the term animal therapy isn't defined, and it can mean anything from a visiting animal to an animal taking part in talking therapy.

The clearest UK definitions come from the Royal College of Nursing. Its 2025 guidance, Working with Dogs in Health Care Settings, separates the work into two main types:
 

• Animal assisted activity, where a volunteer handler brings their dog for relaxed, informal interaction with patients or residents. The RCN says this is the most common form.
• Animal assisted therapy, which is goal-directed, delivered alongside health professionals, and documented as part of a patient's care plan.

Both sit under the umbrella term animal assisted intervention, which our separate guide covers in more depth.

Pet therapy, animal therapy and animal assisted therapy: what's the difference?

These terms are often used as if they mean the same thing, so it helps to know how they differ.

Pet therapy and pet assisted therapy are the informal, everyday names. People usually use them to describe any visit or session where an animal helps someone feel better.

Animal assisted therapy is the more formal term. It describes structured sessions with clear goals, led by a qualified health or care professional. The animal and its handler support the professional's work rather than replacing it.

Animal therapy can be confusing because it's used in two ways. Sometimes it means the same as pet therapy. Other times it means therapy given to animals, such as hydrotherapy or physiotherapy for dogs. If that's what you're interested in, take a look at our hydrotherapy and physiotherapy courses for animals.

Which therapy animals are used?

Dogs are by far the most common therapy animals in the UK, and our guide to therapy dogs explains what they do. But they're not the only option. Cats, rabbits, guinea pigs, horses and even farm animals can all be involved, depending on the setting and the people taking part.

What matters most is temperament. A good therapy animal is calm, gentle and comfortable with new people, noises and places. UK charity Pets As Therapy says all the pets on its visiting scheme are temperament assessed before they start.

The animal's welfare is just as important as the person's. The RCN guidance says dogs should never be left alone with anyone other than their handler. Active sessions should last no more than an hour, with no more than three active hours a day. Handlers also need to read their dog's body language and end a visit straight away if the dog isn't coping.

Where does pet therapy happen in the UK?

Pet assisted therapy and visiting schemes take place in a wide range of settings, including:
 

• hospitals and hospices
• care and nursing homes
• mainstream and special needs schools
• universities
• prisons

Pets As Therapy has been running visits since 1983 and has more than 4,000 volunteers across the UK. The RCN notes that the use of dogs in care homes, schools and hospitals has grown.

Health settings come with extra rules. The RCN guidance covers infection control in detail. Handlers and dogs shouldn't visit within 48 hours of sickness or diarrhoea, and dogs need up-to-date vaccinations and regular parasite treatment. They also shouldn't lick patients or sit on beds without a protective pad.
 

What are the benefits of pet therapy?

The benefits of pet therapy can be emotional, social and physical. Rethink Mental Illness says animals can help reduce stress and anxiety, lift your mood and help you feel calmer. They can also improve self-confidence and encourage social contact. The RCN says dogs can make a significant difference to the lives of people with a range of disabilities and conditions.

In practice, people often describe benefits such as:
 

• feeling calmer and more relaxed during a hospital stay
• a reason to chat and connect, especially in care homes
• encouragement to move, walk or take part in an activity
• comfort and something positive to look forward to

It's worth being realistic, though. Much of the UK research looks at owning pets rather than structured sessions, and the results are mixed. We look at what the evidence does and doesn't show in our guide to pets and mental health. The benefits of pet therapy are strongest when sessions are well planned, the animal is suited to the work and its welfare comes first.

A short history of animal assisted therapy

People have kept animals for comfort for centuries, but the term pet therapy is fairly recent. According to Guinness World Records, US psychologist Dr Boris Levinson first used it in a paper published in April 1964. He'd noticed that a young patient became more relaxed and talkative when his dog, Jingles, was in the room.

Since then, the field has grown into a recognised area of practice, with professional guidance like the RCN's helping to keep sessions safe for people and animals alike.

How to start a career in pet therapy

If you love animals and want to help people, there are a few ways into this work. Many people start by volunteering with their own dog, which our guide to therapy dog training explains. Others want to build a career, and our guide to animal assisted therapy jobs covers the roles and routes in.

Formal animal assisted therapy is led by qualified health or care professionals. But the people who plan sessions, choose and handle the animals and look after their welfare need a solid understanding of how this work should be done.

That's where the Level 3 Diploma in Animal Assisted Intervention comes in. It's an Ofqual regulated qualification studied online and at your own pace, with tutor support. You'll learn about the theory and history of the field, your legal duties, the health and wellbeing benefits, roles and responsibilities, and how to pair the right animal with the right person. There's also a two-day practical with a dog, which you arrange yourself.

We want to be clear about what this qualification is. It's a qualification in animal assisted intervention, not therapy, so it won't qualify you as a therapist. What it will give you is the knowledge to plan and deliver sessions responsibly, and to work or volunteer in this field.

You'll also get access to the learndirect: Community Hub app, a space just for learners and alumni of the learndirect Digital Group. It's a great place to join discussion groups, ask questions and connect with other people who love working with animals.

Ready to find out more?

Visit the Level 3 Diploma in Animal Assisted Intervention course page for full details, including fees and payment options. Or call our course advisors on 01202 006 040, or send us an enquiry.