Pet Therapy
Pet therapy brings certified therapy dogs and their volunteer handlers to Astera Health to offer comfort, connection and emotional support. These visits are designed to create a calm, welcoming experience for patients, visitors and staff.
Research shows that animal-assisted therapy may help improve well-being, reduce stress and anxiety, support positive mood and provide comfort in health care settings. Studies have also found positive outcomes for people facing stress, anxiety, depression, psychiatric conditions and neurological disorders.
Who can benefit from pet therapy?
Pet therapy may benefit:
- Patients who need comfort, distraction, or emotional support during their care
- Visitors and families who may feel worried, tired, or overwhelmed
- Staff who may benefit from a positive break during a busy day
Therapy dog visits can help support a healing environment by offering moments of joy, calm, and connection. In the study provided, participants often described therapy animals as a source of comfort that helped reduce stress and anxiety.
How pet therapy works at Astera Health
Astera Health’s Pet Therapy Program is coordinated through Volunteer Services. All therapy dog visits follow safety, infection prevention, and privacy guidelines.
At Astera Health:
- Therapy dog teams must be certified through Pet Partners
- Dogs are the only therapy animals accepted
- Dogs must be clean, well-groomed, vaccinated, and free from parasites or communicable diseases
- Dogs must be leashed at all times while in the facility
- Visits must be coordinated by Volunteer Services
- Patient consent and nursing approval are required before a visit
- Handlers must ask for verbal permission before a patient, visitor, or staff member has contact with the dog
- Patients must wash their hands after contact with a therapy dog
Therapy dogs are not allowed in rooms with isolation precautions, areas with immunocompromised patients, sterile or surgical spaces, or any place where animal contact is not advised. Visits are limited to two hours per team each day.
Safety comes first
Astera Health follows infection prevention and safety practices to help protect patients, visitors, staff, handlers, and therapy dogs. Volunteer Services keeps records for each therapy dog team, including credentials, visit logs, and compliance records. Any concerns or incidents are reported and reviewed.