Animal-assisted services
UK HealthCare’s Animal-Assisted Therapy program has a new name! Our program is now Animal-Assisted Services. This change more accurately represents our program as it is, and our goals as we grow it. We still provide our same services, such as visits with volunteer therapy animals, and our visit request process remains the same. Additionally, we are working to increase our non-volunteer animal-assisted offerings, including professionals working with their own therapy animals, and the implementation of a facility dog program across UK HealthCare. We are excited to grow this program even further!
The goal of UK Integrative Medicine & Health is to assist patients in reaching their health and wellness goals by focusing on the whole person – body, mind and spirit. Animal-Assisted Services at UK HealthCare include animal-assisted therapy, animal-assisted activities, and our facility dog program (involving specially trained dogs). Therapy and facility animals not only offer a sense of comfort but also have been shown to provide significant health benefits.
What are animal-assisted services?
Animal-assisted services include both our volunteer therapy animal program as well as our facility/working dog program. These services are also commonly referred to as pet therapy and include any practice that incorporates animals as part of a therapeutic process to positively affect human health. These therapeutic processes may be structured or informal in nature.
What are the benefits of animal-assisted services?
Interventions that incorporate animals do more than just brighten spirits. Studies have shown that incorporating animals into the therapeutic process can:
- Lower stress-related cortisol levels
- Decrease anxiety
- Increase social functioning
- Reduce subjective pain levels
- Lower blood pressure and pulse
Who can request animal-assisted services at UK HealthCare?
Animal-assisted services are provided by the UK HealthCare Canine Counselors and are available to all inpatients throughout UK HealthCare. This includes patients in UK Albert B. Chandler Hospital, Kentucky Children’s Hospital and UK Good Samaritan Hospital.
If you would like to request a visit with a canine counselor please scan the QR code below and fill out the survey questionnaire. Upon request, one of the Canine Counselor teams is dispatched at their earliest opportunity to your room for a visit. Therapy visits typically last about 15 minutes.
What kinds of animals participate in animal-assisted services?
The Animal-Assisted Services program at UK HealthCare is currently composed of the Canine Counselors, a group of more than 25 therapy dog/owner teams. The UK Volunteer Services staff and the animal-assisted services facilitator screen teams to ensure that:
- Each dog is well trained and suitable for hospital animal-assisted services work
- Has been evaluated and registered through a therapy dog organization (Pet Partners as of 2023)
- Is appropriately immunized and insured
The program is also now welcoming Pet Partners registered teams including rabbits, cats and guinea pigs. If you and your pet are interested in joining our teams, please email animaltherapy@uky.edu.
How can my department at UK HealthCare get involved?
If you are a UK HealthCare employee and interested in incorporating your own animal into your work, or acquiring a facility dog for your department, please email animaltherapy@uky.edu to learn more.