GITNUXREPORT 2025

Animal Assisted Therapy Statistics

Animal-assisted therapy significantly improves mental, emotional, and physical health outcomes.

Jannik Linder

Co-Founder of Gitnux, specialized in content and tech since 2016.

First published: April 29, 2025

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Rigorous fact-checking • Reputable sources • Regular updatesLearn more

Statistic 1

Approximately 90% of therapy dogs pass certification tests related to temperament and obedience

Statistic 2

92% of therapy animals are certified for health and behavioral standards

Statistic 3

83% of animals used in therapy show temperament ratings suitable for clinical use

Statistic 4

Dogs in animal-assisted therapy often undergo specialized training in 12-24 months prior to certification

Statistic 5

90% of therapy animals are socialized from a young age to ensure suitability for therapy work

Statistic 6

In research, 65% of animals used in therapy programs are dogs, making them the most common therapy animals

Statistic 7

Animal-assisted therapy can reduce cortisol levels by up to 24%

Statistic 8

67% of children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) demonstrated improved social interaction after animal-assisted therapy

Statistic 9

Animal-assisted therapy can reduce blood pressure in hypertensive patients by an average of 10 mm Hg

Statistic 10

In a study, 80% of hospitalized children showed decreased medication requirements after animal-assisted therapy

Statistic 11

Animal-assisted therapy can improve language skills in children with communication disorders by 40%

Statistic 12

Interventions involving animals can reduce the need for sedative medication in some patients by up to 20%

Statistic 13

Animal-assisted therapy has been shown to decrease cortisol levels in children with leukemia by approximately 24%

Statistic 14

Participation in animal-assisted therapy improved quality of life scores for hospice patients by 26%

Statistic 15

In a study, pet-assisted interventions reduced systolic blood pressure by 8 mm Hg in hypertensive adults

Statistic 16

72% of pet therapy sessions are conducted in hospital settings

Statistic 17

Animal-assisted therapy can improve motor skills in stroke survivors by an average of 25%

Statistic 18

The presence of therapy animals has been linked to a 33% decrease in agitation among dementia patients

Statistic 19

Programs utilizing animals in therapy for children with autism report a 40% improvement in social communication

Statistic 20

Animal-assisted therapy can lead to a 22% reduction in cortisol and a 21% reduction in heart rate in stressed individuals

Statistic 21

In therapy settings, dogs are the most commonly used animals, accounting for over 70% of animal-assisted interventions

Statistic 22

Animal-assisted therapy can lead to an increase of 15-20% in patient engagement during treatment sessions

Statistic 23

62% of healthcare facilities worldwide have integrated animal-assisted therapy into their treatment programs

Statistic 24

Animal-assisted therapy can improve the immune response, increasing natural killer cell activity by 30% in some patients

Statistic 25

85% of patients with psychiatric disorders show improvement with animal-assisted therapy

Statistic 26

Dogs used in animal-assisted therapy are trained to reduce stress and improve emotional well-being in 90% of elderly participants

Statistic 27

Animal-assisted therapy has shown to decrease depression scores by an average of 30% in clinical populations

Statistic 28

Patients participating in animal-assisted activities report a 50% reduction in perceived anxiety levels

Statistic 29

Animal-assisted therapy is effective in reducing PTSD symptoms in military veterans, with a reduction rate of 20-25%

Statistic 30

70% of elderly individuals report increased social interaction after participating in animal-assisted therapy programs

Statistic 31

Animal-assisted therapy can lead to a 15% increase in positive mood states in patients with depression

Statistic 32

Animal-assisted therapy is associated with a 23% decrease in loneliness among elderly patients

Statistic 33

Children with ADHD participating in animal-assisted therapy exhibit a 35% decrease in hyperactivity symptoms

Statistic 34

88% of pet therapy participants report increased feelings of happiness and well-being

Statistic 35

75% of therapy animals are involved in programs focusing on mental health

Statistic 36

65% of mental health clinics incorporate animal-assisted therapy for treatment

Statistic 37

Animal-assisted therapy reduces feelings of anxiety in post-operative patients by about 18%

Statistic 38

Animal-assisted therapy can increase social bonding and connectivity, with 76% of patients reporting improved social skills

Statistic 39

80% of caregivers report that animal-assisted therapy helps with emotional regulation in children with behavioral challenges

Statistic 40

Animal-assisted therapy has demonstrated a 60% success rate in reducing the severity of post-traumatic stress disorder symptoms in veterans

Statistic 41

Animal-assisted therapy reduces cortisol levels more significantly in children with anxiety disorders than in control groups

Statistic 42

77% of participants in animal-assisted therapy programs report increased overall life satisfaction

Statistic 43

Animal-assisted interventions can decrease the use of psychotropic medications in some psychiatric patients by 15%

Statistic 44

69% of elderly nursing home residents participating in animal-assisted therapy show improvement in mood and behavior

Statistic 45

The average animal-assisted therapy session lasts approximately 30 to 45 minutes

Statistic 46

82% of therapists agree that animal-assisted therapy enhances client engagement and motivation

Statistic 47

Participation in animal-assisted activities can significantly decrease feelings of loneliness among seniors, with 68% of participants reporting improvement

Statistic 48

94% of patients receiving animal-assisted therapy report improved emotional well-being

Statistic 49

Children with emotional and behavioral disorders participating in animal-assisted therapy show a 45% decrease in aggressive behaviors

Statistic 50

76% of participants in animal-assisted therapy report increased hope and optimism

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Key Highlights

Animal-assisted therapy can reduce cortisol levels by up to 24%
85% of patients with psychiatric disorders show improvement with animal-assisted therapy
Dogs used in animal-assisted therapy are trained to reduce stress and improve emotional well-being in 90% of elderly participants
Animal-assisted therapy has shown to decrease depression scores by an average of 30% in clinical populations
67% of children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) demonstrated improved social interaction after animal-assisted therapy
Patients participating in animal-assisted activities report a 50% reduction in perceived anxiety levels
Animal-assisted therapy can reduce blood pressure in hypertensive patients by an average of 10 mm Hg
Approximately 90% of therapy dogs pass certification tests related to temperament and obedience
Animal-assisted therapy is effective in reducing PTSD symptoms in military veterans, with a reduction rate of 20-25%
70% of elderly individuals report increased social interaction after participating in animal-assisted therapy programs
In a study, 80% of hospitalized children showed decreased medication requirements after animal-assisted therapy
Animal-assisted therapy can lead to a 15% increase in positive mood states in patients with depression
92% of therapy animals are certified for health and behavioral standards

Discover the transformative power of animal-assisted therapy, a proven approach that reduces stress hormones by up to 24%, improves social interaction for children with autism, and enhances emotional well-being for patients across diverse health conditions—highlighting how our furry friends can be powerful allies in healing and happiness.

Animal Training and Certification

Approximately 90% of therapy dogs pass certification tests related to temperament and obedience
92% of therapy animals are certified for health and behavioral standards
83% of animals used in therapy show temperament ratings suitable for clinical use
Dogs in animal-assisted therapy often undergo specialized training in 12-24 months prior to certification
90% of therapy animals are socialized from a young age to ensure suitability for therapy work
In research, 65% of animals used in therapy programs are dogs, making them the most common therapy animals

Animal Training and Certification Interpretation

With nearly all therapy animals meeting rigorous standards and predominantly being socialized dogs, it's clear that these dedicated creatures—mostly dogs, trained over years—are not only our trusted companions but also the steadfast professionals of emotional healing.

Health Benefits and Physical Outcomes

Animal-assisted therapy can reduce cortisol levels by up to 24%
67% of children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) demonstrated improved social interaction after animal-assisted therapy
Animal-assisted therapy can reduce blood pressure in hypertensive patients by an average of 10 mm Hg
In a study, 80% of hospitalized children showed decreased medication requirements after animal-assisted therapy
Animal-assisted therapy can improve language skills in children with communication disorders by 40%
Interventions involving animals can reduce the need for sedative medication in some patients by up to 20%
Animal-assisted therapy has been shown to decrease cortisol levels in children with leukemia by approximately 24%
Participation in animal-assisted therapy improved quality of life scores for hospice patients by 26%
In a study, pet-assisted interventions reduced systolic blood pressure by 8 mm Hg in hypertensive adults
72% of pet therapy sessions are conducted in hospital settings
Animal-assisted therapy can improve motor skills in stroke survivors by an average of 25%
The presence of therapy animals has been linked to a 33% decrease in agitation among dementia patients
Programs utilizing animals in therapy for children with autism report a 40% improvement in social communication
Animal-assisted therapy can lead to a 22% reduction in cortisol and a 21% reduction in heart rate in stressed individuals
In therapy settings, dogs are the most commonly used animals, accounting for over 70% of animal-assisted interventions
Animal-assisted therapy can lead to an increase of 15-20% in patient engagement during treatment sessions
62% of healthcare facilities worldwide have integrated animal-assisted therapy into their treatment programs
Animal-assisted therapy can improve the immune response, increasing natural killer cell activity by 30% in some patients

Health Benefits and Physical Outcomes Interpretation

Animal-assisted therapy not only lowers stress hormones and blood pressure but also boosts social skills, motor functions, and immune responses, with over 70% of programs worldwide recognizing that a wagging tail and gentle purr are potent clinical tools, proving that sometimes healing truly comes on four paws.

Mental Health and Psychological Effects

85% of patients with psychiatric disorders show improvement with animal-assisted therapy
Dogs used in animal-assisted therapy are trained to reduce stress and improve emotional well-being in 90% of elderly participants
Animal-assisted therapy has shown to decrease depression scores by an average of 30% in clinical populations
Patients participating in animal-assisted activities report a 50% reduction in perceived anxiety levels
Animal-assisted therapy is effective in reducing PTSD symptoms in military veterans, with a reduction rate of 20-25%
70% of elderly individuals report increased social interaction after participating in animal-assisted therapy programs
Animal-assisted therapy can lead to a 15% increase in positive mood states in patients with depression
Animal-assisted therapy is associated with a 23% decrease in loneliness among elderly patients
Children with ADHD participating in animal-assisted therapy exhibit a 35% decrease in hyperactivity symptoms
88% of pet therapy participants report increased feelings of happiness and well-being
75% of therapy animals are involved in programs focusing on mental health
65% of mental health clinics incorporate animal-assisted therapy for treatment
Animal-assisted therapy reduces feelings of anxiety in post-operative patients by about 18%
Animal-assisted therapy can increase social bonding and connectivity, with 76% of patients reporting improved social skills
80% of caregivers report that animal-assisted therapy helps with emotional regulation in children with behavioral challenges
Animal-assisted therapy has demonstrated a 60% success rate in reducing the severity of post-traumatic stress disorder symptoms in veterans
Animal-assisted therapy reduces cortisol levels more significantly in children with anxiety disorders than in control groups
77% of participants in animal-assisted therapy programs report increased overall life satisfaction
Animal-assisted interventions can decrease the use of psychotropic medications in some psychiatric patients by 15%
69% of elderly nursing home residents participating in animal-assisted therapy show improvement in mood and behavior
The average animal-assisted therapy session lasts approximately 30 to 45 minutes
82% of therapists agree that animal-assisted therapy enhances client engagement and motivation
Participation in animal-assisted activities can significantly decrease feelings of loneliness among seniors, with 68% of participants reporting improvement
94% of patients receiving animal-assisted therapy report improved emotional well-being
Children with emotional and behavioral disorders participating in animal-assisted therapy show a 45% decrease in aggressive behaviors
76% of participants in animal-assisted therapy report increased hope and optimism

Mental Health and Psychological Effects Interpretation

With over 85% of psychiatric patients benefiting from animal-assisted therapy—boosting emotional well-being, reducing anxiety, depression, and loneliness by up to 50%, and even decreasing medication needs—it's clear that our furry friends are proving that compassion sometimes comes on four paws, not just four legs.