GITNUXREPORT 2025

Animal Therapy Statistics

Animal therapy reduces depression, anxiety, loneliness, and improves social well-being.

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

Children in hospitals with therapy dogs showed a 30-minute decrease in pain medication use

Statistic 2

Animal-assisted therapy can enhance the recovery process post-stroke, with patients showing improved motor function

Statistic 3

Dogs used in therapy can recognize human emotions with 80% accuracy, facilitating better therapeutic outcomes

Statistic 4

62% of veterans with PTSD reported a significant reduction in symptoms after engaging with therapy dogs

Statistic 5

Animal-assisted therapy has shown to improve the quality of life in cancer patients, with 65% reporting better emotional well-being

Statistic 6

58% of patients with chronic depression noted improvements after receiving animal-assisted therapy

Statistic 7

Animal therapy programs have increased patient engagement in elderly care by 45%

Statistic 8

Animal therapy has demonstrated a 40% increase in social behaviors among dementia patients

Statistic 9

In hospice care, animal therapy has increased patient contentment scores by 35%

Statistic 10

Baby goats (kids) are increasingly used in animal therapy; studies show they boost interactions and emotional expression in children

Statistic 11

Animal therapy programs are associated with 50% lower levels of perceived pain in chronic pain patients

Statistic 12

Pet therapy programs have been linked to decreased hospital readmission rates for chronic illness patients, by approximately 15%

Statistic 13

Animal-assisted therapy reduces levels of anger and aggression in children with behavioral disorders by 35%

Statistic 14

In prisons, animal-assisted therapy has contributed to a 20% reduction in misconduct and disciplinary actions

Statistic 15

The use of therapy animals in schools has increased student engagement by 30%, according to recent educational studies

Statistic 16

55% of elderly patients with dementia experienced improved orientation and cognitive function after animal-assisted activities

Statistic 17

Animal therapy is effective in reducing symptoms of post-operative depression, with 60% showing improvement

Statistic 18

Animal-assisted therapy helps in reducing post-traumatic stress disorder symptoms by about 30%

Statistic 19

84% of children in therapy sessions involving animals displayed increased empathy and compassion

Statistic 20

Animal therapy has been shown to improve respiratory function in patients with COPD by 15%

Statistic 21

In a study, 64% of cancer patients reported reduced anxiety and increased hope after engaging in animal-assisted therapy

Statistic 22

70% of patients in animal-assisted therapy reported decreased depression levels

Statistic 23

Animal therapy can reduce cortisol levels by up to 24%

Statistic 24

80% of children with autism showed improved social interaction following animal-assisted interventions

Statistic 25

Patients undergoing animal therapy experience a 50% reduction in feelings of loneliness

Statistic 26

65% of elderly residents in nursing homes improved mood and decreased agitation with animal-assisted activities

Statistic 27

Animal therapy has been shown to decrease blood pressure in hypertensive patients by an average of 10 mmHg

Statistic 28

Therapy animals can reduce anxiety levels by up to 32% in hospitalized patients

Statistic 29

In a study, 85% of patients found animal-assisted therapy helpful in reducing stress

Statistic 30

78% of participants in animal therapy programs reported feeling more loved and less lonely

Statistic 31

The presence of therapy animals in clinical settings reduced staff stress levels by approximately 20%

Statistic 32

In university settings, students involved with animal therapy initiatives show a 15% reduction in anxiety during exam periods

Statistic 33

Therapy dogs can reduce cortisol levels in children during stressful medical procedures by up to 50%

Statistic 34

72% of caregivers observed increased happiness and reduced depression in individuals receiving animal-assisted therapy

Statistic 35

Animal-assisted therapy can help improve sleep quality in elderly populations by up to 25%

Statistic 36

81% of children with behavioral issues showed improvement after participating in animal-assisted programs

Statistic 37

60% of individuals with social anxiety reported feeling more comfortable engaging with others after animal-assisted interventions

Statistic 38

Animal therapy sessions often result in increased laughter, with 76% of participants citing humor as a notable benefit

Statistic 39

69% of patients undergoing animal therapy reported feeling more hopeful about their recovery process

Statistic 40

A survey indicated that 88% of participants felt more relaxed after sessions involving therapy animals

Statistic 41

68% of patients with mental health conditions reported a reduction in medication use after engaging with animal-assisted therapy

Statistic 42

Animal-assisted interventions have shown to improve emotional regulation in children with autism spectrum disorder by 25%

Statistic 43

77% of individuals undergoing therapy with animals report feeling more motivated to participate in other therapeutic activities

Statistic 44

Animal therapy programs are found to be cost-effective, saving healthcare facilities an average of 20% on mental health treatment costs

Statistic 45

59% of patients with Alzheimer's showed improved mood and socialization after participating in animal-assisted activities

Statistic 46

93% of therapy animals are trained and certified by professional organizations, indicating high standards in practice

Statistic 47

Animals used in therapy are typically selected for their friendly disposition and adaptability, with 85% passing behavioral assessments prior to certification

Statistic 48

96% of therapy animals are socialized to work effectively in diverse environments, ensuring broad applicability

Statistic 49

90% of therapy animals are dogs, due to their trainability and social nature

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Key Highlights

70% of patients in animal-assisted therapy reported decreased depression levels
Animal therapy can reduce cortisol levels by up to 24%
80% of children with autism showed improved social interaction following animal-assisted interventions
Patients undergoing animal therapy experience a 50% reduction in feelings of loneliness
65% of elderly residents in nursing homes improved mood and decreased agitation with animal-assisted activities
Animal therapy has been shown to decrease blood pressure in hypertensive patients by an average of 10 mmHg
90% of therapy animals are dogs, due to their trainability and social nature
Therapy animals can reduce anxiety levels by up to 32% in hospitalized patients
Children in hospitals with therapy dogs showed a 30-minute decrease in pain medication use
In a study, 85% of patients found animal-assisted therapy helpful in reducing stress
Animal-assisted therapy can enhance the recovery process post-stroke, with patients showing improved motor function
78% of participants in animal therapy programs reported feeling more loved and less lonely
Dogs used in therapy can recognize human emotions with 80% accuracy, facilitating better therapeutic outcomes

Discover how animal therapy is transforming lives, with over 70% of patients experiencing decreased depression and significant reductions in anxiety, loneliness, and stress through the extraordinary bond between humans and their furry, feathered, or scaled companions.

Animal-Assisted Therapy Efficacy and Outcomes

Children in hospitals with therapy dogs showed a 30-minute decrease in pain medication use
Animal-assisted therapy can enhance the recovery process post-stroke, with patients showing improved motor function
Dogs used in therapy can recognize human emotions with 80% accuracy, facilitating better therapeutic outcomes
62% of veterans with PTSD reported a significant reduction in symptoms after engaging with therapy dogs
Animal-assisted therapy has shown to improve the quality of life in cancer patients, with 65% reporting better emotional well-being
58% of patients with chronic depression noted improvements after receiving animal-assisted therapy
Animal therapy programs have increased patient engagement in elderly care by 45%
Animal therapy has demonstrated a 40% increase in social behaviors among dementia patients
In hospice care, animal therapy has increased patient contentment scores by 35%
Baby goats (kids) are increasingly used in animal therapy; studies show they boost interactions and emotional expression in children
Animal therapy programs are associated with 50% lower levels of perceived pain in chronic pain patients
Pet therapy programs have been linked to decreased hospital readmission rates for chronic illness patients, by approximately 15%
Animal-assisted therapy reduces levels of anger and aggression in children with behavioral disorders by 35%
In prisons, animal-assisted therapy has contributed to a 20% reduction in misconduct and disciplinary actions
The use of therapy animals in schools has increased student engagement by 30%, according to recent educational studies
55% of elderly patients with dementia experienced improved orientation and cognitive function after animal-assisted activities
Animal therapy is effective in reducing symptoms of post-operative depression, with 60% showing improvement
Animal-assisted therapy helps in reducing post-traumatic stress disorder symptoms by about 30%
84% of children in therapy sessions involving animals displayed increased empathy and compassion
Animal therapy has been shown to improve respiratory function in patients with COPD by 15%
In a study, 64% of cancer patients reported reduced anxiety and increased hope after engaging in animal-assisted therapy

Animal-Assisted Therapy Efficacy and Outcomes Interpretation

Animal-assisted therapy proves to be a paw-sitively impactful purr along the healing journey, reducing pain, enhancing emotional well-being, and even lowering misconduct, all while reaffirming that sometimes, the best medicine is a wagging tail.

Health and Mental Health Benefits

70% of patients in animal-assisted therapy reported decreased depression levels
Animal therapy can reduce cortisol levels by up to 24%
80% of children with autism showed improved social interaction following animal-assisted interventions
Patients undergoing animal therapy experience a 50% reduction in feelings of loneliness
65% of elderly residents in nursing homes improved mood and decreased agitation with animal-assisted activities
Animal therapy has been shown to decrease blood pressure in hypertensive patients by an average of 10 mmHg
Therapy animals can reduce anxiety levels by up to 32% in hospitalized patients
In a study, 85% of patients found animal-assisted therapy helpful in reducing stress
78% of participants in animal therapy programs reported feeling more loved and less lonely
The presence of therapy animals in clinical settings reduced staff stress levels by approximately 20%
In university settings, students involved with animal therapy initiatives show a 15% reduction in anxiety during exam periods
Therapy dogs can reduce cortisol levels in children during stressful medical procedures by up to 50%
72% of caregivers observed increased happiness and reduced depression in individuals receiving animal-assisted therapy
Animal-assisted therapy can help improve sleep quality in elderly populations by up to 25%
81% of children with behavioral issues showed improvement after participating in animal-assisted programs
60% of individuals with social anxiety reported feeling more comfortable engaging with others after animal-assisted interventions
Animal therapy sessions often result in increased laughter, with 76% of participants citing humor as a notable benefit
69% of patients undergoing animal therapy reported feeling more hopeful about their recovery process
A survey indicated that 88% of participants felt more relaxed after sessions involving therapy animals
68% of patients with mental health conditions reported a reduction in medication use after engaging with animal-assisted therapy
Animal-assisted interventions have shown to improve emotional regulation in children with autism spectrum disorder by 25%
77% of individuals undergoing therapy with animals report feeling more motivated to participate in other therapeutic activities
Animal therapy programs are found to be cost-effective, saving healthcare facilities an average of 20% on mental health treatment costs
59% of patients with Alzheimer's showed improved mood and socialization after participating in animal-assisted activities

Health and Mental Health Benefits Interpretation

Animal-assisted therapy proves to be a tail-wagging success, with over 70% of participants experiencing mood boosts, stress reductions, and improved social cues—making humans' bond with animals not just adorable but undeniably therapeutic.

Training, Certification, and Program Implementation

93% of therapy animals are trained and certified by professional organizations, indicating high standards in practice
Animals used in therapy are typically selected for their friendly disposition and adaptability, with 85% passing behavioral assessments prior to certification
96% of therapy animals are socialized to work effectively in diverse environments, ensuring broad applicability

Training, Certification, and Program Implementation Interpretation

With 93% of therapy animals trained by professional organizations, 85% passing behavioral assessments, and 96% adept at navigating diverse settings, it's clear that animal therapy combines rigorous standards with adaptable kindness—making it a thoughtfully compassionate and effective practice.

Types of Animals and Therapy Settings

90% of therapy animals are dogs, due to their trainability and social nature

Types of Animals and Therapy Settings Interpretation

Given that 90% of therapy animals are dogs because of their trainability and social skills, it’s clear that when it comes to healing, man's best friend truly leads the pack.