There are many benefits to having therapy animals in a school setting, the main one being the health and well-being of both students and staff alike. An animal often has an immediate calming effect by just being near.
Physical benefits: Interaction with therapy animals has been shown to reduce blood pressure, provide physical stimulation and assist with pain management.
Social benefits: Therapy animals promote greater self-esteem and focused interaction with other students and teachers.
Cognitive benefits: It has been empirically proven that therapy animals stimulate memory and problem-solving skills.
Emotional and mental health benefits: Therapy animals can lift moods in the classroom, often provoking laughter. Therapy animals are there to offer friendship and as a comfort to students, which is even more important for our students as we see an increase of mental health concerns across the country.
