Hi @Augusta Farley (She/Her),
You can find the recording on our YouTube channel here: https://youtu.be/e4OS0FJ7YO8
If you'd like to earn .5 ceu (CAWA and NACA), watch it on Maddie's University here: https://university.maddiesfund.org/products/doors-wide-open-social-work-guidelines-in-animal-welfare-settings-on-demand
I am not a vet or researcher, but I posed your question to chatgpt and Gemini, and this is what came up:
"Short answer: there isn't solid science supporting the blanket idea that "a pet staying with the patient is incompatible with successful treatment" for alcohol/drug use or mental/behavioral health. In fact, there is growing, but still mixed, evidence that animal-assisted interventions (AAT/AAA) can support treatment in some settings, while other contexts require careful management of risks. The presence of a pet is not universally good or bad-it depends on the setting, the patient, the pet's temperament, and how well risks are managed.
Evidence for Animal-Assisted Therapy in Treatment Settings
The scientific literature demonstrates that animal-assisted interventions (AAI) can enhance treatment outcomes across various clinical populations. Studies have documented significant benefits for hospitalized psychiatric patients, including those with mood disorders, anxiety, depression, and schizophrenia14.
For psychiatric inpatients specifically, research shows:
- Reduced anxiety and depression: Patients receiving animal-assisted therapy had lower anxiety scores on standardized measures compared to control groups receiving standard recreational therapy1
- Improved treatment engagement: Two studies reported increased attendance by psychiatry patients in group therapies involving animals compared to therapies without animals1
- Better symptom management: Patients with schizophrenia showed improvements in negative symptomatology, greater treatment adherence, and reduction in cortisol levels when participating in psychosocial rehabilitation that included animal-assisted interventions1
- Enhanced therapeutic relationship: Qualitative research found that psychiatric patients referenced therapy animals as friends or therapists, and animal presence promoted increased interactions and enhanced patient openness and treatment adherence1
Feasibility in Hospital Settings
Research also supports the practical feasibility of integrating animals into inpatient rehabilitation therapies, with volunteer dog programs successfully incorporated into hospital treatment environments2.
The premise that pets are incompatible with successful treatment appears to be unsupported by current evidence. If you encounter this claim in a specific treatment context, it may be worth asking for the particular reasoning, as it could relate to specific facility policies, infection control concerns, or individual patient circumstances rather than evidence about treatment efficacy."
Sources:
"Based on my previous answer, here are the sources I cited:
For animal-assisted therapy in psychiatric inpatients:
- A comprehensive review in Frontiers in Veterinary Science documenting benefits including reduced anxiety and depression, improved treatment engagement, better symptom management in schizophrenia, and enhanced therapeutic relationships1
For volunteer dog programs in hospital settings:
- Research on the feasibility of integrating volunteer dog programs into inpatient rehabilitation therapies, published in PM&R Journal2
For animal-assisted interventions with acquired brain injury:
- A study in Nature Scientific Reports showing that animal-assisted mindfulness-based cognitive behavioral interventions led to higher treatment adherence, increased feelings of security and comfort, and better emotional states during therapy sessions1
For animal-assisted therapy in psychiatric disorders more broadly:
- A systematic review and meta-analysis in JMIR XMed analyzing 16 studies of moderate or higher quality, demonstrating positive outcomes for depression, neurological disorders, stress, and anxiety2
For specific mental health benefits:
- Research from the Human-Animal Bond Research Institute (HABRI) documenting reduced anxiety, depression, and stress through pet ownership and human-animal interaction, including studies on therapy dogs with university students and emergency department patients3
For animal-assisted therapy in mental illness:
- Clinical trial protocols and studies examining AAT programs with dogs for people with mental illness, showing benefits in negative symptoms, treatment adherence, and cortisol reduction4"
Where to find papers (how to search)
- Start with broad reviews, then drill into specific populations:
- Databases: PubMed/Medline, PsycINFO, Scopus, Web of Science, Google Scholar.
- Search strings you can use:
- "animal-assisted therapy mental health systematic review"
- "animal-assisted intervention psychiatry randomized controlled trial"
- "pets in addiction treatment recovery"
- "therapy dog anxiety depression randomized trial"
- "animal-assisted therapy PTSD systematic review"
- "infection control animal-assisted therapy hospital guidelines"
- Look for:
- Systematic reviews and meta-analyses (highest-level summaries).
- Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) in psychiatry, addiction, or behavioral health.
- Guidelines or position statements from professional bodies (e.g., APA, veterinary/medical associations, IAHAIO).
- Where to start specifically
- Cochrane Library: search for "animal-assisted therapy" or "animal-assisted interventions" (if available, Cochrane reviews provide rigorous synthesis).
- Beetz et al. and related reviews from the 2010s–2020s: foundational discussions of the psychosocial/physiological effects of human-animal interactions.
- Journal sections focusing on psychiatry, behavioral health, and rehabilitation (e.g., Journal of Psychiatric Research, Psychiatric Services, Substance Abuse Treatment, Prevention, and Policy; special issues on AAT).
If you want, I can help pull together a concise reading list tailored to:
- The specific condition (e.g., alcohol use disorder vs. a mood/anxiety disorder vs. PTSD).
- The setting (inpatient hospital, outpatient clinic, residential rehab, etc.).
- Your location or access (which databases you can access, whether you want free full-text articles or are okay with abstracts and institutional access).
Practical considerations if a pet stays with a patient
- Assess risks and needs:
- Pet temperament and training; evidence-based safety checks (temperament testing, vaccination/health status).
- Patient factors: allergy, fear, cultural considerations, and the likelihood of pet-related disruptions to therapy.
- Facility factors: infection control policies, space, noise, and staff capacity to supervise.
- If exploring AAT or pet presence in a treatment setting:
- Use trained therapy animals and accredited handlers.
- Integrate with a clear treatment plan (goals, outcomes, session structure) rather than letting the pet presence be incidental.
- Monitor outcomes and adjust based on patient response and any adverse events.
Next steps
- Tell me your context (country, setting, patient age group, and the condition you're focusing on). I can tailor a short, evidence-grounded reading list with concrete papers and reviews you can access.
- If you already have extracted text from a file or a few specific papers, share them (or paste the excerpts). I can help summarize the findings and point out how they fit into the broader evidence.
Bottom line
- No universal rule says pets automatically derail treatment. There is some supportive evidence for benefits of animal-assisted approaches in diverse mental health and addiction contexts, but this is balanced by clear risks that must be managed. The right answer is case- and context-specific, guided by careful risk assessment, clinical goals, and institutional policies.
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Alison Gibson
Media Projects Manager
Maddie's Fund
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Original Message:
Sent: 12-03-2025 12:38 PM
From: Augusta Farley (She/Her)
Subject: Upcoming Webcast: Social Work Guidelines in Animal Welfare Settings
I was out of town for this wonderful discussion and will go look for the recording.
I have a question for anyone who might be in this thread. I'm fostering a dog right now hose unsheltered owner just went into four months of "treatment." My nonprofit is scrambling to find for months of emergency boarding, because no one will let her keep her dog during the four months of treatment. In another section of the building, residents are allowed to keep their pets.
I've heard before that having a pet stay with the patient. is incompatible with successful treatment of whatever -- alcohol, drugs, mental or behavioral health.
Is there any science behind this assertion? Can you point me to where I could find papers or can somebody explain why treatment can't be successful if a pet is present.
Of course I can imagine some management disadvantages having a pet present but does or could the emotional toll of separation actually make treatment less or more successful?
Thanks for your help.
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Augusta Farley
Original Message:
Sent: 10-22-2025 01:39 PM
From: Janet Hoy-Gerlach
Subject: Upcoming Webcast: Social Work Guidelines in Animal Welfare Settings
Upcoming Webcast: Social Work Guidelines in Animal Welfare Settings
Date: Tuesday, November 18, 2025
Time: 12:00 to 12:30 PM PST
Register here!
Join us for a 30-minute panel discussion introducing the Social Work Guidelines in Animal Welfare Settings, a groundbreaking new resource created by and for social workers working in animal welfare organizations across North America.
Whether your organization already employs a social worker, you are exploring how social work can enhance your mission, or you are simply curious about how social work skills fit into animal welfare, this panel conversation is for you.
Developed through a year-long participatory action research project funded by the ASPCA, the Guidelines provide a roadmap for social work practice in animal welfare settings at the individual, organization, and community/policy levels.
Discussion topics include:
How animal welfare organizations can use the guidelines to strengthen human and animal well-being
Common challenges and strategies for successful implementation
Ways non-social work staff can engage with and benefit from the guidelines
Bring your lunch and your curiosity. This will be an engaging, real-world conversation about advancing both ends of the leash.
Panelists and Guidelines Co-Authors:
@Kayla Anderson, Veterinary Social Worker, The Program for Pet Health Equity
@Kelly Bremken, Veterinary Social Worker, Oregon Humane Society
Laurie Maxwell, Director of Veterinary Social Work, MedVet
@Augusta O'Reilly, President, International Veterinary Social Work Association
Alexis Telfair-Garcia, Director of Social Work Program Development, Austin Pets Alive!
Facilitator:
@Janet Hoy-Gerlach, PhD, LCSW, LISW-S, Director of Veterinary Social Work, Open Door Veterinary Collective
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Janet Hoy-Gerlach
Director of Veterinary Social Work
Open Door Veterinary Collective
OH
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