Animal-Assisted Therapy

Animals make you smile — whether you are watching a funny video or see them in person. In Animal-Assisted Therapy (AAT), a Pet Partners ⧉ registered handler and animal team visit you to help you relax and recover. Visits from animal friends has proven to be a great morale boost and can improve your mental and emotional well being. All of the AAT animals are trained therapy pets.

Therapy dog visiting female hospital patient

Request Animal-Assisted Therapy

For safety reasons, the AAT is restricted from visiting patients who are in insolation precautions, infectious disease precautions, have open wounds or if visits are not recommended by the health care team.

Talk to one of our nurses to request AAT.

Helping Patients Relax & Recover

Animal-Assisted Therapy can help you:

  • Reduce anxiety
  • Lower blood pressure
  • Improve deep breathing
  • Strengthen fine motor skills
  • Manage pain
  • Improve emotional and mental well-being
  • Boost your immune system
  • Succeed in physical therapy

How to Volunteer

Need more info?

If you have questions, please call Volunteer Services at 320-255-5638.

In order to volunteer as an AAT handler at our hospital, you must:

  • Register with Pet Partners ⧉, a national therapy animal organization
  • Have a dog that is at least one year old. The dog must have a calm temperament and be obedient
  • Have your dog up to date on all mandatory vaccinations
  • Complete the CentraCare Volunteer Services onboarding process

Previous experience in a health care setting is preferred but not required.

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