What is a therapy animal?

• A. Provide affection and comfort to various members of the public, typically in facility settings such as hospitals, retirement homes, and schools
• B. A service animal trained to perform tasks
• C. An emotional support animal
• D. A farm animal

Answer: (A)

Therapy animals are used to provide affection and comfort to many people in settings like hospitals, retirement homes, and schools. They participate in organized programs where trained handlers bring the animals to facilities to help reduce anxiety, lift mood, and encourage social interaction among patients, residents, and students. This role is different from service animals, which are trained to perform specific tasks for individuals with disabilities and have different access rights, and from emotional support animals, which provide comfort to a specific person with a mental health or emotional condition. Therapy animals aren’t tied to one person’s needs and are part of a facility’s program rather than individualized task support. They’re not farm animals.