RESOURCES

Below are valuable resources on Emotional Support Animals, Therapy Animals, and the human-animal connection. Also, take a look at our features in the media.

SUPPORTING ARTICLES & PODCASTS

Supporting Research

Emotional Support Animals 

Hoy-Gerlach, J., Vincent, A., Scheuermann, B., & Ojha, M. Exploring benefits of Emotional Support Animals (esas): A longitudinal pilot study with adults with serious mental illness (SMI). Human-Animal Interaction Bulletin. October 10, 2022 

Kerns, K. A., Stuart-Parrigon, K. L., Coifman, K. G., van Dulmen, M. H. M., & Koehn, A., Pet Dogs: Does their presence influence preadolescents’ emotional responses to a social stressor?,  Social development (Oxford, England), May 15, 2017 

 

Feldman, S. How the Human-Animal Bond Increases Resilience and Empowers Us to Thrive, Mental Health America, May 17, 2021 

Therapy Dogs 

Baird, R. & Berger, E. Therapy Dogs and School Wellbeing: A Qualitative Study. Journal of Veterinary Behavior. October, 2023 

 

Kropp, J. & Shupp, M. Review of the Research: Are Therapy Dogs in Classrooms Beneficial? Education Resources Information Center. 2017 

 

McDowall, S., Hazel, S., Cobb, M., & Hamilton-Bruce, A. Understanding the role of therapy dogs in human health promotion. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. May 12, 2023 

 

Facility Dogs 

Goldstein, E., Burns-Nader S., Casper D., & Parker, J. Exploring the implementation of child life services with facility dogs. J Child Health Care. National Library of Medicine, PubMed. December 16, 2022.  

 

Kelker, H., Siddiqui, H., Beck, A., & Kline, J. Therapy Dogs for Anxiety in Children in the Emergency Department: A Randomized Clinical Trial. JAMA Network Open. March 14, 2025  

 

Murata-Kobayashi, N., Suzuki, K., Morita, Y., Minobe, H., Mizumoto, A., & Seto, S. Exploring the benefits of full-time hospital facility dogs working with nurse handlers in a children's hospital. National Library of Medicine, PMC, PubMed Central. May 31, 2023. 

PAWS FOR PATRICK IN THE MEDIA