Navigating Loss in Animal-Assisted Services: Volunteer Experiences and Implications for Programs Following Therapy Dog Death or Retirement.

ABSTRACT: Animal-assisted services (AAS) depend on volunteer handler-dog teams, yet the emotional and relational impacts on volunteers when their therapy dog dies or retires remain largely unexplored. This study examines AAS volunteers' experiences following the death or retirement of their therapy dog partner. An online, anonymous cross-sectional survey was administered between January and June 2025. A total of 247 individual responses were analyzed. Over half of survey participants (56%) had lost a therapy dog to death, and 36.6% had retired a dog. Although most volunteers who resumed AAS with a new dog reported excitement and renewed purpose, many experienced sadness linked to their previous partner. Retirement decisions were primarily driven by dog welfare concerns and were often experienced as

SUBMITTER: Kogan LR 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12837273 | biostudies-literature | 2026 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature