Close-up of an elderly woman and a small dog touching noses, affectionate moment

What is Animal-Assisted Therapy?

Animal-assisted therapy (AAT) is a goal-directed, structured therapeutic intervention in which a trained animal and its certified handler work alongside a qualified provider to support a person's mental, emotional, physical, or social well-being.

Research consistently shows that interacting with therapy animals reduces cortisol levels, lowers blood pressure, elevates oxytocin, and decreases feelings of loneliness and anxiety — benefits that are measurable, repeatable, and documented across dozens of peer-reviewed studies.

At DGG Pet Therapy Services, our certified therapy animals and trained handlers bring these benefits directly to the people who need them most — in Cincinnati schools, hospitals, senior living communities, mental health facilities, hospice programs, and private homes throughout the Tri-State area.

  • "During a co-facilitated class at a Hamilton County recovery center, I noticed a man sitting off to himself — visibly shaking, shoulders tense, not making eye contact. I cued Harley to go to him. Even from across the room I could see the moment things began to shift. His fingers found her fur tentatively at first, then the pressure deepened. And gradually — the shaking slowed. His shoulders dropped. By the end of class he was making eye contact and participating with the group. He came in closed off and left connected. That's what Harley does. That's what animal-assisted therapy can do for people in recovery."

    — Greg, Founder, DGG Pet Therapy Services

Smiling tricolor Cavalier King Charles Spaniel puppy with its tongue out, sitting on a stone surface in a garden with pink flowers and green foliage, a wooden park bench in the background.

Ready to begin your healing journey?

Animal-assisted therapy is available throughout Cincinnati and the Tri-State area — in your home, your school, your facility, or ours. Contact us to learn which services are right for you and to schedule a session.

Contact us so we can help.

Donate to our mission.

Your donation helps cover the cost of therapy sessions for children and adults who couldn't otherwise afford them. Every contribution directly funds healing in the communities around greater Cincinnati.