therapy animal

American  

[ther-uh-pee an-uh-muhl] / ˈθɛr ə pi ˌæn ə məl /

noun

1. an animal trained to play a role in a physical or emotional therapeutic treatment plan, as a horse helping a rider develop muscle tone or a dog providing cognitive engagement for nursing home residents.

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Etymology

Origin of therapy animal

First recorded in 1990–95

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

therapy animal

So, in my opinion, they would also work as a therapy animal, perhaps being brought into nursing homes or hospitals.

From Slate ● Apr. 13, 2023

Alligators are extremely dangerous, wild animals that do not meet the rigorous standards of a therapy animal.

From Washington Post ● Sep. 5, 2022

Could he declare his snake as a therapy animal?

From Seattle Times ● Oct. 15, 2021

"I think the only difference would be that my snake might eat somebody else’s therapy animal," he chuckled.

From Fox News ● Oct. 15, 2021

The cat was a certified therapy animal that frequently visited a local senior centre near his home.

From BBC ● Feb. 5, 2013