What is animal therapy in care homes?

Animal therapy, also called pet therapy or animal-assisted therapy, is when trained staff bring therapy animals such as rabbits, guinea pigs, dogs, or even reptiles into care homes, nursing homes, and rehabilitation centres. These sessions provide companionship, emotional support, and therapeutic benefits for residents.

What are the benefits of animal visits for residents?

The benefits of animal therapy include reduced stress levels, improved mental health, lower blood pressure, enhanced social interaction, and more confidence. Residents often share happy memories of past pets, and families notice improved mood and engagement after regular animal interaction.

Are therapy animals safe for residents with dementia or limited mobility?

Yes. All animals are handled by trained staff who follow RSPCA welfare guidelines. Sessions are adapted to each resident’s needs, whether that means gentle stroking, sensory interaction through touch and facial expressions, or simply enjoying the animal’s calming presence.

Which animals are used in Wild Science animal therapy sessions?

We provide a wide range of animals, including guinea pigs, rabbits, farm animals, reptiles, birds, and insects. The exact mix depends on the age group, the venue, and the residents’ preferences. All animals are health-checked and cared for to ensure safe and positive interactions.

Where in the UK do you provide animal therapy in care homes?

We offer animal therapy in care homes across England, Scotland, and Wales. We have local experts in Durham (North East), Norwich (Norfolk), Lincolnshire, Somerset, Manchester, and Glasgow, covering a 60-mile radius in each region. This means care homes in cities like Newcastle, Lincoln, Taunton, and Glasgow can all enjoy our sessions.

Animal Therapy in Care Homes for Emotional Support

Bringing Comfort and Companionship Through Animals

Animal therapy in care homes across the UK is more than just entertainment — it is a proven way to support well-being, comfort, and mental health. At Wild Science, we deliver safe and engaging animal therapy sessions for care homes, nursing homes, rehabilitation centres, and residential care facilities.

Often called pet therapy or animal-assisted therapy, these visits bring joy, emotional support, and companionship to residents of all ages. Our therapy animals, including rabbits, guinea pigs, reptiles, and even birds, help create a calm and relaxing atmosphere where residents feel connected, valued, and part of the local community.

Why Therapy in Care Homes Matters

The benefits of animal therapy are wide-reaching:

Reduce stress and anxiety in residents
Support cognitive function and memory, especially for those living with dementia
Provide positive interactions that encourage social interaction between fellow residents
Promote cardiovascular health by helping to lower blood pressure and balance stress levels
Spark happy memories of past pets, creating comfort and conversation

Research suggests that regular animal interaction through animal-assisted interventions can improve mood by up to 80%, reduce isolation, and create a sense of belonging.

What Happens in an Animal Therapy Session?

During our animal visit, residents meet a variety of furry friends and various animals, including guinea pigs, rabbits, reptiles, and even farm animals like chickens and ducks (Note: Birds may make an appearance but are not guaranteed).

Some sessions include therapy Guinea Pigs or Reptiles, while others introduce smaller species for gentle handling and interaction. For example, stroking a rabbit, feeding a guinea pig, or even watching a tortoise walk can spark joy and encourage balanced mental and emotional well-being.

Residents can:

Hold or stroke a trained animal under staff supervision
Interact through touch and facial expressions, even if verbal communication is limited
Share the experience with family members, staff, and other residents

These benefits of pet therapy create lasting happy memories and strengthen bonds within the care setting.

Therapeutic Power of Animal Encounters

The therapeutic relationships between people and animals have been recognised for centuries. Animals naturally calm stress, reduce agitation, and promote natural healing.

The health benefits of animal-assisted activities include:

Lower stress levels
Reduced blood pressure
Improved mobility and fine motor skills
Better cognitive function
Greater sense of inclusion and confidence

Our fantastic team of care specialists regularly adapts sessions to meet the needs of retirement living communities, dementia care, and community care environments.

Measuring the Benefits of Animal Therapy in Care

We encourage care homes to regularly seek input from residents, staff, and family members about the impact of our sessions. Many homes also use leading care home review platforms to track the success of their accessible activities programme.

By measuring outcomes such as resident participation, mood improvements, and the benefits animal visits bring, homes can see the full therapeutic power of our workshops.

“Residents said it was the highlight of the week. The animals were gentle, and the staff created a calm, safe space for everyone.” – Care Home in Liverpool

Why Choose Wild Science?

Trusted Experts – DBS-checked handlers, SEN-trained staff, and qualified animal specialists
Wide Range of Animals – from dogs, cats, guinea pigs, cockatoos, reptiles, and invertebrates
Nationwide Service – strong presence in Norfolk, Durham, Lincolnshire, Somerset, Manchester, and Scotland
Safety & Welfare First – RSPCA welfare standards, comprehensive insurance, and stress-free animal care

Whether it’s a special event, routine animal therapy in care, or a community gathering, Wild Science provides unforgettable experiences that bring comfort, joy, and therapeutic benefits to residents.

Book Your Care Home Animal Therapy Workshop

Bring the benefits of animal therapy to your residents. Whether you’re in Durham, Norwich, Lincoln, Taunton, Glasgow, Manchester, or nearby areas, our team can create the perfect party-style workshop or calming session for your care setting.

Give your residents the chance to experience the healing power of animal visits and create lasting happy memories with Wild Science.

Please note that the list of animals we bring to events may vary, and we cannot guarantee the presence of any particular species.

Related Services:

School Workshops: Curriculum-aligned science and animal education
Birthday Parties: Memorable animal encounters for special celebrations
Corporate Events: Team-building experiences with wildlife
Care Home Visits: Therapeutic animal interactions for residents
Private Consultations: Expert advice on pet care and animal behaviour

Service Areas: London, Kent, Surrey, Sussex, Hampshire, Berkshire, and throughout the South East of England

Available for: Schools, birthday parties, corporate events, care homes, and special events.

For more details, up-to-date prices, and to make a booking, please call us or reach us on WhatsApp

We really enjoyed our experience with the reptiles, they were so calm and settled, just amazing and great ❤️

Great fun for kids the lady was very nice and the animals were cool

An unforgettable experience. Your kids will love it! We had Susie in Edinburgh, she was exceptionally good - with the animals and the kids, and the grown-ups too! We all had an amazing time. I highly recommend booking Susie for Wild Science if you're in Scotland. So many memories made!

Suzie held an event in Sandylands holiday park today and we had a ball! every animal is well cared for and beautiful. very versed on each animals needs and nature, took the time to explain certain facts and even sat down at the end of her time to talk more on her other animals! cannot recommend suzie enough!!

We booked a corporate animal therapy session as part of Mental Health Awareness week, and it was truly loved by everyone. [...] Harriet was absolutely fantastic - super knowledgable, engaging and clearly passionate about every animal she introduced us to. [...] Harriet created such a calm environment that even our more hesitant colleagues were soon happily holding the snake. We can't recommend Wild Science highly enough - if you're looking to boost morale, reduce stress or just do something a little bit different for your team.

Susie was at Parkdean in Saltcoats and it was a fantastic experience. Very knowledgeable and chatted and answered questions from children and adults. Loved it.

Made my child's summer holding a royal python!

Attended a group with my husband & kids. Youngest being 1 & it was incredible. Different kinds of animals, was able to hold what we could & pet the rest.
Thanks again for the incredible experience! Fidget was amazing & we are now thinking if adding ferrets to the family. I hope fidget enjoys his chicken 🐔

Kids had a total blast at Wild Science. So did mum!
We got to meet a cockroach, a snake, 2 geckos, a bearded dragon, a ferret, a mexican tarantula, and a bunny!
The lady was going to name a cockroach 🪳 after my son Leon 🤣 poor kid was peed and pooped on, it was sooo funny! Everyone had such a great time. Thanks for entertaining us. 😆

Animal visit (Summer Fair Gilmerton Community Centre)
The management committee would like to thank Susie and trainee Amy for bringing the animals to the Community Centres Summer Fair. Once again, they were very popular with adults and children. Those attending said they enjoyed meeting and learning about the animals up close.

We were delighted to have both Shannon & Amy attend our free family event at Crystal Peaks shopping centre this Friday. Their communication on the run-up to our event was great. On the day, the head office called us to check everything was ready & the hosts arrived in plenty of time. We had a lot of very excited guests that got to enjoy a range of fascinating creatures throughout the day. The team were great with the public & very knowledgeable about their little critters. We can't recommend Wild Science enough. Thank you for making our day so good.

The animal expert we were lucky enough to have from wild science was excellent. She even managed to keep the kids at a 7 year old birthday party relatively quiet and very interested. Would highly recommend.

It was a wonderful day had by all, the adults and children really had a great time every animal was explained in great detail and we will be booking them for further events

My son (4) and his friends had the most wonderful time! The scientist was totally able to engage their attention for over an hour and they had fun and learned so much too! Thanks for the best party!

We have used Wild Science for 3 years at our school. Each year they deliver wonderful sessions to Nursery and Reception children. We have never had any issues and would recommend them to everyone. The children love the experience and the animals and staff are amazing!

Thank you Wild Science for such an amazing party! Amy was super professional and had the kids eating out of the palm of her hand. My son absolutely loved the animals she brought and we were so impressed with how she handled the group (of 3-5 year olds) and gave them interesting and fun facts about each animal which kept all the kids interested and engaged. It was so much fun, we would highly recommend it!!!

Ross was absolutely amazing. So patient, kind and knowledgeable of the animals and the slime workshop. We had a party of 20 and with the madness that ensued he was always calm and reassuring for each child if they were apprehensive of holding any animal - big or small. Would 100% book Wild Science again, especially Ross.
Thank you for making our animal lovers birthday so special!

Ross came to my sons 3rd birthday, he was brilliant, the kids had a great time, the whole thing was really relaxed and everyone got a good amount of time with the animals and really enjoyed the experience - the customer service beforehand was really good, great communication and lots of questions answered - highly recommend!

We frequently take our mobile petting zoo outside! Please feel free to write to us or follow us on TikTok. Please feel free to like, review, or star any of our many TikTok videos (Wild_Science) that we have posted!!

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Little Faces

Animal Therapy in Care Homes

Bringing Comfort and Companionship Through Animals

Why Therapy in Care Homes Matters

What Happens in an Animal Therapy Session?

Therapeutic Power of Animal Encounters

Measuring the Benefits of Animal Therapy in Care

Why Choose Wild Science?

Book Your Care Home Animal Therapy Workshop

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