How Animal-Assisted Therapy Is Transforming Law Enforcement Wellness

STEPHANIE KIESOW

Across the country, law enforcement agencies are increasingly integrating animal-assisted therapy (AAT) programs into wellness initiatives. What was once viewed as a simple morale booster is now being recognized as a legitimate early intervention strategy with many science-backed benefits.

As a former cop and a current handler of a certified therapy dog, I have been fortunate to witness this shift firsthand. I am increasingly being asked to present on both the science and implementation of therapy dog programs within first responder environments, and one thing has become abundantly clear: these programs work best when agencies understand three key concepts — nomenclature matters, dog acquisition can happen through multiple pathways and therapy dogs should be viewed as a bridge to care rather than the entire wellness system.

First, Let’s Get the Terminology Right

One of the most overlooked challenges in the wellness-dog space is terminology. Agencies frequently use titles like “therapy dog,” “station dog,” “facility dog,” “comfort dog” and “service dog” interchangeably — but they are not the same thing. This distinction matters operationally and legally.

Most importantly, service dogs are federally protected under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and are trained to perform specific disability-related tasks for an individual handler. Therapy dogs and station dogs, by contrast, are generally non-clinical emotional support resources designed to improve wellness, reduce stress and facilitate connection among groups of people. Understanding these categories helps agencies align the right dog with the right mission.

A station or facility dog is often primarily in-house, supporting employees within a specific department; think of these dogs as fuzzy co-workers who help create moments of calm during difficult shifts. Their training typically emphasizes foundational obedience and environmental desensitization.

Certified therapy dogs, however, often extend beyond a single agency. They may deploy to multiagency critical incident debriefings, support neighboring departments following traumatic incidents or participate in regional wellness events. Their training and certification may additionally include advanced socialization, cortisol detection, pressure-based calming techniques and other specialized skills.

Without clearly defined terminology and expectations, agencies risk confusion regarding liability, training standards, certification requirements and program goals. Even from a research perspective, correctly classifying these dogs matters when assessing outcomes and collecting data. In other words, nomenclature is not simply semantics — it is foundational program structure.

For the sake of simplicity, I will refer to these dogs as “therapy dogs” throughout this article.

Second, There Is No One “Right Way” to Acquire a Therapy Dog

Another common misconception is that agencies must purchase a therapy dog and fully build a program entirely from scratch. In reality, therapy dogs can be integrated through both external and internal acquisition models. For many departments, external partnerships are the easiest and most financially feasible entry point. Organizations such as the national nonprofit First Responder Therapy Dogs provide certified therapy dog teams to first responder agencies at no cost. These partnerships allow agencies to expose personnel to these amazing dogs without immediately assuming the burden of ownership, training, insurance or handler management.

Other agencies choose to develop internal programs by selecting a dog, assigning handlers and building policies tailored to their organizational needs. Dogs may come from breeders, shelters or even service dog programs where the animal was deemed “too social” for traditional service dog work. Ironically, that “flaw” can become a strength (which was exactly the case for my certified therapy dog, Zeena).

Neither acquisition model is inherently superior. Many agencies ultimately adopt hybrid approaches that combine internal dogs with external therapy dog resources to maximize accessibility across shifts and assignments. The goal is not perfection, but sustainability.

Lastly, Therapy Dogs Are the Front Door — Not the Entire House

Perhaps the most important concept surrounding AAT is understanding what therapy dogs are and what they are not. Therapy dogs are not replacements for counseling, peer support teams, employee assistance programs or formal treatment services. Instead, they function as early intervention tools and bridges to care. This distinction is critical within our law enforcement culture, where stigma, confidentiality concerns and fears surrounding career repercussions often prevent personnel from seeking support until they are in crisis.

Therapy dogs lower psychological defenses in ways traditional wellness approaches sometimes cannot. They create interactions that feel safe, casual and nonthreatening. Research increasingly shows that interactions with therapy dogs can reduce cortisol levels, increase oxytocin production and interrupt physiological stress responses (Beetz et al., 2012).

Equally important is what happens socially. Therapy dogs create what I often call “micro-interactions.” A struggling first responder who may not voluntarily walk into a clinician’s office may stop to pet the therapy dog after briefing, linger during a station visit or casually talk to the handler about available resources. Those seemingly small moments matter. Micro-interactions create relationship opportunities. Relationship opportunities often create earlier disclosures and support.

Bottom Line: Build a Culture Where Support Feels Normal

Successful AAT programs are not measured simply by whether an agency “has a dog.” They are measured by whether the program increases connection, comfort and calm — all of which can increase willingness to engage in broader wellness resources. When implemented thoughtfully, therapy dogs help normalize conversations about mental health, make wellness visible and reinforce the message that support is not weakness; it is part of operational readiness.

In professions built around chronic exposure to trauma, cumulative stress and emotional compartmentalization, those moments of connection matter deeply. Ultimately, the therapy dog is not the entire support system — but for many first responders, it may become the safest and most approachable first step into one.

About the Author

Stephanie Kiesow is a former cop, the wife of a cop and the daughter of two retired cops. In 2022, she left her sworn job to focus on her Ph.D. in industrial/organizational psychology and spends much of her time researching and mitigating work-related contributing factors to suicide within first responder industries. She works for First Responder Wellness/The Counseling Team International, volunteers with First Responder Therapy Dogs with her certified therapy dog Zeena, works with many wellness-related organizations through her consulting firm, teaches on suicide by cop and suicidology for POST, and is the best-selling author of the book Workicide. Stephanie has been featured on Law Enforcement Today, The Police Tribune and Blue Lives Matter.