In the high-efficiency, high-pressure city of Hong Kong, can there be another warm possibility beyond medication and dialogue for therapy? Imagine a child with autism speaking for the first time in the quiet company of a therapy dog; an elderly person relaxing as they gently stroke a rabbit’s soft fur. This is not a sci-fi scenario but rather the global rise of “animal-assisted interventions.” However, in Hong Kong in 2013, this promising professional field was still in a stage of sporadic attempts and lacked standards. We have isolated beautiful stories, but have yet to establish a system that ensures animal welfare, professional efficacy, and service safety. Incorporating animal- assisted interventions into Hong Kong’s formal social welfare, education, and healthcare systems, and formulating “Hong Kong standards,” is a win-win strategy to expand the value of animals and deepen humanistic care.

• What Are Animal-Assisted Interventions? Beyond the Role of Pets
  
  Animal-assisted intervention is a general term referring to the planned use of specially selected and trained animals by professionals to achieve specific therapeutic, educational, or physical and mental improvement goals. It mainly divides into three categories:
  
  • Animal-assisted therapy: Led by medical or mental health professionals (such as therapists or psychologists), setting specific clinical treatment goals as part of a treatment plan.
    
  • Animal-assisted education: Implemented by teachers or special education personnel in educational settings, aimed at enhancing students’ motivation, social skills, or emotional management
    
  • Animal-assisted activities: Focused more on providing comfort, companionship, and improving quality of life, commonly seen in visits to hospitals, nursing homes, etc.

The underlying scientific rationale is that positive interactions with animals can effectively reduce human blood pressure and cortisol (stress hormone) levels, while stimulating the release of oxytocin (related to trust and pleasure). For those facing emotional distress, social barriers, or cognitive decline, the non-judgmental acceptance that animals provide often becomes the first step to opening communication and facilitating change.

• The Situation in Hong Kong in 2013: Overflowing Love, but Lacking a Professional Framework
  
  At that time, some pioneering organizations and enthusiastic individuals in Hong Kong were attempting to integrate animals into various service scenarios. For example, some organizations brought therapy dogs to visit special schools, while social welfare units held contact activities with animals. These attempts are of great value and sowed important seeds. However, when viewed through the lens of a sustainable, scalable professional domain standard that protects the welfare of all participants (including both humans and animals), significant gaps become apparent:
  
  • There is no unified standard for animal selection and training: What kind of temperament and health status are suitable for participation? What level of socialization and specific task training do they need? A lack of standards means there are hidden risks to both animal welfare and service safety.
  • Mixed professional qualifications among operators: Are the activities led by individuals professionally trained in AAA/AAT, or are they merely overseen by pet owners or volunteers? Do these personnel possess the professional ability to understand animal stress signals, ensure safe interactions, and integrate interactions with treatment goals?
  • Lack of effectiveness assessment and ethical guidelines: Activities often remain at a “feel-good” level, lacking quantitative assessments of clinical or behavioral indicators for participants before and after the interventions. Simultaneously, there has yet to be industry consensus on ethical guidelines regarding informed consent of participants, animals’ working hours, stress management, and hygiene and epidemic prevention

This amateurism, while filled with enthusiasm, limits acceptance within mainstream medical and educational systems and fails to ensure long-term quality for this service and the welfare of the animals involved.

• Insights from International Experience: Standardization is the Only Path to Professionalization
  
  Before 2013, regions in Europe and America had already developed relatively mature systems that Hong Kong could learn from. The most notable example is the “Delta Society,” established in the United States in 1977, which subsequently evolved into the “International Animal-Assisted Intervention Organization.” The core work of these organizations is to establish standards:
  
  • Animal team certification: Setting strict assessments for animal health, temperament, and skills testing, issuing certifications to qualified “animal- handler” teams.
  • Training for operators: Providing systematic courses to equip personnel with knowledge in animal behavior, service ethics, and interaction skills with specific populations.
  • Developing best practice guidelines: Providing detailed operational and safety guidelines for intervention activities in various settings (hospitals, schools, courts).

These standardization measures allow animal-assisted interventions to shed the impression of being mere “feel-good shows,” transforming into serious professional auxiliary services that are recognized by insurance companies and purchased by medical institutions. They clearly distinguish between “trained therapy animals” and “family pets.”

• Policy and Development Recommendations for Hong Kong
  
  To ensure that this positive force takes root safely, effectively, and sustainably in Hong Kong, we propose the following specific recommendations:
  
  • Government leadership in establishing a cross-departmental working group: Led by the Social Welfare Department, Education Bureau, and Health Department, in collaboration with relevant departments in local universities (such as social work, psychology, veterinary), professional therapy groups, and experienced animal welfare organizations, to form a working group. The primary task is to research and develop a “Practice Guidelines for Animal- Assisted Interventions” suitable for Hong Kong, covering animal welfare standards, personnel training outlines, service ethics, and hygiene and epidemic prevention requirements.
    
  • Support local professional training and certification pilot systems: Fund or recognize professional training courses organized by universities and animal welfare agencies to cultivate the first cohort of qualified local animal-assisted intervention instructors. Simultaneously, based on international standards, establish a local assessment and certification mechanism for “animal-handler” teams as a quality assurance measure.
    
  • Conduct pilot programs within the public sector and undertake rigorous evaluations: Select one or two public hospitals (such as psychiatric or rehabilitation departments), special education schools, and nursing homes to conduct pilot programs for one to two years. The key is to commission research teams to conduct randomized controlled trials or rigorous pre-and-post measurements to collect empirical data and quantitatively assess the specific effects on participants’ emotional, behavioral, social, or cognitive functions, as well as cost-effectiveness.
    
  • Public education and resource integration: Raise public awareness of the professionalism of animal-assisted interventions, distinguishing them from general pet visits. Establish a resource platform to integrate information on service providers that meet standards, enabling organizations in need to seek formal services.

Conclusion

Pursuing the standardization of animal-assisted interventions is not about stifling grassroots love but elevating that love into a trusted, replicable, and accountable professional force. This will not only open a new door to healing for countless citizens in need but also profoundly reflect the role of animals in society, expanding from “protected beings” to “contributors.”

Hong Kong in 2013 stands at this crossroads full of potential. We call upon the government, academia, and social welfare sectors to collaborate, laying a solid foundation for this initiative based on science and compassion. Let Hong Kong, in its pursuit of economic efficiency, also develop this gentle and professional social capital deeply connected to life.