The positive transformation of therapy dog handlers throughout the animal-assisted services: An exploratory qualitative study in Hong Kong

Background: Animal-assisted services (AAS) provide promising positive effects on the improvement of the psychosocial well-being of diverse populations who received these services. However, the AAS delivery process is less reported in the literature. The perspectives of therapy dog handlers and the impact of their presence in service on AAS process and outcomes remain underexplored. In Hong Kong, due to socio-geographical constraints and a relatively low rate of dog ownership, deliveries of AAS rely heavily on volunteer therapy dog-handler dyads. Hence, understanding the handlers’ experiences is essential for the sustainable development of AAS in urbanized cities such as Hong Kong. Methods: This exploratory qualitative study explored the roles, motivations, and experiences of therapy dog handlers involved in AAS. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with ten registered volunteer therapy dog handlers, and the data were analyzed using reflective thematic analysis. Results: This study revealed five core themes: (1) volunteer training in AAS aligned with animal welfare; (2) insight on self-reflection and strength; (3) transformational service experience; (4) aligned virtues in animal welfare in the organization; and (5) lessened mental health stigma. The themes are summarized as the acronym “VITAL” which captured the ethical standards, shared visions, and support provided by the animal-related organization. These factors contribute to the well-being and development of handlers and may have ripple effects that spread to the larger community under the One Welfare model. Conclusions: This study highlights the transformative potential of AAS for volunteers and proposes the Integrative VITAL Model to pave the future development of ethical and sustainable handler-dog teams under the Diamond Model.