Temporary Calm: The Benefits (and Limits) of Therapy Animal Visits in 911 Dispatch Centers

💛 When Comfort Walks Through the Door

There’s something special about the moment a therapy animal walks into a dispatch center.
Tension eases. Smiles appear. Shoulders drop. For a few minutes, the stress of non-stop calls fades away into fur, feathers, or friendly wagging tails.

Therapy animal visits — where trained animals and their handlers stop by to offer comfort — are growing more common in emergency communications centers across the country.
But while these visits can be incredibly powerful, they also have their limits.
Let’s explore both sides of what a therapy animal visit can (and can’t) do for dispatchers.

🐶 Why Therapy Animal Visits Can Be a Great Fit

“Sometimes the best medicine is a friendly face with four paws.”

🌼 1. Instant Mood Boost

Even a brief visit can lower stress hormones, slow heart rates, and release endorphins.
For dispatchers managing crisis after crisis, that quick lift in mood can make a tangible difference.
One therapy dog visit can turn a tough shift into one with laughter, smiles, and shared connection.

💬 2. Brings the Team Together

Animal visits naturally spark conversation and bonding among coworkers.
Dispatchers often gather to meet the therapy animal, share stories about their own pets, and connect over something joyful instead of stressful.

🧘‍♀️ 3. Encourages Mental Reset

The simple act of petting an animal encourages deep breathing and calm focus.
For dispatchers who rarely get a true break, this short reset helps ground them before returning to the console.

💛 4. Symbol of Community Support

Having therapy animals visit can remind staff that the community sees and values their hard work.
It’s a gesture that says, “We care about your mental wellness, too.”

⚖️ When Therapy Visits Might Not Be Enough

“A visit can lift the heart — but it’s not the same as having long-term support.”

⏳ 1. Temporary Comfort

Therapy animal visits are short-term by design — often lasting only 30–60 minutes.
While they bring joy in the moment, the stress of the job quickly returns once the animal leaves.
Dispatchers who are deeply struggling with compassion fatigue or burnout need ongoing wellness tools, not just a brief visit.

🚪 2. Scheduling & Disruption

Because centers must balance active calls and shift rotations, coordinating visits can be tricky.
If the timing isn’t right, some staff may miss out entirely.
It can also briefly disrupt operations if too many people step away from consoles at once.

🐕 3. Not a True ESA Program

Therapy animals differ from Emotional Support Animals — they don’t stay in the center, bond long-term with staff, or integrate into daily life.
They offer emotional relief for the moment, but they don’t create ongoing wellness routines or culture change like a consistent ESA presence can.

💧 4. Allergies and Fear Concerns

Even short visits can be uncomfortable for employees with allergies or fears of certain animals.
Centers need to have a plan to ensure everyone feels safe and respected during visits.

🧭 Balancing Both Worlds: Visits vs. Programs

Therapy animal visits are a wonderful first step toward normalizing wellness conversations in dispatch culture.
They can introduce staff to the power of animal-assisted comfort — opening the door for broader programs, like Emotional Support Animal (ESA) integration, which offers sustained impact.

A healthy approach may be to:

• Schedule therapy visits quarterly or during high-stress periods (major storms, holidays, large events).

• Combine them with wellness initiatives, like debrief sessions, calm corners, or peer support teams.

• Explore long-term ESA programs after seeing how staff respond to the visits.

“A visit brings calm for the moment. A program builds calm for the future.”

🐾 Final Thought: The Gift of the Moment

Therapy animal visits can’t fix burnout or trauma — but they can remind dispatchers that joy and gentleness still exist in the world.
Sometimes, a soft nuzzle or a wagging tail is enough to rekindle hope on the hardest days.

At ESA 911 Dispatchers, we believe that even short bursts of comfort matter — because every small act of care adds up to a culture of wellness.

“Some dispatchers have paws beside them every day. Others just need one visit to remember they’re not alone.” 💛