Elderly person hugging a happy Shetland Sheepdog during a Doctor Dog therapy visit in a bright community room.

Dr Dog

Dr Dog brings healing and hope through animal-assisted therapy

For someone in pain, alone or facing hardship, the gentle nudge of a wet nose can make the world feel a little brighter. Dr Dog is Animals Asia’s pioneering animal therapy program – bringing comfort, connection and joy to those who need it most.

Across hospitals, care homes, schools and community centres in Asia, our four-legged volunteers and their devoted guardians offer something no medicine can: unconditional love.

Friends, not food

Dr Dog isn’t just about therapy – it’s about transformation. In a culture where dogs are often seen as food, security guards or pests, these special visits redefine animals as companions. Dogs are seen not as food or commodities, but as friends.

Through thousands of moments of calm presence, shared smiles and tail wags, we’re gently shifting perceptions – showing how deeply animals can enrich human lives when treated with respect and care.

Four therapy dogs of different breeds wearing red Animal Asia bandanas sitting on grass outdoors.
Child and adult interacting with a smiling therapy dog wearing a red bandana at an outdoor event.
Golden retriever with a tinsel collar being petted and admired by two people indoors.
Elderly person gently holding a small dog wearing a red Animal Asia bandana in their lap.

Changing lives, one visit at a time

A visit from a Dr Dog can bring comfort to a child with special needs, companionship to someone living with dementia, or a smile to a patient who hasn’t had one in days. Their presence is calming, their affection non-judgemental – and often, their silent companionship speaks louder than words.

Whether sitting quietly beside a bed or playing with children in a therapy session, Dr Dog makes an emotional connection that words alone can’t.

A trailblazing beginning

It all started in 1991, when our founder Jill Robinson brought her golden retriever, Dr Max, to visit patients at Hong Kong’s Duchess of Kent hospital. Just one hour in the hospital garden was enough to prove the healing power of animals. From that first visit, a movement was born.

Today, Dr Max has a legacy of over 1,000 furry colleagues and 700,000 grateful recipients – canine volunteers spreading joy and changing attitudes for over three decades in China.

Small curly-haired dog in a red harness being held, looking happy and alert.
Therapy dog comforting a patient in a hospital bed, with a caregiver present.
Golden retriever wearing a red bandana sitting outdoors with children holding a certificate.
Therapy dog with a red bandana being held by two people, one showing a photo, at an indoor community event.

A growing, global impact

Since launching in Hong Kong SAR and Chinese Taiwan, then four mainland Chinese cities, Dr Dog has expanded to the Philippines, India, Japan and Malaysia. By training and supporting local groups, we’ve helped communities start their own program and exptend the reach of this powerful work.

Powered by love – and your support

Dr Dog thrives on the commitment of volunteer guardians, the trust of institutions and the support of kind people like you. Together, we’re proving that kindness heals, and that dogs can change lives in the most beautiful ways.