Fur, feathers, or none at all: how primary schools decide on animal inclusion

Abstract

The inclusion of animals in primary schools is growing, yet how schools decide which animals to include and the roles they fulfil remains poorly understood. Practice is often inconsistent, unregulated, and lacks standardised guidance. This study combined a systematic review of 21 studies (2014–2025) on staff perceptions of therapy animals with an empirical survey of 70 English primary schools, comprising schools who currently have animals (CH); previously had animals but no longer (PH); had considered but decided they did not want to have animals (CDNW), or had never considered including animals (NC).
The review indicated that therapy animals, particularly dogs, can support students’ social and emotional development by enhancing peer relationships, inclusion, empathy, and self-awareness, and promote well-being through reduced stress, anxiety, and improved confidence. Challenges included safety risks, allergies, fear of animals, ethical concerns, animal welfare, and practical considerations. The survey found that visiting animals, especially dogs, were commonly included, with CH schools including them more widely across classes than PH schools. Decision-making involved leadership teams, governors, staff, parents, and children, with attention to cultural, religious, welfare, and safety considerations. Policies and risk assessments were often limited or post hoc. Perceived benefits centred on social-emotional development, emotional and behavioural regulation, and well-being, while risks to people included allergies, bites, and anxiety.
These findings highlight the need for national frameworks, structured guidance, and longitudinal research to support ethical, evidence-informed, and sustainable inclusion of animals in schools. By balancing human and animal welfare, schools can harness social-emotional and therapeutic benefits while mitigating risks, creating inclusive, supportive learning environments.

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ORCID for Jessica Delicata: orcid.org/0009-0009-8136-073X

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