Perceptions of dogs and animal-assisted support programs among veterinary students and teaching staff in Romania

Animal-assisted support programs (AASP) are increasingly used to promote psychological wellbeing in educational settings, yet their acceptability within veterinary education remains underexplored. This study aimed to assess perceptions, knowledge, attitudes, and implementation preferences related to AASP among veterinary students and teaching staff from a Romanian Faculty of Veterinary Medicine. A cross-sectional survey was conducted among 200 students and 99 teaching staff members, using a structured questionnaire addressing demographics, attitudes toward dogs, awareness of AASP, and self-reported mental health-related variables. Group and gender differences were analyzed using chi-square and Fisher's exact tests. Overall, respondents demonstrated positive attitudes toward dogs and strong acceptance of AASP. Most participants perceived AASP as potentially beneficial for stress reduction, mental health support, and enhancement of the educational environment, despite limited prior experience with such programs. A considerable proportion of students (20.5%) reported a diagnosed mental health condition, highlighting the relevance of student wellbeing support within the investigated academic setting. Gender differences were observed, with female respondents generally expressing more favorable attitudes and lower risk perception. High willingness to participate and support for the potential introduction of structured AASP and related training opportunities were reported, although concerns regarding anxiety and logistical constraints were acknowledged. These findings indicate a high level of perceived acceptability of AASP among veterinary students and teaching staff and support further investigation of their potential role within student wellbeing initiatives in veterinary higher education.