‘Mattering as Medicine’: USask graduand explores the impact of therapy dogs on mental health

Pets can make a big difference in improving mental health—and Dr. Alexandria Pavelich (MA’22, PhD’26) has done the research to prove it.

Pavelich focused her graduate studies at the University of Saskatchewan (USask) on human-animal interactions and the impact they have on patients’ mental health in the health-care system.

This summer, she successfully defended her PhD dissertation, “Mattering as Medicine: Exploring the significance of human-animal connections for individuals living with pain and suicidality.” Pavelich will be graduating with her PhD at the USask Fall Convocation on Nov. 10.

“The (therapy) dogs were a critical bridge for the gap to ensure that when patients are coming in for health care, they are less isolated; they feel more humanized when they’re seeking care. The human-animal connection really reminds folks that themselves, and their pain, matter,” Pavelich said.

“That sense of mattering, and sense of feeling cared for, was the catalyst—this is how we can help prevent suicide,” she added.

As a master's student in sociology at USask in 2019, Pavelich noticed something while working at the Royal University Hospital. Patients who were actively suicidal upon being admitted to the hospital had a change in behaviour when a therapy dog was present, she said.

“What I started to see was that the dogs were helping people and making them feel really supported, but I noticed the larger impact it was having on the environment, and the staff,” Pavelich said.

For six months, Pavelich conducted surveys and interviews, and recorded her observations in the emergency room.

Suicidal patients are sometimes restrained upon arriving at the emergency room, she said. When therapy dogs were present, restraints and chemical sedation for distressed patients were no longer needed. The presence of a therapy dog helped calm the environment and allow for better communication with health-care providers.

“Therapy dogs, which are technically companion animals, function as drivers for recovery—whether that’s mental health concerns or addictions recovery,” she said.

“When you’re struggling with pain, or emotional distress, these animals give you a reason to maintain routine. They provide physical and emotional support that a lot of the participants were really describing as ‘more helpful’ than what they were getting in the institutional setting.”

Pavelich knows firsthand how a therapy dog can help improve mental health. Her therapy dog, Zola, helped set a routine as Pavelich continued her research, working long hours from a home office. As a trained St. John Ambulance Therapy Dog and handler, the pair had scheduled appointments for regular placements. They often visited the USask campus, Ronald McDonald House, Royal University Hospital, and Saskatchewan Polytechnic.

“Getting to meet so many students and staff because I had a therapy dog was also, in a way, giving back service to my university community. I think we're really lucky and innovative in that way.”

Sadly, Zola passed away at the end of May 2026 as Pavelich was finishing up her dissertation. As she was writing, she reflected on how much of a role the therapy dog played throughout her PhD journey. Zola had been with Pavelich every step of the way.

“I didn’t realize the positive impact, to the degree that she had, until she passed,” Pavelich said. "Trying to study for my defence, and prepare for my defence, I no longer had that routine. I no longer had that emotional support anchor.

“She was also just goofy, so she was a great distraction from the stress of studies.”

Pavelich chose to pursue her graduate degrees at USask because of her supervisor, Dr. Colleen Dell (PhD). Dell is a professor in the Department of Sociology in USask’s College of Arts and Science and the Research Chair in One Health and Human Animal Connections, and founded the PAWSitive Connections Lab.

The research lab is well known for its programs, including the PAWS Your Stress therapy dog program, online mental health and substance use training for service dog trainers, and the prison PAWSitive Support Canine Assisted Learning Program.

“(Dell’s) work was super inspiring to me,” Pavelich said. “I wanted to learn from her. It went really well during my master’s so I decided to stay on with her and the PAWSitive Connections Lab.”

Through her work with Dell in the research lab, Pavelich became one of the first researchers in the world to show that animals could positively impact people experiencing suicidality.

“I was very privileged to go into the hospital and do ethnographic fieldwork—that's really rare as a student.”

Pavelich noted that this type of research was possible at USask because it is a smaller university, with many opportunities and support for her research.

As a research supervisor, Dell said watching Pavelich's academic journey unfold “has been a true privilege.”

“From undergraduate student to PhD graduate and now postdoctoral fellow, she has consistently demonstrated excellence in scholarship, leadership, and community engagement,” Dell said.

“Her research has advanced our understanding of how mattering, suicidality, pain, and the human-animal bond intersect, while her impact on campus has been equally significant, from coordinating the PAWS Your Stress therapy dog program to volunteering alongside the late-therapy dog Zola on and off campus. Dr. Pavelich has established herself as an emerging leader and an outstanding representative of USask."

Pavelich was encouraged to deliver a TEDxUniversityOfSaskatchewan talk in February 2026 about her research and work with Zola.

“It’s so rare as a researcher, especially somebody who is a PhD student, to have a platform to share your research,” she said.

“Whenever there’s an opportunity to spread the word about the research that we’re doing, I’ve been of the mindset, ‘Yes, this might be a lot of work, and it might be a little bit stressful, but it’s worth it.’” 

Her TEDx talk currently has more than 100,000 views.

“I’m still getting emails every week from random people who’ve seen it and want to just talk about human-animal connections. It was such an invaluable opportunity.”

Now, as a postdoctoral fellow in the Department of Psychology and Health Studies in the College of Arts and Science, Pavelich aims to continue her research with the PAWSitive Connections Lab.

Working with Dell and USask psychology assistant professor Dr. Linzi Williamson (PhD), the team is building a hub for the first human-animal connections research network in Canada.

“I’m learning some new skills, honing my research, meeting a ton of other amazing scholars. And it’s all happening here in Saskatoon . . .  I am eternally grateful that I got to stay here, and stay with my team, because they’re awesome.”