“…After the COVID-19 pandemic, anxiety levels increased due to pervasive uncertainty and fear of disease [ 24 , 25 ]. Despite reports that SARS-CoV-2 can be spread by dogs, concerns of contracting COVID-19 from a dog was low, with 88% of participants reporting “little” to “no concern” ( Figure 4 A, Table S4 ) [ 26 , 27 , 28 , 29 , 30 , 31 , 32 , 33 , 34 , 35 , 36 ]. Though most patients had little to no concern of contracting COVID-19 from dogs and the risk of zoonotic transmission is considered low, it is important for handlers and facilities with therapy animals to adhere to proper health protocols and the use of personal protective equipment, to minimize the risk of spread and ensure safety for both the canine and patients [ 27 , 28 , 29 , 30 , 31 , 32 , 33 , 34 , 35 , 36 ].…”