Treatment advancements and improvements in the quality of ICU care have led to a sustained decrease in ICU mortality. However, for more than half of ICU survivors, physical, psychological, and cognitive deficits resulting from an ICU hospitalization persist after the critical illness has resolved [1]. These deficits are known as post-intensive care syndrome (PICS) and include modifiable risk factors such as delirium, decreased mobility, sedation, and an overall negative ICU experience [2]. Unrelieved and distressing symptoms throughout the hospitalization can increase the incidence of PICS and are traumatic for patients and their families. Common symptoms reported by patients in the ICU include fatigue, sleeplessness, anxiety, restlessness, pain, sadness, fear, and confusion [3–5]. Sedative and analgesic medications have historically been given as first-line treatment to lessen the patient’s symptom burden, but these medications can lead to poor outcomes. Therefore, critical care clinicians and researchers have increased their focus on nonpharmacological symptom management strategies to reduce the modifiable risk factors associated with PICS and promote a more humanized, patient-centered care environment [6]. Animal-assisted interactions (AAIs) are a means to facilitate the holistic management of patient symptoms, promote overall wellness in the ICU, and improve the ICU experience for patients, families, and staff [6, 7].