Purpose through partnership: Understanding what drives volunteer engagement in animal-assisted services with dogs

Abstract Background : Animal-assisted services (AAS), including therapy, education, and support programs, have become increasingly valued as a resource for improved human physical and emotional health. Despite this growth, little empirical attention has been given to the volunteers who make AAS possible. Understanding what drives their participation, how they internalize their role identity, and how their relationships with their animals contribute to personal well-being is critical for sustaining ethical and effective programs. Methods : This study integrated Self-Determination Theory (SDT) and Role Identity Theory to: (1) examine the quality of AAS volunteers’ motivation (autonomous; driven by personal values and enjoyment or controlled; driven by obligation or external approval); (2) assess the association between volunteer role identity and autonomous motivation; (3) test whether motivation and identity predict perceived personal and relational benefits; (4) evaluate the salience of animal-centered motives; and (5) explore whether autonomous motivation and dog-centered motives independently predict well-being outcomes, including life satisfaction, happiness, and sense of purpose. A cross-sectional online survey was administered between January and June 2025 to 247 AAS volunteers. Measures included an adapted version of the Behavioral Regulation in Sport Questionnaire (BRSQ; five subscales, α = 0.74–0.91), a modified five-item Role Identity Scale (α = 0.73), and self-report measures of perceived outcomes across personal and relational domains. Participants also rated the importance of altruistic, social, challenge, and dog-centered motives. Analyses included paired-samples t -tests, linear and multiple regressions, and repeated-measures ANOVA. Results : Volunteers reported significantly higher autonomous motivation (M = 6.35, SD = 0.73) than controlled motivation (M = 1.51, SD = 0.77; p < 0.001, d = 4.03). Role identity was a strong positive predictor of autonomous motivation ( B = 0.53, p < 0.001, R 2 = 0.30). Both autonomous motivation and role identity independently predicted greater perceived benefits of participation ( p s < 0.05, R 2 = 0.35). Altruistic and dog-centered motives were rated highest in importance (both p s < 0.001), and both autonomous motivation and dog-centered motives predicted life satisfaction, happiness, and sense of purpose after controlling for demographics ( p s < 0.05). Conclusions : AAS volunteers are primarily motivated by internalized, value-driven reasons that integrate personal meaning with their animals’ welfare. Two complementary pathways – autonomous motivation and the human-animal bond – emerged as significant predictors of volunteers’ well-being.