What is an animal called that cheers up patients in Hospitals?

An animal that visits patients in hospitals, rehab centers or skilled nursing centers, or residents of nursing homes or children in schools is called a therapy animal.

Therapy animals are not service animals. They are trained, tested, certified and insured with a therapy animal organization such as the Delta Society, Therapy Dogs International, or Therapy Dogs Inc. A person with a therapy animal must ask for and receive permission to enter any place that does not ordinarily permit pets to enter.