By 2022, mental health issues will be the leading cause of disability, morbidity, and mortality across vulnerable populations. There is increasing policy recognition that the alleviation of poor mental health, social isolation, and loneliness across vulnerable populations(e.g., children, refugees, seniors, people with visible and invisible disabilities, indigenous populations), should be prioritized due to the historical rise of mental health disorders and the effects of the coronavirus pandemic. The North American healthcare system has struggled to meet the unique challenges experienced by the most vulnerable people and communities during the pandemic. Healthcare policies tend to focus mainly on the biomedical model, much to the neglect of many efficacious alternative non-medical interventions. Traditional modalities that focus on the biomedical approach cannot remedy the complex mental health issues that have emerged during the pandemic (e.g., social, structural, spiritual). As such, there is a pressing need to offer a range of non-medical interventions that can address our vulnerable populations’ weakened healthcare and social support systems. This has stimulated interest in using various alternative therapies, such as Animal-Assisted Interventions (AAI). AAI is an umbrella term that encompasses the purposeful use of animals (specifically canines) to promote and improve human health and wellbeing. AAI is a viable alternative treatment modality (virtually and in-person) for a variety of populations in various countries. AAIs help protect many vulnerable people against adverse psychological and physiological impacts of illnesses by improving social, mental, and physical health outcomes. My presentation will begin with an overview of AAI’s historical and contemporary use, specifically focusing on dog therapy across diverse populations. Second, I summarize the theoretical models underlying AAI. Third, I discuss recent research on AAI and the physiological and psychological benefits of using canine therapy virtually and in-person to improve overall health and wellbeing for vulnerable populations.