Benefits of an Emotional Support Animal for Children with Autism

For many children with autism, an emotional support animal can offer security, structure, and help with self-confidence. Animal companions also have the potential to enhance the life of a child with autism in many ways. Emotional support animals also don’t have to be dogs, they can be feline, and even turtles or guinea pigs. 

Benefits of an Emotional Support Animal for Children with Autism 

Emotional support animals help children with autism by providing a service that other humans cannot. With proper care, animals can provide unconditional emotional support and companionship. Additionally, an emotional support animal can teach children with autism valuable lessons like social skills.  

Here are some of the key benefits of emotional support animals: 

• Greater social skills: Emotional support animals offer children with autism a nonjudgmental place for them to practice social skills. Studies show that individuals with autism are more likely to hold eye contact with animals, and that having a service animal helped with processing and recognizing faces. Animals are also a good bridge for communication between people and can help facilitate positive conversations and interactions. 
• Sharing personal space: Many children with autism struggle with sharing or being around others. When a child with autism bonds with an animal, it teaches them how to hold space for others and share their space with others.   
• Sensory issues: Petting and touching an animal can help calm children with autism. According to studies, petting an animal for 15 minutes can lower blood pressure by 15%. 
• Preventing Wandering: Service dogs can assist in keeping an eye on the child and alert caregivers if the child leaves a designated safe space? 
• Creating routines: All animals need a routine to thrive. Whether it’s feeding, grooming, and even toilet support; taking responsibility for these tasks can help children with autism create a structured routine. Enforcing a routine helps children with autism manage anxiety, create a sense of security, and help with self-regulation.  
• Emotional support: It’s been mentioned before, but animals are a nonjudgemental space for children with autism. An emotional support animal gives unconditional love and companionship in ways that humans simply cannot. All this helps children with autism reduce anxiety and manage their emotions. 

Best Animals for Children with Autism 

There are a number of animals that can serve as an emotional support for children with autism. The best ones are: 

• Dogs: Dogs are social animals; they prefer being around their people. Most dogs are very loyal, which helps create a bond between them and a child with autism. Dogs are also able to accompany children outside the home and on some social outings. 
• Cats: Cats are relatively low maintenance compared to dogs. Despite this, they are deeply emotional creatures who can form a loving bond with their preferred person. Cats are also good at teaching boundaries.  
• Turtles: Turtles are a wonderful, low-maintenance support animal for children with autism. They do not need exercise, excessive grooming, or training. The thing they need most is habitat maintenance and feeding, which can be done on a schedule.  
• Rabbits: Rabbits can be very rewarding pets. They are incredibly social and can even be taught tricks.  
• Guinea Pigs: One of the best parts of owning a guinea pig is that they are small, soft, and open to being touched and held. A guinea pig can offer emotional support to a child with autism and help with creating structure.  

What to Consider Before Getting an Emotional Support Animal 

Before making the full investment in an emotional support animal, there are several factors families need to take into consideration. Some of the most important ones are: 

• The type of animal you are getting: The type of animal you choose should depend on your family. Families who have more time to spend with their pet could consider a dog, while families who do not have as much time might think of a cat. If a family chooses a dog, they need to consider the dog’s breed. A high-energy dog, like an Australian Shepard, or a hyper-intelligent Husky might not be the best fit for a busy family.  
• Energy level of the animal: The emotional support animal you choose needs to match the energy level of your family. A turtle or guinea pig would work great for families who don’t have enough time and energy to spend playing and engaging with their animal. Active families who enjoy outside time might benefit from a dog they can run around with. 
• Allergies: An unfortunate reality is that a high number of animals end up in shelters because a family didn’t know they were allergic. It is important to test your children for any pet allergies before introducing an emotional support animal.  
• Time and ability to care for the animal: Some animals are high maintenance and others are not. A low energy turtle would be much easier to care for than an intelligent and energetic dog. It’s important to consider how much time your family can devote to an animal before bringing one into your home. Families also need to consider how much time they can realistically spend on training, animal enrichment, and care.  
• Long term commitment: Some animals have a very long lifespan. Dogs, cats, and rabbits are a 10–15-year commitment. Animals need to stay with their families for their entire lifespan. This includes the elderly years when a pet may need more care. A guinea pig has a much shorter lifespan than a turtle, dog, or cat.  

How to Get an Emotional Support Animal 

The best way to get an emotional support animal is to go through a licensed mental health provider. In California, mental health professionals can include an emotional support animal as part of their patient’s health plan. Essentially, families are given a prescription for an emotional support animal.  

To learn more about getting an emotional support animal, contact your child or loved one’s mental health provider. For any other questions about Disability Services or Regional Center services, contact your local Regional Center.