10 Therapeutic Benefits of Having a Pet for People with Autism

The experience of living with Autism Spectrum Disorder is widely varied. Though the condition looks different for everyone, most people with autism can reap the positive benefits animals offer. Perhaps most obviously, pets provide emotional comfort for people with autism, but the benefits go beyond that. From emotional management to practical support like sensory therapy or enhanced communication, emotional support animals can be a critical tool for people with autism. Plus, the presence of an animal can help with social skills, emotional regulation, and sensory stimulation. Whether you or a loved one has autism it is well worth considering adding an emotional support animal to your family. Need more convincing? Here are 10 therapeutic benefits of pets for autism.

1. Emotional Support and Comfort

Studies agree that animals offer unwavering support and non-judgmental companionship, making them a reliable presence in your life. For people with autism, a pet can be a therapeutic lifeline that offers emotional support and comfort through just their presence. For someone experiencing high-stress levels, a pet’s presence can provide a calming effect. The presence of an emotional support animal can play a critical role in reducing the frequency of meltdowns or lowering levels of anxiety. This unconditional love and emotional support can be essential for helping people with autism feel secure and less anxious.

2. Reducing Anxiety and Stress (100 words)

According to the Center for Disease Control (CDC), anxiety, stress, and excessive worry are some of the key traits of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). However, emotional support animals offer a unique way for people with autism to navigate and reduce the severity of these often overwhelming emotions. Interacting with pets, especially through activities like petting or cuddling, has been shown to reduce cortisol levels and relieve stress. A child with autism may find comfort in stroking a dog or cat during overwhelming sensory experiences to help them feel less anxious and distressed. Obtaining an ESA letter can formalize this bond, granting individuals the ability to keep their support animals in housing or during travel, ensuring their therapeutic companion is always by their side.

3. Improving Social Interaction

Social isolation or difficulty with social interactions are common symptoms of autism. Pets can be a powerful tool in addressing this. Your animal friends can act as social bridges, helping individuals with autism engage more easily with others by providing a common point of interest. For instance, a person with autism may find it easier to start conversations with peers or strangers when they have a pet with them. Of course, dogs are one of the best pets to get because they force you to get out in the world. However, 27% of participants in a 2024 study still reported feelings of social connection with a cat, reptile, or other pet.

4. Enhancing Communication Skills

Pets encourage both verbal and non-verbal communication, which is particularly beneficial for individuals with autism who struggle with social or speech skills. A great example may be a child with autism who has a pet dog. In this situation, the child is encouraged to give commands to the dog which also helps improve their verbal communication. Additionally, a pet may challenge its owner to read its body language, helping the individual enhance non-verbal understanding.

5. Encouraging Physical Activity

Pets, especially dogs, promote physical activity, helping improve both your physical health and mental well-being. Whether it’s regular walks, play sessions, or simply bending down to refill a water dish, animals encourage their owners to move more throughout their days. An ESA dog can provide even greater benefits, offering companionship and emotional support that helps alleviate anxiety and stress. These small bursts of movement, combined with the calming presence of an ESA dog, can boost serotonin and reduce cortisol in the brain, leading to improved mental wellness.

For people with autism, this regular movement and physical activity benefits their overall health and allows them to live more independently. Some individuals with autism may struggle with foundational motions such as squatting or push-pull movements. However, daily exercise and physical activity builds functional strength in the body and allows people with autism to move with more ease. With this in mind, pets can help an individual with autism live more independently.

6. Providing Sensory Therapy

A tactile experience, such as touching something cool and soft, can soothe an individual with autism. This physical coping mechanism may help a person better navigate triggering situations and avoid a larger meltdown. A pet can be hugely beneficial in providing their owner with sensory therapy relief. Here’s why—the tactile experience of petting an animal provides sensory stimulation, which can be soothing for people with sensory processing issues. Consider the soft fur of a cat or the rhythmic breathing of a dog. These physical sensations can help calm individuals who are overstimulated.

7. Offering Routine and Structure

Routine and structure provide a sense of relief for many individuals with autism. Since caring for a pet introduces routine and structure into a person’s day-to-day life, a person with autism may find an animal companion to be comforting and necessary for daily life. All types of animals offer the benefit of structure and routine. Whether it’s a dog that needs daily walks and playtime, or a cat that needs feeding, a fish whose tank needs to be cleaned, or a bunny needing snuggle time, the regularity required to care for a pet helps create a predictable schedule, reducing anxiety about changes or disruptions.

8. Promoting Independence and Responsibility

Owning a pet requires responsibility and independence. Even if you’re helping someone with autism care for their pet, simply having an animal to care for fosters a sense of independence, helping individuals with autism learn how to take responsibility and develop life skills. For example, a teenager with autism may take pride in feeding or caring for their pet. This sense of independence and responsibility can promote self-confidence and independence that will allow the teenager to develop broader life skills.

9. Boosting Confidence and Self-Esteem

Regardless of their background or health, Many pet owners are proud of their animal companions! For people with autism, a pet can help them develop stronger feelings of confidence and self-esteem. Consider all the work that goes into training a pet to do a special trick and the accomplishment felt when your dog does the trick. Or, the pride you may feel when someone compliments your cat. These instances show how an animal can help boost their owner’s confidence and self-esteem.

Animals provide unwavering support for their owners. It’s in this support that people with autism start to build confidence and boost their self-esteem. So, if you or a loved one has autism and is struggling with low self-worth, an emotional support animal may offer the love, companionship, and support needed to feel more confident and empowered.

10. Reducing Loneliness and Isolation

It can be hard for people with autism to feel connected to others. Research suggests that people with autism are more likely to feel lonely and isolated than people without autism. Pets offer a unique way to cope with feelings of loneliness and isolation by providing non-judgemental and reliable companionship. The presence of a dog, cat, guinea pig, or other pet can offer comfort in times of social isolation or emotional distress. For example, a person with autism may find that their pet provides them with a constant, reliable companion, reducing feelings of isolation.

Conclusion

Animals offer immense support for people with autism. Therapeutic benefits of pets for autism range from reduced feelings of loneliness and isolation to increased physical activity, emotional support, sensory therapy, and more. Exploring the option of an ESA for autism can further enhance these benefits by ensuring the individual has a consistent and reliable source of comfort.

If you or a loved one is diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder, a pet may be an excellent way to cope with the difficult emotions and symptoms that accompany the condition. The research alone shows that animals can make a significant difference in the lives of their owners.