Kids with special needs and Pets

We have six pets at our house:  Three dogs and three cats.  My cat in named “Patches.”  She’s like family.  Pets and special needs kids go hand-in-hand also. 

Research shows that pets may help all children in the following ways:

• Interaction: Children tend to interact verbally and socially for longer periods, enjoy themselves more, and are more aware of their surroundings when playing with pets rather than with inanimate objects.
• Empathy: Bonding with a pet is thought to encourage empathy towards other humans and animals.
• Positive Mood: Interaction with a pet tends to improve mood and promote positive emotions.
• Anti-stress: A link exists between pet ownership and anxiety reduction. The presence of a pet can reduce the amounts of cortisol, a stress-response hormone produced by an autistic child upon waking in the morning. The amount of cortisol in a waking autistic child decreased from 58 percent to 10 percent when a service dog was present. When the dog was taken away for a short while, the amount of cortisol increased to 48 percent.
• Blood Pressure and Heart Rate: Children involved in animal-assisted therapy (AAT) had lower blood pressure and heart rates when interacting with and stroking a dog, implying that the activity is relaxing.
• Learning: Although it’s not known if the brain benefits directly from owning a pet, pet ownership does seem to assist in learning. The presence of a pet improves motivation and speed when completing tasks, and increases listening skills and concentration.
• I know pets aren’t for everyone, but they may be the right thing for your family.  They may take a little extra work but they may be just what the doctor ordered.