Pet and animal therapy has been shown to yield great benefits for people of all abilities and disabilities – encouraging social interaction, comfort, play, and joy. When it comes to autism animal-assisted therapy, the research is quite new and limited, but much of the evidence found so far suggests incredible positive effects for people on the autism spectrum.
One of the most recognizable benefits of animal therapy services animals for individuals with autism is the increase in positive social behaviors. When an animal accompanies a child on the spectrum, they laugh, talk, smile, and participate more. Animals serve as conversation starters to ease social communication. They boost feelings of self-confidence and well-being, significantly reducing the feelings of loneliness people with autism often face. They have proven quite effective at calming individuals with autism through stressful situations, helping to avoid emotional meltdowns or lash-outs.
Animal therapy can also help individuals with autism focus their attention more effectively. One study demonstrates that children with autism looked at dogs’ faces longer than humans’ faces. Getting a service animal for your child with autism can help them focus longer and help develop their focusing skills. In addition, animal interaction can also increase physical fitness, strength, and coordination.
Ref: - https://adultautismcenter.org/blog/animal-therapy-for-autism/