Pet Appreciation Week: Pets in Lives of Special Needs
Calling all pet lovers! In honor of Pet Appreciation Week, let’s appreciate the incredible role pets play in the lives of special needs individuals and the various government-supported pet programs that benefit these amazing people.
Social and Emotional Development:
Interacting with pets can significantly enhance the social and emotional development of special needs children. Children who have pets generally like socializing with people more than children without pets. Moreover, kids can improve their social skills, such as empathy, communication, and trust towards both humans and animals through the security their pets provide.
Therapeutic Benefits:
Pets also offer therapeutic benefits for special needs children. Pets have been shown to improve physical, cognitive, and emotional well-being by reducing anxiety, stress, and agitation while increasing happiness. I’ve seen this myself through the special bond between my friend’s autistic brother and his pet cat Ginger. Whenever my friend’s brother feels lonely or stressed, he can find comfort and joy by spending time with Ginger and simply petting her fur. Furthermore, a Frontiers in Psychology study cites that individuals who frequently interact with a pet experience lower blood pressure, lower heart rate, and reduced stress levels.
Government-Supported Pet Programs for Special Needs Individuals:
Recognizing the significant impact of pets on the lives of individuals with special needs, the government supports several programs aimed at promoting the benefits of pet ownership. Some examples include:
a. Animals Deserve Better-Dog Rescue | Paws for Life-Service Dog Training:
According to the Georgia State ADA Coordinator's Office site, “Animals Deserve Better, Inc is a 501(c)3 non profit organization that through its Paws For Life program places service dogs with people who have disabilities, such as Autism, Diabetes, Hearing, Medical, Mobility, Psychiatric, PTSD, Seizures, TBI and other unseen medical conditions such as Parkinson's, CP, MS or Narcolepsy. […] They train for Basic, Intermediate and Advanced obedience incorporating all levels of the AKC Canine Good Citizen along with Agility and Fit Paws for maintenance of canine strength and endurance.” For more information, visit https://animalsdeservebetter.org/.
b. Assistance Dogs International:
Assistance Dogs International (ADI) is a coalition of nonprofit assistance dog programs. Assistance dog organizations that qualify to become ADI member programs must meet the high standards of the global community. For more information please visit www.assistancedogsinternational.org/.
c. Paws with a Cause:
According to their website, Paws With A Cause breeds and custom-trains Assistance Dogs for people with physical disabilities, hearing loss, seizures, and autism. PAWS trains the following types of Assistance Dogs:
Service dogs: For a physical disability, debilitating chronic illness or neurological disorder
Hearing dogs: for people who are deaf or hard of hearing
Seizure response dogs: for those with epilepsy or other seizure disorders
Dogs for children with autism: for children 12 and younger with autism
Learn more with this link: https://www.pawswithacause.org/what-we-do/assistance-dogs/
d. Assistant Animal Housing Accommodations:
The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development provides that “individuals with a disability may request to keep an assistance animal as a reasonable accommodation to a housing provider’s pet restrictions. Housing providers cannot refuse to make reasonable accommodations in rules, policies, practices, or services when such accommodations may be necessary to afford a person with a disability the equal opportunity to use and enjoy a dwelling.”
This week reminds us of the wonderful role pets play in everyone’s lives, especially in the lives of special needs individuals. Let’s celebrate the unique bonds shared everywhere!
