Benefits of Human-Animal Interactions Put to the Test

Plenty of parents and teachers would swear that service dogs are lifesavers for autistic kids, but in scientific circles, anecdotal evidence doesn't go very far. For that reason, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) is offering grants worth $500,000 per year to researchers studying the impact of animals on children's health and development, reports the New York Times. The program is a partnership between the NIH's Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Development and the Waltham Center for Pet Nutrition, a division of the Mars candy and pet-food company.

It has long been known that the presence of a pooch has a calming influence on many people, according to Pris Taylor, the director of Autism Service Dogs of America (ASDA). "Children with autism have difficulty with emotional relationships. The kids relate better to dogs. The children learn empathy," Taylor told Paw Nation. "We find kids don't have as many tantrums and meltdowns. Anecdotally, speech has increased with the presence of the dog." An autistic child may talk more not only to the dog itself, but also to other people, often about the dog. For a disease characterized by social isolation, that's huge.


Taylor is hopeful that the NIH funding will help make service animals more accepted. "Everyone who has seen [autistic kids interacting with dogs] knows it works, but a lot of people need research [to be convinced]," she said. Many schools are reluctant to let service dogs into their classrooms. With solid proof of the dogs' benefits, perhaps schools will be more welcoming of canine helpers.

Dogs don't benefit just children with autism, of course. Therapy dogs, service dogs, and plain old pets can help young people in many ways, from alleviating depression to assisting kids in wheelchairs, reports the New York Times. Any study looking into child-animal interactions is eligible for the research bucks.

Here at Paw Nation, we don't have any doubts about the benefits of companion pets and service animals. But if research is what it takes to convince the rest of the world, then bring it on.

Tags: animal, autism, grant, interaction, NIH, service dog, ServiceDog