Background:

Autism spectrum disorder implies adjustments in the daily care of the child. In this scenario, animal-assisted interventions seem to act as a facilitator in maintaining the quality of life of these individuals.

Objective:

To develop an animal-assisted intervention program for children with autism spectrum disorder (AAIPC-ASD).

Methodology:

Methodological study for the construction of a program of animal-assisted interventions, applicable to children with autism spectrum disorder, based on the model of complex interventions of the Medical Research Council that consists of four stages: identifying the evidence base, identifying/developing theory, modeling process, and assessing effectiveness.

Results:

The AAIPC-ASD development process has resulted in the construction of Version 1 of the program, consisting of the following items: program planning, session planning, implementation, field notes, and final evaluation.

Conclusion:

The structure of Version 1 of the AAIPC-ASD is aligned with the characteristics of its target group, based on primary field research data and updated bibliographic data. Its effectiveness and validation will be assessed in later stages.

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