AUTISM SOLUTIONS
Families with autism assistance dogs show no intent to harm,
but rather a lack of education. Assistance dog programs are
expensive and tend to focus on the productivity of the dog rather
than addressing the needs of the dog and educating the family
on the responsibilities of dog ownership.
between child and dog may not be as strong as the
average service dog team; autism teams are unique
in that the dog is expected to bond with both the
child and the parent handler. The dog takes com-
mands from the parent but is attached to a child
who usually has trouble showing loving emotions
(Burrows, Adams & Millman, 2008).
Families with autism assistance dogs show no intent
to harm, but rather a lack of education. Assistance
dog programs are expensive and tend to focus on
the productivity of the dog rather than addressing
the needs of the dog and educating the family on
the responsibilities of dog ownership. Establishing
an advisory team consisting of veterinarians, trainers,
and animal-behavior specialists to provide ongoing
monitoring and education could better manage the
dog’s performance and welfare (Burrows et al., 2008).
Dogs rank toward the high end of the brain com-
plexity spectrum and so should be protected from
pain and fear (Grandin, 2002), and yet no state laws
specifically protect the welfare of autism assistance
dogs. These dogs often face stressful situations that
most assistance dogs do not face such as long work
hours without breaks and stressful situations in the
home, yet neither assistance dog organizations nor
the law addresses this ethical dilemma.
Assistance dog organizations act as moral agents and
have role-related responsibilities to the dogs they
place along with recipient families. These responsibil-
ities include an obligation to protect the dogs from
harm. If organizations place autism assistance dogs
without additional support and education for the fam-
ilies receiving the dogs, a dog or child could ultimate-
ly be seriously harmed. If dogs or children are known
to be harmed in such placements, future placements,
which we know to be beneficial to children with au-
tism and their families, could be impacted.
46 | Autism Parenting Magazine | Issue 74
As the issue currently needs to be addressed from
an ethical rather than a legal basis, specific guide-
lines regarding work time and expectations of au-
tism assistance dogs should be developed, with the
assistance of veterinarians and animal behaviorists.
At a minimum, organizations should provide fami-
lies with written information describing the needs of
autism assistance dogs, possible expenses incurred
through dog ownership, the pitfalls that could occur
after placement, basic recommendations to assist
with behavioral issues, and a list of local trainers, ani-
mal behaviorists, and veterinarians in the area where
the family lives. Assistance dog organizations that
place autism assistance dogs should also require
adult family members to sign commitments that in-
clude these guidelines, thus removing any ambigui-
ty regarding the dog’s welfare.
In addition, autism assistance dog providers need to
protect the dog and provide ongoing family support
through follow-up visits after placement to evaluate
when and if bonding occurs and how families can
best care for both dog and child. Researchers also
need to conduct studies that can support the cre-
ation of educational programs as well as state laws
protecting working dogs from harm within their ser-
vice relationships.
These organizations are permitted to place dogs
with families without fully investigating the family’s
needs, home environment, and expectations. How-
ever, organizations must be ethically bound to in-
vestigate and discuss the behaviors of the children
involved in the placement and assess parental over-
sight. Some children with autism move erratically,
may pull food or toys away from dogs, or may show
aggressive behavior toward dogs. Parents must be
made aware that they are responsible for intervening
on behalf of the dogs and redirecting their children
to enhance bonding and minimize harm towards the