Service Animals

Dogs aren’t just cute companions, they're also great for helping autistic children with their social and emotional development.

🐶 How can a Service Dog help a child with autism or other developmental disabilities?

• Conversational skills

🗣️ - The Service Dog becomes the focal point for socialization and can facilitate conversation in any environment the child is with the dog, from the holiday dinner to shopping at the supermarket. When a well-trained Service Dog is present, people ask predictable questions that have answers a child can memorize. People may ask things like: "What is your dog's name?" "What is the dog’s breed?" "How old is your dog?" These questions are asked frequently and with repetition, so the child can learn rote answers, which can be a bridge to connecting with others. As the child grows more confident, conversations can take place through and about the dog.

• Eye contact 👁️ - A Service Dog is trained to make eye contact. When a child is comfortable looking into a dog’s eyes, this can translate into making eye contact with people.

• Empathy & social cues 👥- Parents can help their child learn to read body language and learn empathy for others by using the dog as a model. By learning to read the dog, the child can learn to read other people, their body language, facial expressions, and social cues.

• Fine motor skills ⚙️ - Taking on and off equipment (cape, gentle leader, leash), brushing the dog's teeth and brushing the dog's fur can help with a child’s dexterity

• Gross motor skills - Daily exercising, throwing a ball, and playing games with the dog can help with a child’s gross motor development

• Regulating emotions 🫂 – Task work such as “visit” or “lap” provides a tactile way for the child to soothe him or herself.

• Encourage self-care tasks 💕 – The Service Dog is a teaching tool. Assigning daily chores such as feeding, brushing and cleaning up after the dog can teach a child responsibility and routine. Assisting with this care can translate into an awareness of and interest in his or her own self-care.

💰The National Service Animal Registry estimates the upfront cost of a service dog to be $15,000 to $30,000. But they can cost as much as $50,000. This price tag may include breeding, raising, training, and placing the dog. Unfortunately at the moment, Medicaid or most health insurances do not help with or cover the costs of obtaining or caring for a service dog.

However, there are programs who accept financing or service dog grants

Down Below is a list of programs that offer service dogs for Autism at no charge to the recipient. But to be eligible, you may need to meet specific criteria or live close to the organization for continued training and support.

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• Brigadoon Service Dogs in Bellingham, Washington. https://www.brigadoondogs.org

• Can Do Canines in New Hope, Minnesota. https://candocanines.org

• Retrieving Freedom, Inc. in Missouri and Mississippi. https://www.retrievingfreedom.org/

If none of these are near to you I’ve created a list of some other options as well.

Service dogs for children 12 and under. Application and information. https://www.pawswithacause.org/what-we-do/assistance-dogs/service-dogs-for-children-with-autism/

Service dogs for children with Autism or other developmental disabilities, 8-16 years old. https://neads.org/apply-for-a-dog/

Service Dogs and financial assistance. SponsoredDuo Dogs, Inc.

https://www.duodogs.org

Service Dog Financial Assistance - Trained Service Dogs For Free