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Autism/Aspergers/HFA death of a service dog
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Dear Trey,
','this is her service dog having a good time.'))
How are you? I have a close friend with Asperger's syndrome I have known her for a while now. She uses an autism service dog to help her with a couple of things here and there. Things like socailizatio, fire alarms and making sure she doesnt walk right out into the street when she is distracted by something of her intrest on the other side. The dog is now 6 and has hip displeasia. We arent expecting more then another 3 maybe 4 years out of the dog and I am a bit worried about what will happen when her dog dies. Is there any chance the death could cause her to regress? How can I help her cope when it does happen? Should we get her another dog before this one dies? I have never seen her more attached to a living creature before.
thanks for your time
-Scott
Hi there, Scott!
Please forgive the delay on answering this. I've finally gotten things caught up, and am finishing catching up my AllExperts questions. I thank you in advance for your patience with this!
Having never realized there were actually service dogs specifically for autism, I had to do a little research into this. This added a bit to the time as well. And really, just reading the information on the dogs, as well as what you have offered, has made it an easy decision on the 'getting another': you should first check to make sure that you *can* get another service dog before the first has retired/dies. Knowing there is a waiting list, I would suggest that since she does need the dog, you should speak with them about how long you need to wait before applying, and prepare to apply early. This is not just so she can have the blow softened when the dog dies, but because if you wait for the dog to die, you may end up waiting for up to several years after the application in order to obtain a replacement. So my suggestion: speak with them ASAP to find out about the wait, and if they would be able to bring in another early, or if the reapplication would take time.
You ask whether the death could cause her to regress. I wish I could give a more solid answer on this one, but a lot of people react differently to different things. Yes, there is a chance she can regress, though likely it would be temporary. However, if you're hoping I can answer '*Would* she regress', I'm afraid without knowing how she deals with trauma and stress, I can't even begin to guess. The loss of a loved one is always hard, though, autism or no autism. Having a support there will be key to keeping her intact and getting her through the hard days. if you are able to get a second service dog, especially if you can 'retire' the old one and have her needing the newer for support while the old is still a beloved pet, will be help in the transition.
I do hope that my answer was able to answer all the questions you had about it. Having been all caught up, any further replies will be far more timely, as well! So if you have further questions, comments, feedback, and follow-ups, I am more than happy to help out.
Trey
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| Rating(1-10) | Knowledgeability = 10 | Clarity of Response = 10 | Politeness = 10 |
| Comment | Thank you Very much. I will keep you updated. I am really woried about whats going to happen when Nim does die. You were VERY helpfull and I am glad to answer any questions you might have about her service dog. Thank you Very much. We might adopt a dog and train it for her if we can. Please feel free to ask me anything. | ||
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Answers by Expert:
Trey McGowan
Expertise
My primary expertise is in the area of the social, psychological, and mental development of Aspergers Syndrome and other high-functioning Autistic Spectrum Disorders. I am also very knowledgeable in the communication disorders and common co-existing issues. I'm well-read on most of these as well as having experienced it myself. Other aspects of autism, I can do fairly well at as well, from the oversensitivity to the recognition of it. Warning: I am *not* a medical professional, and while I can research answers through books and online, I can not give direct medical expertise.
Experience
I am 19 years diagnosed Asperger's Autistic, and have been reading up and studying it, as well as taking 'first hand accounts' for most of those 14 years. In addition, I have had three children, adopted elsewhere, all of whom are varying degrees of autistic from mid to high functioning. My mother has done some research on the subject as well, and passed some of it on to me.
Education/Credentials
I have completed grade school and most of high school, and achieved a GED. I've also received home schooling.
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