Service Animal for my son

[ryonka]

Good morning everyone!

I don't usually post on this subject, but now that I have found you all, that might just change.

We got a Curly Coated Retriever named "Rainbow" for my now 16 year old son last year. My son has Autism/Asperger's Syndrome, which makes it very difficult for him to communicate with others.

What a difference a year has made. When we first got her he was resistant to taking care of her. It is his job to walk her, feed her, play with her, etc. He really didn't want to be the one to pick up her poop!

Now, he just loves her so much. We take her with us everywhere. My son will strike up a conversation with people about Rainbow. They want to know what kind of dog she is, what's her name, etc. Before those questions really irritated him, but now he really enjoys talking about his "girl". He really doesn't mind cleaning up her poop, either which I think is amazing since smells really affect him more than most people.

Getting Rainbow was the best therapy/medicine for my son. Now I can't imagine our lives without her.:)

[Buttons2]

Hi & welcome to pet therapy! This is a wonderful story-thanks for sharing with us!

I like to watch a program on National Geographic called "Dogs with Jobs". Whenever they have a service dog on the program it just about makes me cry @ times! Dogs are amazing huh?

Best to you all!
Buttons

[joy]

I'm glad you shared Rainbow and son with us with us too! From resistance to love. Can't beat that for a pet story.

[Cry Tears]

Before I start bragging....I want to let you know how awesome this must be for your son. He's lucky to have a parent who has encouraged him this way and may prove a link back to improving health....ya never know!
Can you post some photos so we can see your fur baby?
We all love to see what's written about.

I just got to jump in and share my pet story.
I got a service dog, Satin II....black Lab.
This was when I was having severe anemia, later found the cause coming from what is called AVM....arterioveinouse malformation.Basically an anuerism...usually grows in your brain, blows out...then you drop dead!
Mine was fortunatly in my intestines. But caused havoc when I'd nearly died from being such low hemaglobin of 5.1 wow! All they could do was transfuse me every few weeks.
I was afraid to be left alone....who wants to die alone? So Satin was the perfect solution to this fear.
I also have Crohns disease on top of other issues. My intestines often block and I go into the hospital for fun and games!:eek:
One night Satin jumped on our bed, woke me up...she focused on my tummy. I was having another bowel obstruction....had I continued sleeping...this could have killed me if I hadn't moved around....who knows!
She spent 17 days with me when I had a bowel resection.
Slept right on my hospital bed.
I had one nurse....didnt know she has a terrible fear of dogs...this is too funny!.......
Satin was asleep under a blanket on my hospital bed during the night.
The nurse came in to take my vitals....Satins nose peaked out from under the blanket....she began to stretch and as she did she moaned a deep growel like moan. The nurse ran from my room screaming! Poor girl.....she thought Satin had groweld at her...it took a lot of convincing that Satin has passed a very rigid test....proof positive she would NEVER ever bite, growel or protect me.
This is tested through Delta Society as they insure the dogs for $1 million each. A Pet Therapy dog must never ever react to anyone. I take her into psyche wards....if a patient got out of control, hit me or attacked me my dog must never take action. So she's definatly not a gaurd dog!

Check out their web site...will inform you how to get a service animals..****les and guidlines.
www.deltasociety.org look up Service Animals
also check out Animal assisted Therapy...something Satin is registered to do and has volunteered over 8 years through hospitals, care facilities...she is very loved!
I'm posting a few pic's of what she does....she's incredilble!
Blessings, Cheryl and Satin II
She's soft and satiny....like velvet!
She almost walks on water! She's so perfect.....but she does have a dark side, she hates going outside to tinkle when its cold...comes back in, sneaking into the rarely stepped in dinning room.....to tinkle! We finally put in hardwood flooring. This stopped her messings!

[Cry Tears]

I'm reposting this up further for our new member who'se getting a service dog. She's also got infor on service dogs too...my info is from long ago, I'm sure things have changed since my getting my girl 6 years ago.
Blessings, cheryl