52. Supporting Neurodiverse Families in Dog Adoption

Pooch Parenting

The other day, a member of the Pooch Parenting Society sent me a Facebook post from a dog rescue organization about neurodivergent families and asked for my opinion. She has two special needs kids and had some pretty big feelings about it...and wanted to see if I felt the same. I do.

The Facebook post that was shared with me was written by the founder of a dog rescue organization and explained the reason behind her policy not to adopt dogs to families who have autistic children. Yes. you heard me right. She has labeled a group of people as a red flag and considers neurodivergent families inappropriate to live with dogs. (I can only imagine what Temple Grandin would have to say about this...)
Dog Rescue Organizations

Before anyone gets too heated, I want to remind everyone that the majority of people who go into the animal welfare field LOVE animals and want what's best for them. I worked at our local animal shelter as a volunteer for many years and was even on staff in the behavior department for awhile. I see the heart that goes into the work at shelters. But loving dogs is not an excuse for bigotry. This podcast episode (and article) are intended to offer support and ideas so that neurodivergent families can be successful with dogs.

Family Frustrations in Dog Adoption

As a dog and child specialist, I work with lots of families who have tried and failed to adopt dogs because of their rules not to adopt to families with children under the age of 10. While I may not agree with that policy, it's a clear policy. It's a result of a lack of resources to vet parenting and management skills. In my line of work, I see dogs who are uncomfortable living with children WAY more often than children who mistreat dogs. Children are unpredictable and can cause dogs lots of stress, which if not prevented can lead to inappropriate interactions.

High Stakes Between Kids and Dogs

Children are vulnerable and can be harmed easily by an excited dog, even just in play. And even the tiniest of bites could cause tremendous damage to a youngster. In previous episodes of this podcast, I have shared stories of babies who were killed by the family dog. And in the Master Course in Aggression course that I took from Michael Shikashio, he shared a story of a dog who nipped a child who ultimately died because the dog happened to nick an artery with its tooth. This was a horrible tragedy, but was an accident.

The average pet family does not have a lot of experience truly understanding dog behavior and how they use their bodies to communicate. As a result, it can be difficult to keep everyone safe. The stakes with kids and dogs are high, which is why it's a field I chose to focus on. Parents need specialized support and resources, which can easily be included in the adoption process with any rescue, shelter or even breeder.
Continue reading on www.poochparenting.net/episode52

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