People have relied on dogs for a variety of functions throughout the ages, not the least of which is as service animals and companions. For individuals with autism, service dogs are a relatively new concept. They are employed in a variety of ways, from traditional assistance animals to therapy facilitators to companions for socially challenged individuals. Furthermore, many families are desperately searching for ways to keep their kids with autism safe.

Service animals, however, are not free. Prices range from $10,000 to $50,000. It takes time and effort to raise a dog for service work, and not all dogs are capable of the demanding lifestyle. A variety of organizations exist to train dogs, and other animals, for individuals with disabilities. There are even a few organizations dedicated to training dogs for individuals with autism. In the past, however, dogs were often not available to young children. With the rates of autism skyrocketing, parents of young children have been requesting dogs to help their children. From this need, a new era of service animals is dawning.

My decision to pursue a service dog came one Sunday evening. The first snow of the year had fallen and it was bitterly cold. I opened the back door to let one of the dogs out and my son slipped past me and took off. Wearing a pair of fleece pajamas and nothing on his feet, he ran, full out, through the fresh snow. Temperatures were in the low 20’s. In my pajamas too, I ran after him, knowing that if I lost line of sight, I would likely never find him.

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