That's a Good Dog

There's an article on CNN.com today about how service dogs are helping kids with autism. Interesting. I'm all for anything that helps kids with autism (and their families) lead fuller, safer, more independent lives.

With Owen being at the mild end of the spectrum, we are lucky not to have the safety issues that many parents of kids with autism experience -- specifically the impulse to run off without warning -- but there was something else intriguing in the article: Some of these dogs actually intervene and stop meltdowns. The dog apparently calms the kid down, heading off the meltdown. How great would that be?

My husband has been trying to convince me to get a dog for years. Show me a hypoallergenic, non-barking dog trained to stop meltdowns and you've got yourself a deal, honey.