MATTS STORY

My husband and I decided to move into a bigger house with our son Matt. 

Matt is Autistic, and the first 7 years of his life he lived in silence, he jousted and screamed , and his disability took its toll on us, but we never gave up and we loved him just the same. It is AMAZING HEAVEN TO HEAR YOUR CHILDS VOICE FOR THE FIRST TIME AFTER 7 YEARS. 

Matt loved our new home and the environment, and he begun to speak. A friend dropped in one day with a puppy under his arm, and said it was the last one in the litter and said he was having trouble finding this little guy a home. 

At this stage we did not know the breed and we didn't ask, just thought he was cute. Well of course my husband and I fell in love with him, but we are not stupid people, maybe just a bit naive and big hearted in hindsight. But we still said no. 

Then my son Matt came out of his room and you had to see it to truly understand the interaction that took place between my son and that puppy. My son used to cringe when I tried to hug him, run away and scream, you name it. Even when he had hurt himself he would not let anyone console him! As a mother this is the hardest thing to deal with, when your son is in pain and there is nothing you can do to help him !!!...........I had never seen my son cuddle anything !!!!!! And there he was cuddling and kissing, and gently stroking this puppy, it was amazing. 

This went on for 2 hours. When our friend went to leave, my son lost the plot, screaming, hitting, and yelling "my dog, my dog, doggy no go, doggy no go" As heartbreaking as this was I said no! In weeks to come my son started slipping away from me again, not many words, more destructive non-compliance depression, not eating. His teachers couldn't control him, he was a mess. Then one day the teacher rang and said my son had drawn and picture of a dog and said "mummy said no", "bad mummy". Well that was that and I decided to get my boy a puppy. When my son came home I told him that I would get him our friends puppy and that everything would be ok. 

And for the very first time in my son's life he looked me straight in the eyes and smiled. I cried like I had never cried before. I rang our friend and asked him to bring the puppy over because we had decided to take him. I then casually asked what breed he was. Now I didn't know much about any dog breeds, very naive I have always been a cat person. I again asked what breed he is, and he thought he was part Labrador part Ridgeback. this made sense to me as he looked like a caramel Labrador.. So that was that...our family had a dog and my son had a friend and we called him "BO" The owners of our house quiet understood as they lived behind us, and said as long as we have the house sprayed for pests every year it would be OK. 

Then came to time to register BO with the council, and we were quiet shocked to learn from them that BO was indeed an American Pit Bull, and would be registered as such!!. What a shock, what do I do, as I had seen footage about these dogs on TV. "What do I Do". I couldn't take BO away from our son.....I was angry and scared. And from that day on I chose not to ever let my son and BO play alone. Well I grew to love Bo as much as my son did, my son BLOSSOMED and grew, and so did BO, they were best of mates, it was beautiful. I grew too, as a person. I learnt not to be "ignorant" and "judgmental". Two behaviours that I couldn't stand anybody else in the community having, having been subjected to it for 7 years from the public towards my son. 

So now I had a socially unacceptable, misunderstood child and a socially unacceptable, misunderstood pet !!!!! WOW what a hopeless parent, I used to be one of those people that would judge every naughty kid I saw (when I have a child it will never behave like that etc. God what an irresponsible parent having pet like that with kids etc) you name it I would have been the first to judge. But my son changed me and my perceptions of life (thank god) and BO changed me too. We were happy and doing the best and that's all that mattered !!! We had BO for nearly 5 years in the same house, and never any complainants from neighbours....nothing in 5 years. 

BUT then one day the meter man must have changed because there was a "couldn't read your meter because of the large dog" sign in the mailbox. I didn't think too much of it, Bo wouldn't have barked or anything , probably just wagged his tail saying "hello". THEN came a letter from the council telling us BO was a dangerous breed of dog, our home was not suitable for him and we had 2 weeks to get rid of him or else we would be fined and BO would be put down. Well hopefully you understand how difficult this was, we couldn't move, this just was not an option, as my sons school was in Brisbane, and a very important school or Autistic Children, which took 3 years waiting to get into, and he was doing so well, there was no way I was pulling him out of there after waiting so long. His disability is lifelong, and you only really get a few years to make a difference and that time for us was NOW!!!! 

The owners of the house wouldn't fix the fences, and we were locked into a 2 year lease, which we liked because of the security of not having to move because autistic people DON'T LIKE CHANGE, especially their home. Also we had no money to fight this, and I did not want my son subjected to the media circus, and everything else that would go along with a fight like that . We just weren't in a position to take it on!! BO is an American Pit Bull and a beautiful one at that, he is dearly loved by all our family, and he is sorely missed. He was my sons therapeutic influence and his best mate. 

My sons school placement was the most important thing at the time and if you know anything about disability and its lack of funds you would understand our choices completely. We found a lovely home for BO on acreage and he is very happy . My son is going fine now, it took a while, but we got through it. MY son has become obsessed with laws now, he wants to know who makes them and why and what what happens if you don't comply etc. 

Governments decisions are hard enough to explain to a wide-eyed child, so this is more difficult for us. My son only gets upset now and then when a dog food ad comes on TV, or if something triggers a memory for him. So he is doing OK. I am afraid my husband and I, who are dealing with BO's exit from our family are the worst off, as we saw Bo fulfil a void in our son that we can't seem to refill or replace. 

But my son thinks he has filled it!!! His new obsession with Laws !!!!!! 

Thank you Katherine & David