One more of my "crazy Ideas"

[Duane Wyatt]

Here is my"crazy idea":

The issues:
a. widespread loneliness seen in ASD pts. and others
b. Feelings of worthlessness and failures in life in ASD pts. and others
c. The widespread pet overpopulation problem, with homeless pets living in animal shelters- wishing for a loving home.
d. The animal shelter management willing to look at new ideas to reduce their shelter population.
e. The ASD patient may be shy, introverted, does not want to ask for help, does not like social interaction and will not accomplish this P.E.T.S. program without help from people he/she trusts ( AspiesCentral volunteers).


Facts:
1. Being a veterinarian, I know how important pets are to many people to raise psyche, lift self esteem and give a feeling of being important to some "thing".. Pets give unconditional love.
2. the moderators of AspiesCentral website are volunteers- they are not paid.
3. it would be a simple issue to have more AspiesCentral volunteers with the following purpose:
4. most of the users of the AspiesCentral website have screen names as user names- their real names are not known.


The program details:
1. A user of the website feels lonely, depressed and worthless. He sends a private message to a website volunteer stating he/she would like to use the website management's P.E.T.S. ( people expecting therapy services) program. The user would give the nearest city to his home and would give the name of a neutral meeting place ( Wendy's, Starbucks, etc.- preferably a café with outdoor seating) in this city. The website user would also give the website volunteer his/her pet of choice.
2. This website volunteer would then contact participating animal shelter management in the city the website user names. The user's meeting place details are exchanged and the user's preferred pet (cat or dog) details are exchanged. A volunteer from the participating animal shelter in the city the website user names is then given the pet and the meeting with the website user, animal shelter volunteer and suitable animal shelter pet is made.
3. The arrangement with the participating animal shelter management states that the pet can be returned to the animal shelter after the meeting. The pet can be returned to the animal shelter by the website user at anytime with no punishment given. Or the pet can be kept by the AspiesCentral user who requests the P.E.T.S. services from the website volunteers.
4. User safety is maintained--- the user's real name is never known, his/her home address is never known and the user may gain some relief from the pain of loneliness and low self esteem.
5. One less pet may be seen in the city's animal shelter after the meeting is made.
6. Hopefully, the arrangement will work out and the lonely person will obtain some relief. If not, no harm is done to pet or human.

Again, I don't know if I will post this idea on the website. I probably will with the risk of being labeled as an "idiot" (or worse). That label is ok with me, though.

 

[Harrison]

There are so many problems with this I'm not sure where to start.

I'm not sure of the regulations in your country but here in the UK no animal shelter is going to hand over an animal that will then be handed to a stranger on a 'take or return' basis. Shelters here have stringent regulations and vetting of homes prior to rehoming their animals. I'm hoping that other countries do the same, maybe they don't.

I would have thought that anyone thinking their loneliness could be alleviated by a pet would have one.

 

[Warmheart]

What a caring, kindhearted idea! Harrison is correct, shelters and rescue groups very carefully screen potential adopters.

Hopefully, aspies in need of pets can realistically evaluate whether they have the executive functioning skills, finances, and mental clarity to be able to manage caring for a pet's needs. Then, they could get screened by reputable animal shelters and pet rescue organizations.

Animals make such wonderful companions! (Okay, some more than others! )

 

[Aspieistj]

Providing reliable health care and decent food to a pet is costly. The recipient, beside having to provide consistent care to the pet, would have to live a stable life with a place for the pet to live in safety. Severe meltdowns may be soothed by the company of a pet but could the recipient always be able emotionally and monetarily, to care for the pet? This sounds cold, but both the Aspie and the animal need advocates.

 

[Muktownmaniac]

I think this is a great idea (I've been trying to find a way to get a dog myself) but needs some minor modification to become more realistic. I think if rather than circumventin the adoption process (which we csn already do just the same as any NT) IF we were to set up some sort of scheduled play date with the animals that would work out well for both parties. You could have a rep from the animal shelter present the whole time or after a screening process you could set up a, for lack of better words, pet lending program. I think for the latter we would need to adopt the pets ourselves (or set up our own organization) and then "lend" the animals out on our own. At this point I would consider them service animals and should get them involved in that whole shabang. I certainly like the idea n would be up for helping make it hsppen. (I've been looking for a noble cause as of late to give my life more of a purpose and this sounds awesome) we definitely need to think this one threw tho

Does anyone have or know people who have experience working with service animals and/or service animals going out into the community and working with people who need their help?

 

[SignOfLazarus]

Finding a place that needs their animals to be socialized can be helpful- the animals need to understand how to be social and the volunteers to socialize them spend time with them.

 

[SignOfLazarus]

Lnding animals out would be very bad for them.

 

[Beverly]

On the surface it sounds like a good idea but, taking in an animal is a huge responsibility. The animal needs training, food, medical care, proper housing and containment. All of that costs money, money a person on a fixed income may not have.

On top of that, many rental homes do not allow pets or, if they do a deposit is required. Shelters generally require the prospective owner to have a vet lined up for the animal, and screen applicants to be sure the home is suitable for the pet.

If the person adopting the animal has other health issues, who will care for the pet when they are temporarily unable to do so? Who will take the pet to the vet, or even out for exercise if the person is too anxious to even do that?

 

[ancusmitis]

Lending animals out would be very bad for them.

I think this is a good point. Pets are usually mammals, which as a class need a chance to form relationships. I don't have any direct experience with rescues, but according to the people I know who adopt them, they need close care and a lot of love but most of all they need someone they can trust.

I think you should view anything with a brain as having the potential to be traumatized, and thereafter needing the same sort of consideration as humans who have also undergone traumatic events. It takes a long time to earn the trust of someone who has been hurt. Animals are the same way.

 

[Epicurean Pariah]

Now for something entirely different ! I offer this crazy idea, or is this a dedicated thread?
I am positive this is a time worn thought of every person here.
The little woman has to go in for a mammogram soon.
If I had to have a testicular exam the way women get a breast exam............

 

[Epicurean Pariah]

Finding a place that needs their animals to be socialized can be helpful- the animals need to understand how to be social and the volunteers to socialize them spend time with them.

Perhaps pets do not need to be socially savvy, they are simply Aspers in fur coat disguises, looking for a caring and nurturing,( spellcheck says neutering), forum.
AC ,Animals Central

 

[Epicurean Pariah]

Providing reliable health care and decent food to a pet is costly. The recipient, beside having to provide consistent care to the pet, would have to live a stable life with a place for the pet to live in safety. Severe meltdowns may be soothed by the company of a pet but could the recipient always be able emotionally and monetarily, to care for the pet? This sounds cold, but both the Aspie and the animal need advocates.

I am not sure about this, but I think; many meltdowns could be soothed by following the Willie Nelson tour bus, as it drives through your town on the way to the next gig.

 

[Major]

I got a dog from a shelter after a 2 hour interview (with my husband i just played with the dog the whole time) The idea of having a pet is awesome. The responsibility is way more than you could know until you bring one home. After 6 months we had to bring the dog back in and it was heart breaking. Just wanting and liking a pet isn't enough. I love animals. I didn't know how hard training a dog would be when I got him of course. His name was Walker. He was a tree walking coon hound and his howl was amazing. He did get into a home after 4 days but it still broke my heart to lose him.

 

[Mia]

Shelter animals like cats and dogs usually take some time to acclimatize to new surroundings. They are more connected to their territory than humans are, the scents and smells and environment. It would work for a foster animal to have a connection with someone, but if the bond didn't work, they would be returned to the shelter, confusing the animal. Many pets that end up at shelters are there for so many different reasons, and it seems as if it would be difficult to find one that would form a bond very quickly.

I think the idea of cat cafe's in Japan works for both the animals and the people who visit them. The cats have a stable environment, a home, food, place to sleep and people who interact with them on a regular basis. Don't know if moving animals from place to place wouldn't make them nervous and guarded to some extent.

 

[SignOfLazarus]

Perhaps pets do not need to be socially savvy, they are simply Aspers in fur coat disguises, looking for a caring and nurturing,( spellcheck says neutering), forum.
AC ,Animals Central

Well- socializing as in learning how to interact with people and other animals with the understanding that, for example, humans are not enemies who want to take their food. Well "socialized" [domesticated] animals are generally happier and healthier, last long and tend to avoid conflicts [fights/bites] which means THEY are safer too.

 

[Epicurean Pariah]

Well- socializing as in learning how to interact with people and other animals with the understanding that, for example, humans are not enemies who want to take their food. Well "socialized" [domesticated] animals are generally happier and healthier, last long and tend to avoid conflicts [fights/bites] which means THEY are safer too.

SoL, I am sure your correct, but I must say as I cook my breakfast of a fine blend of Alpo canned dog good with Hamburger Helper, that my dog can't wait to lick my bowl clean when I am finished. If he interrupts my meal we have conflicts [fights and bites].

 

[SignOfLazarus]

SoL, I am sure your correct, but I must say as I cook my breakfast of a fine blend of Alpo canned dog good with Hamburger Helper, that my dog can't wait to lick my bowl clean when I am finished. If he interrupts my meal we have conflicts [fights and bites].

That's just confusing.

 

[Tom]

But really all you have to do is do an online search for adopting pets. Its a very easy process and its well organized and run by responsible people. You can pick what kind and how far your willing to travel to pick it up, or even arrange delivery from a far shelter to a close one. The average cost is around $400 for a dog, but you get it up to date on shots and neutered.

I used to search for female Chihuahuas and Chihuahua mixes with 100 miles and would get several hundred dogs to pick from.

If your determined to look into a special program for Autistics you might see how Pets for Vets is set up.

 

[tree]

Now for something entirely different ! I offer this crazy idea, or is this a dedicated thread?
I am positive this is a time worn thought of every person here.
The little woman has to go in for a mammogram soon.
If I had to have a testicular exam the way women get a breast exam............

Reality Check.
No, not every person here equates
a testicular exam with
a boob mash.

Although, now that
you mention it, I think there would be
(even) fewer men going for the
procedure, if it were done the same way.

 

[Mia]

a boob mash.

Although, now that
you mention it, I think there would be
(even) fewer men going for the
procedure, if it were done the same way.

A boob mash is a perfect description for what happens during a mammogram. Thrown-up my lunch after one that was so painful that I barely made it outside. There has got to be a better way. Wouldn't surprise me to learn that mammograms cause tissue damage that leads to other difficulties.