Interview with Megan Brimner, the handler of “Hank,” AKC Humane Fund ACE Award Winner – Service Dog.
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Megan Brimner: We were introduced to K9’s For Kids through an acquaintance. We had been on the lookout for organizations that provide Service Dogs. We had started the application process and had asked his BSC (Behavioral Specialist Consultant) and his first-grade teacher to fill out references for us. His teacher, Mrs. McAlistar, was aware of a family in our school district who had obtained a Service Dog through K9’s for Kids and she got us in contact with them.
Megan Brimner: Harrison’s life looks complet ely different with Hank in it. Harrison could not go to the grocery store. That was his biggest trigger due to the lights and sounds and just overstimulation of it all. Now he is able to shop, actually taking the time to pick preferred things off the shelves himself. He is even learning how to complete the checkout process using the card machine and bagging groceries. Before Hank, Harrison couldn’t really tolerate car rides. Since our training, the car isn’t so scary for him and we took a day trip to West Virginia last fall. Eating in a restaurant was also something that we weren’t able to do before Hank. Now he is a pro!
Megan Brimner: Hank is always on guard. There is very rarely a time where you see Harrison without Hank in tow. In the summer, when the boys are playing outside, if Hank isn’t joining in he’s watching their every move. He always has an eye on both of our boys. He is a loyal companion and friend for Harrison.
Megan Brimner: Harrison’s life has vastly improved because of Hank being in his life. Harrison, due to his inability to communicate verbally, struggled for many years with aggression. The only way he could communicate his anger and frustration was to act out physically, whether biting, kicking, or pinching. Since Hank came to us, it started to decrease little by little until it has completely gone away. Hank is also a Tracking Dog. Harrison has eloped from our home in the past, most notably on Mother’s Day 2016. We were loading up to take the boys to my Mom’s house for dinner and we looked away for one second while securing our youngest in the car seat. Harrison walked about a quarter mile to his bus stop that he had just started using to go to preschool. It was the scariest moment of my life, but luckily, had a happy ending. We had door alarms and a fence installed shortly after, but since Hank, Harrison hasn’t even attempted to leave our yard. If he did, though, Hank is trained to alert us, follow if he goes, and if he doesn’t, Hank can track him by scent. So, this has definitely been a life changer and has given all of us peace of mind.
Megan Brimner: I believe if people knew of the good that Service Dogs can do for people with autism, so many more people would have them. I just feel like, in our situation, I had a feeling that it would be beneficial but didn’t know all the ways that our life would change because of Hank. I thought that the companionship would be a plus and if other things improved because of it, then great. Hank completely changed Harrison’s life, so I hope our story sheds some light on just how much a Service Dog can help a person with Autism.
American Kennel Club (AKC)
Maple the English Springer Spaniel earns the AKC Humane Fund ACE Award for Search & Rescue Human Detection with handler Sue Stejskal.
