My heart goes out to you.  I cannot fathom having three little ones AND having to learn about autism...Autism is what is known as a "spectrum disorder" with so many varying degrees and symptoms.  It is in fact a blessing you have the opportunity for early intervention, it TRULY makes a world of difference and  can greatly improve prognosis/future functioning.  Respectfully I would like to say this to everyone:  this is a gut-wrenching decision, but it would be better to address the situation now rather than 3-5-8 years from now.  My nephew (15) is autistic.  He is EXTREMELY sensitive to sound.  His first encounter with my Daisy, she barked at him and let's just say it didn't go well and was EXTREMELY stressful for the duration of the visit.  She scared him to death (he is 6'2 - she, 13 lbs.)  he also has a tendency to react violently on occasion, so we were constantly on edge trying to keep both safe...With a child so young, a diagnosis like this isn't really set in stone, and can change/improve, etc.  But if later there are some sensitivities (sound, etc.repetition) it is probably less stressful, safer for all involved if decisions are made now.  thank you for listening

Julie

If you tell a shelter that they will probably euthanize her as being agressive.  Some rescues won't take a dog that has bitten children either.  She really shouldn't have been kept in this home as long as she was because it was no win situation with the autistic child and her....actually the child will be ok (I'm sure the bite was not serious) but the rattie is in danger of being PTS over this.

My saying this may offend people, don't really care as I'm here for the dogs.  We need to see if we can help this rattie....

I PM'd her a while back with all my info and never heard from her.  We quite possibly could help but she needs to respond to me. 

Someone be sure to keep us all up to date on this story. She looks like such a sweet girl. Reivat thank you for coming back. Please understand that in our minds we would rather help the dog stay with it's original family first so we try suggestions in that direction. Of course we know you love your dog and this must be tearing you apart. I have three kids of my own so I understand that aspect. Anyway....thank you for coming back and accepting help through ratbones. Best of luck to you. Hey....maybe someday....when the kiddos are older........

Update:

Killer has found a home.  A couple who lives near me in KS lost their rattie recently in an attack by a german shepard.  They where looking for another rattie to help them ease the pain.  They have no kids and seem to be a perfect home for her.  They will be picking her up next week sometime.  If for some reason it does not work out for them to keep her they have agreed to give her back to my family.  Lets just hope this works out best for everyone.

I'm really glad killer found a new home i hope you got a little helpful information on this site I began posting here a short time ago but after looking around a little and seeing the this appears to be a very tight knit group to the exclusion of strangers. Excuse me if I offend anyone but I have seen quite a few posts where it seems likes you are all attacking people who have problems they are seeking your help and do not have to tell you every little bit of their personal lives they DO NOT owe you any explanation other than the one they give in the beginning.

I take offense to this. The reason we are a close knit group has a lot to do with rescue and some of the stories that people put on here about getting rid of their dogs. There was even an instance where a dog got put down and we could have helped. I cannot count the number of dogs that were helped through this site and the wonderful Ratbones people who open their homes, hearts and arms to dogs they never met but people throw away. Maybe this wasn't the case here but stick around and see how many people come on just to get rid of their dogs, like they are meaningless. We do not ask every bit about their personal life but would like more than "someone take my dog" OH and then some even ask for a rehoming fee.  Problems are different than throwing away your dog, and having done so much in rescue you do start to get extremely irrated to folks who don't make their dogs a lifelong commitment. In this case, I am very sorry for this lady and her children, especially with an autistic child. I think the members on here truly helped and realized the situation, but YES sometimes an explanation is needed.

So glad that you updated us on Killer. I wish you all the best. I am keeping my mouth shut on the rest of this.

Meh.  I'm a n00b on this site and I doubt anyone has asked as many questions as I have, seeking help with Murphy.  I've gotten lots of good advice and worthwhile opinions.  Some folks are a little assertive but it is easy to see that their heart is in the right place.  And I felt very welcome from day one... enough so that I make it a point to cruise the site just for fun.  

No, you don't owe anyone any explaination, but when you come around asking for advice, a little circumstantual explaination can certainly help others sympathize with your situation and understand better.  It's just a honey or vinegar thing, you know.

Wrong.  We are a tight group but we readily accept new members.  And yes, if people appear and ask for help and/or advice then yes, they do owe us a little bit of the background on the issue.  Otherwise we can't help them as well! Duh! 

Stick around and you might "get it".  We've seen too many people throw dogs away, allow them to be euthanized, etc.  And we are, after all, a rat terrier forum so we love these dogs!

Hi Donna, just got back on here a couple of days ago and have been checking past posts, etc. Where in Central Florida are you hon. Phil and I have moved from Miami to Palm Bay/Melbourne area. I was wondering how close we may be and if we could maybe do a meet up after we get settled in the new house. Hope I'll hear from you.

Reiavt: I'm glad you were able to find a home for your pup. Wishing you and yours all the best.

Buddy'smommy: Hon, I don't know what made you feel that way. I joined this site in November 07 and have been welcomed with open arms and open hearts. I have tried to help several people who needed  a home for their dog so it wouldn't have to go to a shelter, I and others on this site tried to help one pup and its owner get a necessary emergency surgery done. Everytime it has come back with attitudes like yours. We love ALL ratties not just our own and the people here want to do everything they can to help ratties in need. Offense has been taken to your comments and that is as it should be. The wonderful people here open not only their arms and their hearts but their wallets for these precious dogs. I don't know how you dare to say such things about this group. The people here go above and beyond the call of any kind of duty to help these dogs. From pulling from kill shelters, to transport, adoption help, and financial help. Without this site I wouldn't have found my beloved Cameo or gotten to know the dearest lady who sponsered her spaying and gave her her beautiful name. I wouldn't have known about Ratbone Rescues if it hadn't been for this site. My Cameo wouldn't even be alive today if not for Ratbone, her mother was to be put to sleep in a shelter, pregnant with 5 pups on the way. Then she was saved by a miracle and her and her pups have wonderful lives now, lives they would not have had if not for Ratbone and the people who support them. This site and these people gave me a chance to own another beautiful dog, they suffered with me through my Rattagan's surgery, the wait to adopt Cameo, they have shared their lives and their furbabies with me and it is a tremendous INSULT for you to talk about such great people like that. I hope you will hang around and learn what this site is really about. It is not an exclusionary club, but we do like to understand situations before we volunteer information. You need details before you or anyone can help another person do whatever it is they are trying to do. We just don't like to see what should be a precious member of the family, dumped like an old wore out shoe. Our first thought is to do what is right to help the dog, the worry for the people comes secondary because they can think and speak and act for themselves these poor dogs have no voice and can't tell you what they feel or why they act the way they do. You should be ashamed of yourself, you have been a member of this site for only 9 days, who are you to say what kind of people we are? You haven't been here long enough to know, with 25 posts to your name. Get to know us better before you judge us bad. And remember one thing, hon, Judge not; that ye be not judged, for as you judge others, so shall you be judged. I hope you have a great day.

And one more thing Buddysmommy - don't get Janie riled up!   

 Janie - missed ya girl!!