Woman With Autistic Son Calls Friend Ableist After Refusing To Give Her Positive Reference For Dog Rescue

The woman said that her adult autistic son "sometimes doesn't know how to be gentle."

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Woman With Autistic Son Calls Friend Ableist After Refusing To Give Her Positive Reference For Dog Rescue

Rescuing a dog from a shelter can be one of the most rewarding things in your life. Knowing that you helped your dog transition from a rough living situation into a much more comfortable and happy life is the best feeling in the world. However, this transition is not often easy, considering how many shelter dogs come with serious emotional baggage that can impede the whole process.

This is why people need to be extra careful about what these dogs might be exposed to once they're adopted into their households. The worst thing you could do to these rescues is interfering with their healing process, which could lead to dangerous consequences for all involved parties.

Reddit user u/Expensive_Assist_616 asked the community in the r/AmItheA$$hole subReddit whether they are in the wrong "for refusing to give [THEIR] friend a positive reference for a dog rescue?" after explaining how their friend has an adult autistic son who could potentially mishandle the rescue dog. The Reddit community had a lot of different reactions to OP's post, however, the vast majority agreed on the potential dangers.

Scroll down and read the full original Reddit post with all the details, and if you want to read screenshots of the comments from the original post, just keep on scrolling!

Here's the original Reddit post from u/Expensive_Assist_616:

Here's the original Reddit post from u/Expensive_Assist_616:Reddit

u/Expensive_Assist_616 was unsure whether they did the right thing by refusing to give her a reference.

u/Expensive_Assist_616 was unsure whether they did the right thing by refusing to give her a reference.Reddit

Here's how Reddit users reacted to u/Expensive_Assist_616's situation:

Here's how Reddit users reacted to u/Expensive_Assist_616's situation:Reddit

Adding the kid to the equation makes it even more reasonable.

Adding the kid to the equation makes it even more reasonable. Reddit

They have every right to defend themselves, it's just the way it is.

They have every right to defend themselves, it's just the way it is.Reddit

It seems that it's pretty obvious that she is the one in the wrong, OP's concerns are 100% valid.

It seems that it's pretty obvious that she is the one in the wrong, OP's concerns are 100% valid.Reddit

It's basically a recipe for disaster, you just cannot ignore the potential dangers.

It's basically a recipe for disaster, you just cannot ignore the potential dangers.Reddit

She tried to shame OP into referencing her, which is quite manipulative.

She tried to shame OP into referencing her, which is quite manipulative.Reddit

Yeah, that would be the reasonable thing to do.

Yeah, that would be the reasonable thing to do.Reddit

There are a lot of factors that need to be considered...

There are a lot of factors that need to be considered...Reddit

Well, the mother did say that he "sometimes doesn't know how to be gentle."

Well, the mother did say that he Reddit

That's pretty much the biggest red flag.

That's pretty much the biggest red flag.Reddit

This is also a valid point, you cannot generalize.

This is also a valid point, you cannot generalize.Reddit

Asking more questions would be the way to go in this situation.

Asking more questions would be the way to go in this situation.Reddit

This reference could have bad consequences, and better safe than sorry.

This reference could have bad consequences, and better safe than sorry.Reddit

She could find other alternatives that don't involve her friend at all.

She could find other alternatives that don't involve her friend at all.Reddit

Trained dogs could be more suitable in this situation.

Trained dogs could be more suitable in this situation.Reddit

Dog breeds are different and they all enjoy different things.

Dog breeds are different and they all enjoy different things.Reddit

This should also be put into consideration.

This should also be put into consideration.Reddit

It all depends on the kid's behavior, we need more detail.

It all depends on the kid's behavior, we need more detail.Reddit

It's always better to take precautions.

It's always better to take precautions.Reddit

Special care and attention, so why put it in potential danger.

Special care and attention, so why put it in potential danger.Reddit

It's not ableist, it's just precautionary.

It's not ableist, it's just precautionary. Reddit

It's a legitimate concern about the safety of another being.

It's a legitimate concern about the safety of another being.Reddit

In a world full of injustice and abuse, being extra careful when it comes to making sure that a defenceless animal will be treated properly is very important, because why take that risk? It's always better to be safe than sorry.

Especially considering the fact that shelter animals often come with serious emotional baggage that you cannot just ignore or help worsen. These animals need to be treated properly and gently so they can recover from their terrible past lives, if not, why even bother "rescuing" them if you're not planning to do any rescuing.

According to the information that was provided above, it seems like OP is definitely NTA.

Ayoub