A dispute over ownership of a companion dog for a Texas boy with autism ended this week with a settlement that permanently returns Secret, a 2-year-old female Labrador retriever, to the Colorado non-profit that trained her.
Disco’s Dogs Inc., which placed the dog with the family nearly a year ago, grew concerned when Secret’s behavior turned skittish. The Centennial-based organization, which trains rescue dogs to help children with Autism-related differences, eventually filed a lawsuit to remove her from the home.
Under terms of the settlement, Disco’s Dogs agreed to drop damage claims, while the family dropped ownership claims to the dog.
Disco’s Dogs placed Secret with Julie Bradshaw’s family in Leander, Texas, last August as a companion for Bradshaw’s son, who has autism. But the organization grew concerned when Bradshaw’s online posts broached the possibility of the dog accompanying the boy to school.
Laura Edwards, president of the non-profit, noted that the dog hadn’t been trained for a school setting and later grew concerned by Bradshaw’s descriptions of Secret’s behavior, which included growling at another of her sons.
Fearing that the behavior could lead to harming the kids, which could then trigger the dog’s demise, Edwards suggested evaluation and further training. Bradshaw said she “kind of shut down” after feeling bullied to return the dog and stopped communicating with Edwards.
Eventually, Disco’s Dogs filed the lawsuit seeking to reclaim Secret. Bradshaw started a GoFundMe page to raise money to defend the court action.
The non-profit secured a court order to return the dog to Colorado pending the outcome of the lawsuit. It was placed with a foster family in Centennial.
At a hearing in early June, an Arapahoe County District Court judge ordered the parties to mediation, and the settlement followed a few weeks later.
“It was a very emotionally charged lawsuit,” said Daniel Vedra, who represented the Texas family. “They haven’t found another dog. It’s difficult for somebody who doesn’t have a lot of money to find a dog when she’s dealing with a special-needs child. I think they will find one, but it’s not likely that will be anytime soon.”
It’s not clear yet whether Secret, whose behavior grew tentative and fearful, could ever return to life as a companion for kids with autism.
“She’s definitely feeling better, but it’s still not known if she’ll be put into service again,” said Juliet Piccone, the attorney representing Disco’s Dogs. “This settlement is the best way for everyone to move on and start healing.”