* Tethering a child to even a trained service dog is not recommended by many service dog organizations, although others maintain that if done the way Christine did it, with an adult maintaining control of the dog at all times, it’s safe for the dog and the child. The website of the organization Autism Speaks explains the problem with the way the practice is often done: “Tethering a dog to a child can be extremely dangerous. Like any animal, a service dog can panic under stress, resulting in tragedy for both the child and dog. While some agencies claim they can train dogs to stop children from leaving a home or yard, dogs are not appropriate babysitters.”