What should I do with my dog?

My dog is 6 years old and I’ve had her all her life. I’ve got two kids, 3 and 1 and my 3 year old is autistic, although not “formally” diagnosed because they don’t do that until school age, his pediatrician and occupational therapist more or less have confirmed it. Anyway, he doesn’t like the dog. He doesn’t see her as a living being and he will chase her and scare her because he likes when she runs away with her tail between her legs. I have TRIED my hardest to get him to recognize she has feelings, but he just does not get it, and will even hit or kick her. His therapist has tried helping too but she said he is not connecting that his behavior is harming her.

Needless to say my dog is miserable. She hates being inside and stays outside all day. I let her in when he naps, and at night, or if it’s raining. But she is terrified to be around him and has even snapped at him a few times. She’s VERY patient and typically just takes the harassment which is so sad.

My husband thinks we should rehome her. But I don’t know, because as our son gets older maybe he will start to recognize that she’s alive and he needs to be kind to her? What would you do? She currently stays in our office as her “safe” room because I’m able to lock it with a key and my son can’t get in. But she’s alone all day pretty much, either outside or in the office. No interaction. Unfortunately he can get around or open any type of baby gate I buy.