Service Dog Fund - Pierce Beaumont

Updated 2/12/18:  Pierce has a big interest in elemental magic and once we found out his service dog was going to be a boy, we decided to call him Merlin.  We did like Pika, but Merlin seems a better name for Pierce's new campanion!

The URL has been updated and we look forward to welcoming Merlin to Minnesota this summer.

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Pierce finally qualifies for a Autism Service Dog!  We are naming him/her "Pika" and can't wait to welcome our new family member.  (Yes, as in Pikachu from Pokemon.)

 We are at the fund-raising part of the process, and are asking for donations to help us bring Pika home. Initially, we need to raise $3,000.  This will allow for mom and Pierce to travel to North Carolina and meet the staff that will be training Pica, determine which breed will work best for him, and to put the training deposit down.  We would like to raise this by February 14, 2017,  so that Pierce can be placed on the official waiting list and to show that we are committed to the dog.

After that, we will have time to raise the additional $7,000 needed to cover the intensive and personalized training of Pika, to visit him/her, and to bring him/her home, along with a trainer, to help us settle Pika in at home and at school.

Our goal is to have a dog for Pierce as he transitions from 8th grade into 9th (high school) in 2018, and to provide him constant companionship for when he has difficulities managing his autism related issues.  The school district we are in are on board and can't wait to have a dog in school with Pierce.

Four areas that will be focused on:

1.  Deep pressure when Pierce is upset.  The dog will be trained to put his/her paws on his shoulders and get him to lie down so the dog can lie on him and calm him down.
2.  Help Pierce go to sleep and stay in his own bed each night.  (What is better than a big warm dog in bed with you to help you sleep better??)
3.  Re-direct when stimming or self harming.
4.  Provide a "barrier" of safety when talking to new people or when in new and unfamiliar places.

5.  Bonus:  Provide mom some personal space when relaxing.  He is a space invader!



We thank you in advance for your help and will keep everyone updated on the progress of bringing home Pica!

Pierce, Shelley, Peter, Karly, and Belle Beaumont