Autism Superhero Dog Needed
Donation protected
Hi! I'm Christine. I have two children on the autism spectrum. My daughter, Catherine, though high functioning, is more severely affected than my son and suffers with debilitating anxiety an sensory challenges out there in the everyday world. Everyday outings and events for her can be extremely challenging.
Catherine is 11 1/2 years old, loves animals and wants to be a biologist when she grows up.
When Catherine was five years old I adopted a beagle who we named Darwin and went through public and private training with him to become Catherine's Autism Service Dog (or her "Superhero Dog" as she would come to call him). Here she is with him when she was five years old at a pumpkin patch - her world got bigger.
I will never forget the first time we went to one of her nearly weekly (Catherine has many other health issues) doctor appointments with Darwin. Normally, Catherine would scream and refuse to get on the examination table, would be terrified of the blood pressure cuff and fight the nurse and doctor to get it on. With Darwin by her side she walked right into the room, hopped up on the table, and calmly stuck her arm out for the nurse. The doctor couldn't believe she was the same child. This is what an Autism Service Dog can do. They can make a child's word, bigger, brighter, less scary, and just plain more manageable for them.
Sadly, Darwin has had to retire his working duties. He's gotten a lot older and has arthritis too severely to go out on the job anymore. He gets to be at home now and keep the couch warm (we're sure the couch appreciates it). Catherine is feeling the loss of her "Superhero Dog" at her side. She is starting to go through puberty now and so there's a lot of challenges now and on the road ahead for us as a family. It's time to train a new "Superhero Dog" for Catherine.
After a LOT of research we have decided that a Goldendoodle (that's a half Golden Retriever, half Poodle) would be the best choice for her next service dog. They are extremely smart, extremely trainable and have a fantastic track record for service and therapy dogs. Since they are a mixed breed they are also quite healthy. Goldendoodles are also hypoallergenic, which means we are not inflicting allergies on folks when we are out and about, and they don't shed or shed very little. All of these traits make them a wonderful choice for a dog that goes to public places where dogs are usually not allowed to go. I have found a local family breeder who has the puppies inside her home with her family and are well socialized from day one, which gives us a great head start!
The funds would go towards the purchase of the puppy, some of the vet expenses and the training courses needed for him or her to be a "Superhero Dog" for Catherine. Ideally, we would have raised the funds in the next couple of months so we can start on the training this summer with the puppy.
There are places that we can be on a wait list for a service dog for free, but there is no guarantee we would get one and it's generally a TWO YEAR wait. There are other places that furnish a fully trained dog but those are MANY THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS. We had great success as a family getting a dog and training it ourselves with help and can do so again. I know a LOT about dogs and animals and this is not outside of my ability or comfort zone. We have done it before and are excited at the chance to help our daughter and do it again!
If you have $1, $5, $20 or just a moment of your time to SPREAD this on your SOCIAL MEDIA accounts, you can help make a little girls world a bigger, brighter and happier place full of much more possibilities. Please donate if you can, or SHARE our story. Sharing our story with families or loved ones you may know with autism could be a wonderful gift to them - many people don't know what a miracle a service dog could be for their child. Share our story and help them find out! THANK YOU for your time and blessings to you and yours!
Catherine is 11 1/2 years old, loves animals and wants to be a biologist when she grows up.
When Catherine was five years old I adopted a beagle who we named Darwin and went through public and private training with him to become Catherine's Autism Service Dog (or her "Superhero Dog" as she would come to call him). Here she is with him when she was five years old at a pumpkin patch - her world got bigger.
I will never forget the first time we went to one of her nearly weekly (Catherine has many other health issues) doctor appointments with Darwin. Normally, Catherine would scream and refuse to get on the examination table, would be terrified of the blood pressure cuff and fight the nurse and doctor to get it on. With Darwin by her side she walked right into the room, hopped up on the table, and calmly stuck her arm out for the nurse. The doctor couldn't believe she was the same child. This is what an Autism Service Dog can do. They can make a child's word, bigger, brighter, less scary, and just plain more manageable for them.
Sadly, Darwin has had to retire his working duties. He's gotten a lot older and has arthritis too severely to go out on the job anymore. He gets to be at home now and keep the couch warm (we're sure the couch appreciates it). Catherine is feeling the loss of her "Superhero Dog" at her side. She is starting to go through puberty now and so there's a lot of challenges now and on the road ahead for us as a family. It's time to train a new "Superhero Dog" for Catherine.
After a LOT of research we have decided that a Goldendoodle (that's a half Golden Retriever, half Poodle) would be the best choice for her next service dog. They are extremely smart, extremely trainable and have a fantastic track record for service and therapy dogs. Since they are a mixed breed they are also quite healthy. Goldendoodles are also hypoallergenic, which means we are not inflicting allergies on folks when we are out and about, and they don't shed or shed very little. All of these traits make them a wonderful choice for a dog that goes to public places where dogs are usually not allowed to go. I have found a local family breeder who has the puppies inside her home with her family and are well socialized from day one, which gives us a great head start!
The funds would go towards the purchase of the puppy, some of the vet expenses and the training courses needed for him or her to be a "Superhero Dog" for Catherine. Ideally, we would have raised the funds in the next couple of months so we can start on the training this summer with the puppy.
There are places that we can be on a wait list for a service dog for free, but there is no guarantee we would get one and it's generally a TWO YEAR wait. There are other places that furnish a fully trained dog but those are MANY THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS. We had great success as a family getting a dog and training it ourselves with help and can do so again. I know a LOT about dogs and animals and this is not outside of my ability or comfort zone. We have done it before and are excited at the chance to help our daughter and do it again!
If you have $1, $5, $20 or just a moment of your time to SPREAD this on your SOCIAL MEDIA accounts, you can help make a little girls world a bigger, brighter and happier place full of much more possibilities. Please donate if you can, or SHARE our story. Sharing our story with families or loved ones you may know with autism could be a wonderful gift to them - many people don't know what a miracle a service dog could be for their child. Share our story and help them find out! THANK YOU for your time and blessings to you and yours!
Organizer
Christine Rogers
Organizer
Sacramento, CA
