Hi, I’m Hope Scott and I’m raising money for a service dog for my son, Grayson. Grayson is a 10-year-old who loves Legos, soccer, and claw machines. He struggles with math, reading, and writing but enjoys science. He collects rocks, and likes to sell snacks door to door in our neighborhood. Grayson can be super social, funny, and adventurous. Due to various challenges, Grayson's had a very difficult year. He’s been hospitalized six times and seen a number of specialists. I’d like to share more, but I’d also like to be respectful of his privacy. Some of you may already be surprised reading this. Maintaining his privacy versus soliciting the help we need is a narrow balance beam.

We’ve been searching for answers since Grayson was 3. He’s been asked to leave five preschools, multiple summer camps and afterschool programs, and a private school for kids with special needs. We’ve tried homeopathy, a naturopath, DNA testing with custom supplements, a neurofunctional chiropractor, special clothing, and tested for food allergy. Grayson's tried five different play therapists, occupational therapy, many evaluations and testing, western medicine, followed by both inpatient and outpatient programs. I’ve driven all over Dallas for hours a week for these appointments while trying to hold down a full-time job. We’ve read books, attended parenting classes, sought pastoral care, and attended support groups. We’ve applied for grants and searched out mentors. We’ve transferred schools and paid for thousands of dollars of private tutoring. We’ve lost thousands of dollars paying for programs that he was asked to leave because he was “not a good fit.” I can’t count the number of nights I’ve been awake in tears praying for answers.

When I last visited Grayson in the hospital, I asked him what would help. He surprised me with “a service dog.” I gotta be honest. This had not been on my radar! The thought of one more thing to take care of was quite daunting. But y’all, we are desperate. So I started looking into service dog organizations. I found several establishments that provide dogs to kids with autism and other disabilities, but the waitlists are years long. One organization I looked at has a five-year process! Many of them require an application by the kid’s 7th birthday. Then I found Janis at Pro K9 LLC, through one of my moms’ groups.

I was immediately impressed that her business is also her ministry. Janis has an intuitive sense of how animals can help with depression, anxiety, and many practical tasks as well. She told me success stories of her puppies who have gone to various homes in the area. Janis recommended dual-certifying the dog for a parent to keep him or her working all day. We talked about how stabilization could be for the whole family, not just for Grayson. The best news of all is that Janis has puppies in training that will be ready in 5-6 months. The dog would be matched to our family and trained for our specific needs. So, I did a thing. I took a leap of faith and put down the $5,000 deposit for the new puppy who will truly be providing a life-giving service to our family! Pictured above is the Goldendoodle that Janis thinks may be the best match for Grayson, but this could change.

The overwhelming news is that our service dog is a $25,575 investment. This does not include the ongoing maintenance and training expenses that I will be taking on. (And insurance! I’m terrified of having a $25k dog!) Service dogs are not your average pet. They take a tremendous amount of training and will come equipped for our specific circumstances and needs. We are grateful to find a local lifeline that is just $25k. In researching this, other organizations can charge $40-60k! (I also found some options for training your own service dog, but I don’t have an ounce of capacity right now.)

This is where I’m asking for your help. I have a dream for Grayson, that he can find peace and feel like he belongs. I want my son to recognize and hone his God-given talents, even though his brain works differently. I pray he can grow his tolerance for discomfort, and lean in to embrace his calling. I crave peace and stability for our broken family. I long to see progress for the blood, sweat, and tears we’ve invested, even if it’s just baby steps.

Can you partner with me in this dream? This dog was an unplanned expense in a myriad of other mounting bills. Can you help, even if it’s just $5 and some prayers for our family? Can you share this with your network? If you know any organizations with grants for this type of situation, would you send me their info? We know it takes a village, and we are so appreciative of everyone who has stepped in with prayers, support, and encouragement this last year. Thank you for taking the time to read this and for your consideration in this heartfelt matter.