My daughter Kaila is 12 years old and was adopted through foster care. She has faced more challenges than most children her age, living with Autism (with a PDA profile), ADHD, and PANDAS. These diagnoses bring extreme anxiety and have led to significant school trauma, so Kaila is now home-schooled and receives six hours of ABA therapy every day. Despite her resilience, Kaila struggles with independence due to Pathological Demand Avoidance (PDA), a nervous system disability rooted in overwhelming anxiety.

At home, Kaila finds comfort in our family pet, Boomer, who helps her regulate her nervous system. However, Boomer is not suitable to be trained as a service dog, especially for public situations, as he is anxious and overprotective. We recently consulted with a professional trainer who agreed that Boomer would not be a good fit. Instead, the trainer recommended a specially trained Labrador from a kennel in Southern Indiana. The plan is to purchase the dog from the kennel and then have the trainer provide the specialized training Kaila needs. The cost for the dog, training, and associated expenses is more than we can afford on our own.

A trained service dog would be life-changing for Kaila. The dog will be able to provide deep pressure by laying over her during moments of overwhelm, create space for her in crowds by circling her, and even lead her out of overwhelming situations. At home, the dog can close doors and retrieve items when Kaila’s demand avoidance is high. This support will help her gain the independence and emotional regulation she has never had before. When people donate to Kaila’s service dog, they are helping her achieve a new level of freedom and confidence. Our family, and especially Kaila, will be so grateful for any support you can give.