- S
- K
Leia is our oldest daughter of 5 years. She loves ice skating, Disney princesses, and everything else a little girl would. She is so precious to us and brings nothing but joy to our lives. However, she faces a lot of challenges in her life and we face them with her.
At the age of 3 she was diagnosed with autism. Since then, we have had therapists in and out of our home every single day to help her (and us) with communicating and understanding the world around her. We discovered just how smart and capable she is through all of this but it can still seem like Leia is in a world of her own. Between scripting, sensory issues, and many other things, Leia struggles greatly with her environment. We have spent so much time looking for answers to the problems we face. Then, we heard about service dogs.
Most people know about service dogs helping the deaf and blind, but they can also be trained to help those with mental illnesses or have trouble coping with the outside world.
In Leia's case, a service dog can provide safety in public places. It can corral her if she wanders off in the store or guide her to her classroom in school. The dog is also a good companion. When she feels overwhelmed or has a meltdown, the dog can calm her down. Most importantly, a service dog can go everywhere she goes. As parents, we wish we could be with her at all times but unfortunately we cannot. A service dog is able to go anywhere she goes; even if regular pets are not allowed.
All money donated will go towards the dog. Although a normal pet would cost around $300, a service dog can cost upwards of $20,000. This covers the cost of breeding the dog, normal care, and training for specific services.
We have been greatly blessed so far by having our initial downpayment covered by some of our closest friends. This smaller amount has already paid for the purchase of the dog. The other $15,000 we are funding will cover the training. The total amount will not be due until about a year from the start of this campaign, when the dog is fully trained.
We would like to thank everyone in advance for any amount donated. We greatly appreciate all support. Remember, this isn't really about a dog. We are trying to give the best life we can to our little girl. Thank you so much!
At the age of 3 she was diagnosed with autism. Since then, we have had therapists in and out of our home every single day to help her (and us) with communicating and understanding the world around her. We discovered just how smart and capable she is through all of this but it can still seem like Leia is in a world of her own. Between scripting, sensory issues, and many other things, Leia struggles greatly with her environment. We have spent so much time looking for answers to the problems we face. Then, we heard about service dogs.
Most people know about service dogs helping the deaf and blind, but they can also be trained to help those with mental illnesses or have trouble coping with the outside world.
In Leia's case, a service dog can provide safety in public places. It can corral her if she wanders off in the store or guide her to her classroom in school. The dog is also a good companion. When she feels overwhelmed or has a meltdown, the dog can calm her down. Most importantly, a service dog can go everywhere she goes. As parents, we wish we could be with her at all times but unfortunately we cannot. A service dog is able to go anywhere she goes; even if regular pets are not allowed.
All money donated will go towards the dog. Although a normal pet would cost around $300, a service dog can cost upwards of $20,000. This covers the cost of breeding the dog, normal care, and training for specific services.
We have been greatly blessed so far by having our initial downpayment covered by some of our closest friends. This smaller amount has already paid for the purchase of the dog. The other $15,000 we are funding will cover the training. The total amount will not be due until about a year from the start of this campaign, when the dog is fully trained.
We would like to thank everyone in advance for any amount donated. We greatly appreciate all support. Remember, this isn't really about a dog. We are trying to give the best life we can to our little girl. Thank you so much!