Connor's Quest Unleashed

My name is Kelly Damon. This page is dedicated to my son Connor, the sweetest and kindest little boy I know.

Connor was diagnosed in April 2023 with autism. For those of you who don’t know him first-hand, Connor’s speech delay (first diagnosed around 18 months old) makes it difficult for him to express his thoughts, feelings, wants, and needs. He has trouble relating to kids his age as well as adults of all kinds. Staying focused and calm is a challenge for him, and he has trouble completing tasks from start to finish.

One deep connection Connor and I share is our love of animals, and my career as a veterinarian shows me every day how strong the human-animal bond can be.

Our goal for Connor is to find him a service dog to help him with the ups and downs of life. We’ve started applications to six different programs, and once we choose one (or one chooses us), we will be raising funds for the dog. This is a lengthy process and can take up to three years for a dog to be bred, raised, trained, and matched. His dog will most likely be a golden retriever, labrador retriever, or a standard poodle (or poodle mix). Any additional money we raise beyond the cost of the dog will be donated to the same program to help out other families that haven't met their goals. Stayed tuned for updates as we navigate this adventure!

You can follow along on Facebook as well - our page has the same name, "Connors Quest Unleashed", and we will be posting updates and photos.