Service Dog for Callie!

Hello! We are the Schrott's - David, EJ, Callie and Maximus. Callie has Down syndrome with a Sensory Processing Disorder. She is being evaluated and tested for ADHD and Autism, in addition to Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis, Cervical Spine Instability and being treated for Obstructive Sleep Apnea. She was recently diagnosed with generalized anxiety due to her struggle to regulate the stimulation she receives from her external environment. Her anxiety manifests in multiple ways, such as running away, hiding, kicking, hitting, using noise-canceling headphones, body brushing, closing herself up in a blackout room with a flashlight and other sensory-seeking behaviors. Due to her OSA, we are pursuing palate expansion and are praying this won't ignite new sensory issues.

Her "casual eloping" has become a matter of safety. We have been told to provide her with a Service Animal to prevent eloping (running away) and assist in self-regulation. After rigorous research and speaking with Service Dog program trainers, we have found our 8-week-old Labradoodle puppy, Winnie! She comes home on Saturday, November 5th, and we are beyond excited!

We received our letter of approval to obtain a Service Animal on Monday, October 24, 2022. We were placed with our puppy on Saturday, October 29th! All of this has happened rapidly, and while it's been a whirlwind, it has been a truly blessed experience. God has provided the exact amount of finances needed each day for deposits and supplies that have come up.

These next few weeks will be a great adventure for our family! As we adjust to our new life with a puppy, which is a big transition in and of itself, we will also be training, socializing and educating Winnie to prepare her for her Work. We hope to keep you updated as best we can, given the challenges of this new normal.