Dear Friends and Supporters,

We invite you to join us on a journey of hope and transformation as we seek to enhance the life of our beloved son, Carter. Carter is a 7-year-old boy who has faced numerous challenges since birth, including diagnoses of Cerebral Palsy, Epilepsy, and Failure to Thrive. Despite these obstacles, Carter possesses a beautiful smile and a personality that touches the hearts of all who know him.

We adopted Carter when he was just 1 year old, and since then, he has filled our lives with immeasurable joy and love. As parents, we are constantly seeking ways to improve Carter's quality of life and provide him with the support he needs to thrive. Recently, we adopted a rescue dog named Ruby, who has quickly become an integral part of our family. Ruby's innate ability to comfort Carter during moments of distress and her unwavering loyalty inspired us to explore the possibility of training her as Carter's service dog.

After a thorough evaluation, both Ruby and Carter have been deemed suitable candidates for service dog training. However, the cost of this training far exceeds our financial means. We believe that with the proper training, Ruby has the potential to provide Carter with invaluable assistance and companionship as he navigates through daily challenges.

Carter's needs are diverse and complex. He is non-verbal and wheelchair-bound, requiring assistance with tasks such as deep pressure therapy and item retrieval. Carter's cognitive limitations make it difficult for us to understand and comfort him during times of distress, resulting in outbursts of uncontrollable crying and screaming. Ruby has already shown her ability to provide comfort and support to Carter in these moments, but formal training is necessary to fully unlock her potential.

We envision Ruby providing Carter with deep pressure therapy to help regulate his emotions and physical responses during stressful situations. Additionally, Ruby will be trained to assist Carter with retrieving items that he may drop from his wheelchair, such as toys or rags. These seemingly simple tasks can make a world of difference in Carter's daily life, allowing him to feel more independent and supported.

Ruby, a 2-year-old pointer/retriever mix, has already shown tremendous promise during her obedience training sessions. However, the full training program, including obedience and service training, comes at a cost of $6500. This expense is beyond our means, but with your help, we believe we can make Ruby's training a reality for Carter.

Your generosity and support will not only provide Carter with a devoted companion but also offer him a lifeline during moments of distress and uncertainty. Together, we can make a profound difference in Carter's life and ensure that he receives the love, care, and assistance he deserves.

Thank you for considering supporting our fundraiser to train Ruby as a service dog for Carter.

Your kindness and generosity will forever be appreciated by our family.

Kellie & Eric D'Aunoy-Jones