How a Service Dog from 4 Paws will impact Christopher's
life:
Many children with autism
tend to wander away and are unaware of environmental dangers
such as traffic, bodies of water, or the ill intentions of
strangers. Christopher needs a strong companion at his side
trained to provide the special assistance he needs. In addition
to providing constant companionship and unwavering friendship,
these four-legged wonders are specially trained in search and
rescue skills. Christopher’s service dog will be trained to
“tether” to Christopher, allowing he and his mom (now using a
wheelchair for outings) to spend time together without fear of
wandering.
In addition to his Fragile X and autism, Christopher has a
number of physical health issues that contribute to daily
challenges. Christopher’s low muscle tone necessitates braces,
called “AFO’s”, for his legs.
Due to poor immune system function and asthma, Christopher is
home schooled. Coupled with the physical differences and the
isolation, Christopher has a difficult time making friends.
This is where his 4-legged friend will come in. Christopher’s
service dog will serve as a social conduit when on outings with
Christopher.
Since both Claudia and Christopher have wheelchairs for extended
outings, Christopher’s service dog will be cross-trained to help
both mother and son with practical matters like opening doors,
pushing buttons for elevators and retrieving items.
Here is a
video of the March class at 4 Paws meeting their Service Dogs
for the first time:
