Why a dog...

Do you wonder why Dylan needs a service dog? Well, we will tell you. Dylan is a beautiful 7 year old boy who just happens to being living the upside of life with Down syndrome. His red hair says a lot about him - he is "on fire" 24-7. He's up early, usually between 5-6, and goes all day strong, until he does his "crash and burn", typically about 7 or 8. He is whirl-wind of energy and enjoys life to the fullest! While we love his zest for life, it is exhausting.

Although Dylan wants to explore his world, he doesn't usually do so in the safest way. He has no sense or understanding of environmental dangers, such as drowning, traffic, or the ill intentions of a stranger. In addition, Dylan has difficulty communicating with the world around him. He actually has a very large vocabulary and can speak clearly when motivated, but unless the proper prompts and ques are given, it can be difficult for him to communicate his needs, wants, and desires.

One of the things Dylan is famous for is his wandering. He has escaped his backyard, his home, a hotel room - the list could go on and on. When this happens, Dylan is subject to potentially dangerous situations if he is not found quickly. While most children will respond to their parents calls when they can't find them, Dylan does not. As a result, very close tabs are kept on Dylan and the stress level of mom and dad are extremely high when in public places and while it decreases at home, it is always present.

Because Dylan can not always communicate appropriately with the world, he can become easily frustrated. He has "meltdowns" in overwhelming situations, like school, church, and shopping. Many would describe his behavior as "being a brat", but he is just trying to tell us that he's "out-of-sync" and he needs help!

We believe that the Multi-Purpose Assistance Dog will provide this help he is so desperately crying out for. One of Dylan's great loves is animals, especially dogs. He is drawn to them and is most content when he is with them. Dogs are calming for Dylan and they "real-him-in" when he has "meltdowns".

While the assistance dog will be of great benefit in aiding in the control of his behaviors, it will also have the ability to "track" him when he wanders.Dylan is a growing boy and as his parents we want him to gain more independence with each passing day, but it is becoming more difficult for this to happen without extra help. We know in our hearts that this is a very special furry friend that will help Dylan grow and excel in ways we will never be able to help him in.