Welcome to the bewildering world of a 7-year-old fellow named Robbie. The eldest of three siblings, Robbie never cooed as an infant, or responded to his name, or interacted with other tots. At age two, he began having meltdowns. He didn’t begin to speak until age 4, about the time he was diagnosed with autism. Then he was diagnosed with both attention deficit disorder and anxiety disorder. Robbie still struggles with speech and language, and has trouble dealing with crowds and loud noises. All these issues have caused Robbie to struggle in the classroom setting, where he can lose control, lashing out and then receding into himself. Medications have helped somewhat with the anxiety and attention issues. But loud noises or crowded situations (such as in restaurants) still can cause Robbie to get over-excited, sometimes covering his ears, moaning and rocking. At home, he tends to stay off to himself, but then can erupt in a happy show of affection, such as when his grandparents come over and he hugs them tightly and pronounces, “I Love you!” Then he might launch into detailed explanations of Minecraft, Super Mario Brothers or other favored games before heading off again to be by himself.
The one thing that always seems to keep Robbie calmer is the presence of animals. When around dogs, for instance, Robbie shows far less difficulty in expressing himself both emotionally and verbally. We’ve been advised, then, that a service dog could go far in keeping him calm and focused when the world around him becomes too chaotic. We ache for Robbie to enjoy the situations and environments that are normal for other kids – attending school assemblies, being in a regular classroom setting, and making friends by being able to open up to his peers. A service dog has been identified for Robbie, and we would be so appreciative of any help you could give us in securing this pet. The warmth and quiet reassurance offered by such a dog could mean all the difference in Robbie’s day-to-day life. Thank you, in advance, for helping.
You can also mail a check to:
W.A.G.S. 4 Kids
112 E. Center Street
Berea, OH 44017
Please make a memo note that your donation is in the name of Robbie.