This is not something that normally goes on this site, but this is very important to me and I could use all of your help if any of you are able to. My oldest son who is going to be three in January applied for a service dog because he has Autism, Periventricular Leukomalacia and mild Cerebral Palsy. All of that sounds bad but he is a pretty high functioning boy who to say the least has a TON of energy and jumps on his trampoline and does backflips on his rings. Plus he is pretty smart as he has full control over what is supposed to be my wife's iPod touch and masters almost any puzzle game that was put on there originally to distract him if he is not having a good day, and once he does any type of puzzle the first time he needs no help after that.
The reason he is in need of a service dog is because he is a wanderer, does not often listen to his name when he is called, he fidgets and has does repetitive hand motions, plus he has had a few seizures, and the dog can help with all of these things. Also, with his autism he is not really social unless its with his cousins and event hen sometimes he is distant with them and we are hoping that the dog will help him get better at that as well. The dog is similar to a guide dog for people are blind which means it can go anywhere with him which means it can go to school with him, doctors appointments or to the grocery store with us.
The main reason for this email is that we have to raise $13,000 of the $22,000 for 4 Paws For Ability to train the dog. That includes the intensive training these types of dogs need and we just got approved over the weekend to be able to raise money. So if any of you are able to donate anything -- even just a buck would help us get the dog -- that would be awesome and I would thank you very much, but even if you can not if you could at least pass this message on your Facebook page, twitter account or if you are still on MySpace that would be very helpful as well. Just getting the word out can be just as helpful as donating money. We also have a Facebook page called Dog 4 Deeds, so just go ahead and like it just as you all do for random groups that you never visit again (I know you all do that).
Here are the details of how to donate if you can:
You can go to our blog Dog 4 Deeds to learn more about my little boy and his story. More information about Service Dogs and the specific things that they could provide for JD can be found at the 4 Paws For Ability website. They are an excellent program, and the only agency that will place a dog with someone of my son's age. All donations made to 4 Paws are tax deductible, so for it to go toward your 2010 taxes it would be a good idea to do this before the end of the year.
So, if you can donate awesome and thank you! But if you can not please spread the word as I mentioned above by putting it on you twitter, Facebook or whatever, and thanks for spending the time to read this.