Dog "angels" guard autistic kids

by ppeggy | November 18, 2007 at 09:20 am | 1101 views | 2 comments

photo from National Service Dogs website

There is an organization in Canada set up by Chris and Heather Fowler in 1996 that trains dogs, mostly Labradors, to help look after autistic children. It works. To date the National Service Dogs group has trained and placed 150 dogs with families across the country. The dogs have made it possible for these families struggling with their autistic children to have a new quality of life. What a wonderful animal, is the dog. For more information about National Service Dogs, check out www.nsd.on.ca

Riley Pratt understands the miracle headed into the homes of four Alberta families this week.

The 12-year-old first received Yogi -- a golden retriever that has been specially trained to work with children who have autism -- six years ago.

On Saturday, Riley's family played host to four Labradors that were flown in from Ontario to live with and help families like his own.

"With what we started with before Yogi came to us to today, the change in Riley is unbelievable," Riley's mother Connie told the Herald on Saturday.

"His confidence has really grown and today he has the confidence to go to school on his own without Yogi."

The four Labrador puppies -- one yellow, two chocolate and one black -- have already been in training for two years.

On Saturday night, they were brought together with the parents of the autistic children they will serve, ahead of a week of rigorous team training in Calgary.