A Service Dog To Help Me Thrive Not Just Survive

We reached our goal of $3,000!

 

We are so grateful to each and every one of you! We could not have done it without your support. 

 

As our initial goal was set to cover the 4-week board and train we are happy to say our sweet Bailey girl is schedule to start her training May 18th. This was not possible without the love and support from our community!

 

As service dog training is an ongoing process anything raised above our initial goal will be put aside for future training sessions. These would include the private scent work training sessions done alongside the trainer, Connor, and Bailey. 

 

Thank you to everyone who has shared our story. 

 

We will be posting updates during the process so please continue to check in. 

 

We have also created t-shirts to help with the fundraising process for those interested. About $8 from each shirt ordered is sent to our fundraising and goes directly to her training. Link posted below. 

 

https://www.bonfire.com/store/help-connor-thrive-not-just-survive/?utm_source=copy_link&utm_medium=store_page_share&utm_campaign=help-connor-thrive-not-just-survive&utm_content=default

 

 

💙 Help Keep Connor Safe with a Trained Service Dog

 

Connor is an amazing 11-year-old boy with autism and ADHD. He is nonverbal, but he expresses love and joy in his own beautiful ways every single day.

 

One of the biggest challenges Connor faces is elopement, meaning he may wander away without warning. This isn’t just a behavioral concern—it’s a serious safety risk. Connor doesn’t understand danger, and because he cannot communicate verbally, every moment matters if he gets lost.

 

This fear became very real when Connor wandered away from school without anyone noticing right away.

Thankfully, a kind pedestrian found him and helped bring him to safety.

 

But as his parent, I can’t put into words how terrifying it is to know how differently that situation could have ended.

 

Since the incident all measures and steps have been put into place to help prevent this from happening again. From IEP’s, behavioral and safety plans, 1:1 aide, tacking devices, etc..

 

With that being said Connor will be transitioning into middle school this upcoming year. Meaning new environment, new teachers, new aides, and new opportunities to test limits and boundaries. Changes are huge triggers for people on the spectrum and he will be going through them all. 

 

We are working toward giving Connor something life-changing: a properly trained service dog. We already have a dog, but the specialized training needed to turn that dog into a reliable service companion is extensive—and costly.

 

Having a child with severe nonverbal autism we have to think of everything and implement every possible option because nothing is ever 100% full proof.

 

The dog will be an additional support for not only school but public outings, home, etc…. 

 

This training will allow the service dog to:

•🐾 Stop Connor from wandering off. Alert caregivers in real time when Connor heads towards an exit or if he’s made it outside a designated area.

•🐾 Track and locate him quickly if he elopes

•🐾 Provide deep pressure and calming support during overwhelming moments. Create space in large crowds and help keep him with caregivers if he starts wandering away.

•🐾 Help Connor feel safer, more secure, and more independent

 

This training isn’t optional—it’s what transforms a dog into a true lifeline for Connor.

 

The cost of professional service dog training is more than we can manage alone, which is why we are asking for help. Every donation goes directly toward giving Connor the safety, protection, and support he needs and deserves.

 

Your support means:

•More safety for Connor

•More independence for him to explore the world

•And more peace of mind for our family

 

If you’re unable to donate, sharing Connor’s story would mean the world to us.

 

Thank you for helping us take this step toward keeping Connor safe.

 

💙