Hi everyone,
My name is Dee, and I am an autistic adult living in Ringgold, GA. For a long time, navigating the world has been a quiet, overwhelming battle. Daily tasks that many take for granted—like going to the grocery store, managing crowded spaces, or coping with intense sensory overload—can cause severe anxiety and debilitating meltdowns for me. I have put myself in some very unsafe situations without realizing it in the moment. My fiancé has to go with me everywhere due to how severe my symptoms are. it has been hard to even keep a job due to being so overloaded that I just end up leaving it. It has been so hard to pay the bills due to all of what I have to try to manage.
But there is a life-changing light at the end of the tunnel.
I am thrilled to share that I have been accepted into the service dog program with Paws for Life USA, a wonderful 501(c)(3) non-profit. I have officially signed my contract, and a highly trained Autism Service Dog is waiting to become my lifeline.
How My Service Dog Will Help Me:
This dog isn't just a pet; they are medical support. They are being trained to perform specific tasks tailored to my autism, including:
Providing Deep Pressure Therapy (DPT) to ground me and stop panic attacks before they escalate.
Creating a physical boundary in public spaces so I don't feel trapped or crowded.
Interrupting harmful sensory behaviors and keeping me safe.
This dog represents my independence. They represent safety, freedom, and the ability to finally live a life where I am not trapped by my own sensory environment.
Why I Need Your Help:
The total cost of breeding, raising, and intensively training a service dog is incredibly high. Thanks to the generosity of Paws for Life USA and their donors, the vast majority of my costs are covered. However, I am responsible for a final placement fee, and I need to raise the remaining $2,500 to bring my dog home.
Every single dollar raised by this campaign will go directly toward my contract with Paws for Life USA to finalize my dog's training and placement.
If you cannot donate, sharing this link with your friends, family, or coworkers means more to me than words can say. Thank you from the bottom of my heart for helping me take this massive step toward a independent, safer life.
With gratitude,
Dee.
