🐾 A Service Dog For Rowan 🐾

ROWAN IS…

smart, so smart. hard-working. honest. responsible. creative. athletic. energetic.
autistic.

Rowan is our 7 year old son - the oldest of our three kids.

And Rowan has anxiety that regularly stands between him and what he wants or needs to do.

Psychiatric Service Dogs are trained to mitigate the types of challenges Rowan faces and to support independence.

Meeting our early fundraising goals allowed us to add Archer to our home in June, 2021 💙💙💙. Archer is a Golden Retriever pup bred and selected specifically for service work. He completed 2 months of foundational training prior to coming home to us. He still has several phases of more advanced training to complete before becoming Rowan’s service dog.

Archer is a brave, sweet, goofy guy who is super smart and highly trainable. At home, he’s a 4 month old puppy who loves to play and cuddle. While working in his vest he is very focused and calm, confidently ignoring distractions and attuning to “his boy.” During public access training Archer regularly receives high praise from passersby for his remarkable demeanor. He knows 20+ commands and we continue his daily training at home in preparation for advanced training by a professional service dog trainer.

We continue to fundraise for Archer’s most advanced service dog training, which will take place at 12-18 months of age.

During Advanced Training, Archer can be task-trained to:

• provide Deep Pressure Therapy during the morning ride to school to reduce Rowan's school anxiety

• walk Rowan from the car to his desk and offer Tactile and Proprioceptive Sensory Inputs there to help him settle into his school day (because Rowan is too young to be the primary handler, a parent would take the dog home once Rowan was settled in class)

• retrieve Rowan’s headphones when Rowan covers his ears due to auditory sensitivity and anxiety

• provide Deep Pressure Therapy and Tactile Sensory Inputs during Rowan’s meltdowns

• block in front of, behind or beside Rowan in crowded spaces to reduce sensory challenges and anxiety of physical proximity to others

• alert Rowan when he starts bouncing, spinning, yelling, screaming to support his self-regulation (not intended to interrupt stimming)

• give Rowan a physical anchor in parking lots, crowds, stores where overstimulation can lead to unsafe hyperactivity (no tethering, Rowan would hold the dog’s leash or harness)

• accompany Rowan around our home when he is too scared to go in certain rooms or to sleep alone

• offer Rowan sensory supports before, during and after storms, passing trains and going over railroad tracks, family travel and other high anxiety times

• “make friends” on command to help with Rowan’s social initiation challenges and afford the opportunity to connect with others over a favorite topic of his - dogs 🐾- instead of making small talk, which doesn’t come naturally to autistic folks

• wear a vest to raise awareness of Rowan’s silent disabilities in a non-specific but positive way - encouraging others to extend patience, flexibility and understanding of needs different than their own or their child’s

We would be forever grateful for your help in helping our kiddo.

HOW CLOSE ARE WE TO OUR FUNDRAISING GOALS?

GOAL 1: Raise 2/3 the cost of the dog plus 8 week puppy board and train with service dog trainer
Goal 1 of $2,046 IS MET

GOAL 2: Raise 2/3 the cost of phase 2 training at 6-7 months of age
Goal 2 of $2,178 IS MET

GOAL 3: Raise 2/3 the cost of phase 3 training

$879 of $7,260 raised

$6,381 to go

Business donations of $500+ are eligible for a patch of the business' logo to be added a vest worn on community outings. 

Funds in excess of our goal not used specifically for Rowan's dog’s would be donated to another individual's fundraising efforts for a Service Dog.

FAQ’s:

• Will Archer go to school with Rowan? At this time, Rowan does not have a need for Archer’s support during the school day. However, Archer will play a key role in Rowan’s morning transition into the school building - a long-standing challenge for Rowan. Rowan’s support needs may change through the years (camps, extracurriculars, Middle School, High School) and Archer’s role may increase as needed.

• What makes a service dog unique? Service dogs are trained to perform specific tasks not naturally occurring in dogs that can mitigate a disease or disability. They have a special temperament and are highly trained to allow public access to places where pet dogs or emotional support animals are not allowed.

• Who is training Archer? Archer’s initial foundation training (2 months) was completed at his breeder by Emerson & Co. His phase 2 and 3 training will be done by Love In The Lead, Charlotte.