Connor is a 12 year old boy with autism. His family are raising funds to pay for his Assistance Dog, Dexi.
Auckland
Connor is a 12 year old boy who has autism. At an early age, it was identified that he would greatly benefit from an Assistance Dog. Assistance Dogs can help keep children with autism safe, as well as support their emotion, behaviour and communication.
After many years of being on the waiting list, Connor has been allocated an Assistance Dog from Assistance Dogs New Zealand Trust (ADNZT). His Assistance Dog, Dexi, is moving in with his family on the 22nd July 2020. This marks a life-changing occasion for Connor, and his interactions with Dexi during her training proved to reduce his anxiety levels drastically.
It costs approximately $75,000 to train each Assistance Dog. This includes everything from breeding a puppy, to food, vaccinations, training, and the placement of dog into families. ADNZT is a charity that relies on donations to cover the costs of each Assistance Dog. In addition to funding gained through donations, each family who receives an Assistance Dog must raise $20,000 towards the total cost. Raising these dogs comes at a huge cost and relies on the community's support to continue the instrumental impact that Assistance Dogs have on these children's lives. The purpose of this Givealittle page is to help raise some of this money for Connor's Assistance Dog.
Below are links to academic articles about the benefits of Assistance Dogs for children with autism:
Berry, A., Borgi, M., Francia, N., Alleva, E., & Cruilli, F. (2012). Use of assistance and therapy dogs for children with autism spectrum disorders: a critical review of the current evidence. The Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine, 18, 1-8.
Hall, S. S, Wright, H. F., Hames, A., & Mills, D. S. (2016). The long-term benefits of dog ownership in families with children with autism. Journal of Veterinary Behaviour: Clinical Applications and Research, 13: 46 DOI: 10.1016/j.jveb.2016.04.003
I am Connor's cousin and have set up this page on behalf of his parents.
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