Service Dog For Eliana
Donation protected
We are so truly grateful & appreciative for each & every donation. We are overwhelmed by the amount of support we received from our community. Any funds raised over the initial amount will go towards Go Fund Me fees (7.9%) as well as care & supplies for Butters.
Background
There has been nothing more fulfilling to Jay & I than being parents. As Madison & Ava grew older, we had the desire to share our love with another child. Our faith lead us to international adoption of a special needs child. When we saw Eliana's picture, it was love at first sight. We knew she was our daughter. Her special needs were listed as albinism & visual impairment. During our wait we found out she was living in deplorable conditions, malnourished & receiving minimal stimulation & care. After 11 long months of paperwork & loving her from afar, we were finally united in China. From that day on Eliana has been such a blessing & an integral part of our family. She is truly a special little girl. She exudes pure happiness & innocence, always finding pleasure in the little things. She is a ray of sunshine that could brighten anyone's day. She inspired us so much that we adopted Everly, another special needs child from China. Our family of six is now complete. Our hands may be full but so are our hearts!
Medical
Upon coming home, Eliana had developmental delays consistent with children adopted from overseas. However, hers were compounded due to her previous living conditions. We immediately enrolled her in speech, vision, developmental, physical & occupational therapies. Unfortunately, after being a home a year we saw little progress. We proceeded with formal testing including genetics, a brain MRI & comprehensive autism diagnostics. She was labeled with low functioning autism at that time. While it was heartbreaking to hear, having a diagnosis allowed us to move forward & treat her accordingly.
Some of Eliana's struggles include; she is non-verbal, has cognitive impairments, lacks communication skills, does not respond to her name or commands, avoids eye-contact, often aloof & in her own world, does not know how to interact or play with others, unaware of others emotions, repetitive behaviors, sensory issues, anxiety with transitions or new situations, inability to recognize dangerous situations, wanders & visual impairment (albinism related).
Although the list may seem big, our love for her is even bigger!
Why An Autism Service Dog
Service dogs for children with autism act as constant companions to help them improve social interactions and relationships, expand verbal and nonverbal communication, teach life skills, enhance safety, gain independence, increase interest in activities and decrease stress within the family. A service dog doesn’t pass judgment, but breaks into the world of autism and becomes a crucial part of the family’s life.
Some of the benefits include:
Safety- Service dogs will alert parents to the slightest abnormality of routine or if they perceive any danger. When a child attempts to run off or wander the dog will block or "herd" them back to where they are supposed to be. A service dog will also make the public more aware that this child is a little different.
Increased social interaction - Service dogs have been proven to improve social skills and social interaction with children affected by autism. Children will relate to the dog on a higher social level than they have ever experienced before & transfer those accomplishments to humans. The dog will act as a bridge between the child & the rest of the world.
Redirecting repetitive behaviors - Service dogs can be taught to nudge a child that is performing repetitive behaviors. This touch is often all that is needed to redirect the child from these behaviors.
Improved independence - Service dogs can provide independence by allowing the child to walk with the dog as opposed to constantly holding the hand of a parent or adult. These highly skilled dogs can assist the child while under the direction of the adult.
Increased vocabulary - Children with autism are often noticed to have an increase in vocabulary after being paired with a service dog. The children seem to be more comfortable in speaking with the dog which transfers to more verbal interaction with people. A child can also learn to give a dog commands.
Decreased sensory overload - Service dogs can help ease sensory overload, which is a common challenge for those with autism. They are often unable to filter out sensory input – they hear, feel and smell everything – all at once – and are usually unable to ignore or redirect those stimuli. Having a service dog by their side can help by giving them a focal point, or a way to ground their random, unceasing environmental experiences.
Improved quality of sleep - Service dogs provide a certain level of comfort that can often improve a child's ability to sleep more throughout the night.
Overall calming ability - Service dogs can be a source of comfort & consistency when environments change & anxieties are high. When performing everyday tasks, children feel less pressure working with a dog as opposed to their peers. The tactile experience of having a dog as a companion has also proven to provide calming effects. Autistic children who work with dogs have been documented to feel less anger and experience less acts of aggression compared to the time before receiving a service dog. Service dogs are also trained to use tactile or deep pressure stimulation, which involves a dog using their weight to apply pressure to the child's body to elicit a calming effect.
Why a Briard
Herding breeds are best suited for autism service work. Traditional sporting or hunting breeds are more for those with mechanical disabilities, not neurological. Autism is a disorder that has to do with the brain, thus the companionship & the bond with the child is most critical. Herders have a natural instinct to tend to their child & do not mind spending long hours at the side of an autistic person. The Briard breed is known as "a heart of gold wrapped in fur". They are extremely intelligent, loyal protectors, love to please & rarely forget a lesson once taught. Their disposition is that of a stoic & confident sheepdog. They are natural leaders & perceive their family as a flock to be looked after, loved & protected.
Ry-Con Briards
After months of research we met with Mark Mathis, owner of Ry-Con Briards, a recognized Non-Profit Company. Mark started training Briards when his son was diagnosed with autism nearly a decade ago. Since then, he's placed 66 dogs with families & have changed their lives. He is certified as a NC state approved Service Dog Trainer with a specialty in Autism Service Dogs for children. We were thoroughly impressed with Marks knowledge, dedication & the overall program. We have visited with him several times, each visit lasting quite a few hours & giving us the opportunity to meet with the dogs & see first hand their training & environment. Mark truly believes in these dogs & offers a lifetime of support. Ry-Con Briards has been featured on CNN, ABC News 11, Autism Speaks, Cary Magazine & many other outlets.
We encourage you to go to their website & Facebook page to learn more, see the dogs in training & be thoroughly impressed at their amazing program.
http://www.ry-con.com
https://www.facebook.com/RyConBriardServiceDogs/
Introducing... Butters
After being on a wait list for a year, we have been matched with a dog who was chosen specifically with Eliana's needs in mind. Butters is a 5-month Briard pup, bred and born in Apex NC to Ry-Con kennels by Mark Mathis. Selected for her great ‘follow’ as a baby & clear intelligence, Butters started her training once she was weaned from her mother at 7 weeks old & has quickly adapted to Ry-Con’s training life cycle plan for a Service Dog. Butters' father is Aragorn who is rated the #20 Briard in the country & his father, Midas, is world renowned as a champion star of herding, show, & TV. Midas is currently the #6 Briard in the country. Butters' mother is Coco, a Czech Republic born dam with excellent structure, lovely lines & a beautiful temperament. She is from Bar-Bar Beskydy kennels who train Briards for police work & service roles almost exclusively. She remains the best mother Mark has ever seen in a Briard whelp.
Butters displays the characteristics of a classic 'Mother Hen' - a strong desire to look after, guide and protect her 'flock. Quick to learn, never forgets a lesson & loves a snuggle in bed, Butters will demand to be an integral part of the family. With a keen understanding of which child needs her most, she will look after and protect Eliana. She will know that Eliana is her responsibility - studying and learning how best to tend to her; and in turn, Eliana will trust in and understand that Butters is her protector and best friend. We expect they will bring out the best in each other! Butters' rigorous training will continue until she is ready to join our family, we anticipate that being in May.

How You Can Help
From the moment we adopted Eliana, we committed to doing everything we possibly could to enhance her quality of life. We are constantly advocating for her & we are the voice that she doesn't have. We know the service dog will be life changing for Eliana & our family. After our initial investment into the program, we are hoping to raise another $12,500 which will help cover the remaining costs. We are reaching out to family, friends & our community with the hopes of your assistance in making this dream come true. Reaching out is difficult for us, as always those that help others the most, find it most difficult to ask for help. But I know the power of kindness. We are very appreciative & forever grateful for any amount you are able to contribute for our girl! Even if you are unable to donate a monetary amount you can still help us tremendously by sharing our story via social media or email.
With grateful hearts,
The Deane Family

Background
There has been nothing more fulfilling to Jay & I than being parents. As Madison & Ava grew older, we had the desire to share our love with another child. Our faith lead us to international adoption of a special needs child. When we saw Eliana's picture, it was love at first sight. We knew she was our daughter. Her special needs were listed as albinism & visual impairment. During our wait we found out she was living in deplorable conditions, malnourished & receiving minimal stimulation & care. After 11 long months of paperwork & loving her from afar, we were finally united in China. From that day on Eliana has been such a blessing & an integral part of our family. She is truly a special little girl. She exudes pure happiness & innocence, always finding pleasure in the little things. She is a ray of sunshine that could brighten anyone's day. She inspired us so much that we adopted Everly, another special needs child from China. Our family of six is now complete. Our hands may be full but so are our hearts!
Medical
Upon coming home, Eliana had developmental delays consistent with children adopted from overseas. However, hers were compounded due to her previous living conditions. We immediately enrolled her in speech, vision, developmental, physical & occupational therapies. Unfortunately, after being a home a year we saw little progress. We proceeded with formal testing including genetics, a brain MRI & comprehensive autism diagnostics. She was labeled with low functioning autism at that time. While it was heartbreaking to hear, having a diagnosis allowed us to move forward & treat her accordingly.
Some of Eliana's struggles include; she is non-verbal, has cognitive impairments, lacks communication skills, does not respond to her name or commands, avoids eye-contact, often aloof & in her own world, does not know how to interact or play with others, unaware of others emotions, repetitive behaviors, sensory issues, anxiety with transitions or new situations, inability to recognize dangerous situations, wanders & visual impairment (albinism related).
Although the list may seem big, our love for her is even bigger!
Why An Autism Service Dog
Service dogs for children with autism act as constant companions to help them improve social interactions and relationships, expand verbal and nonverbal communication, teach life skills, enhance safety, gain independence, increase interest in activities and decrease stress within the family. A service dog doesn’t pass judgment, but breaks into the world of autism and becomes a crucial part of the family’s life.
Some of the benefits include:
Safety- Service dogs will alert parents to the slightest abnormality of routine or if they perceive any danger. When a child attempts to run off or wander the dog will block or "herd" them back to where they are supposed to be. A service dog will also make the public more aware that this child is a little different.
Increased social interaction - Service dogs have been proven to improve social skills and social interaction with children affected by autism. Children will relate to the dog on a higher social level than they have ever experienced before & transfer those accomplishments to humans. The dog will act as a bridge between the child & the rest of the world.
Redirecting repetitive behaviors - Service dogs can be taught to nudge a child that is performing repetitive behaviors. This touch is often all that is needed to redirect the child from these behaviors.
Improved independence - Service dogs can provide independence by allowing the child to walk with the dog as opposed to constantly holding the hand of a parent or adult. These highly skilled dogs can assist the child while under the direction of the adult.
Increased vocabulary - Children with autism are often noticed to have an increase in vocabulary after being paired with a service dog. The children seem to be more comfortable in speaking with the dog which transfers to more verbal interaction with people. A child can also learn to give a dog commands.
Decreased sensory overload - Service dogs can help ease sensory overload, which is a common challenge for those with autism. They are often unable to filter out sensory input – they hear, feel and smell everything – all at once – and are usually unable to ignore or redirect those stimuli. Having a service dog by their side can help by giving them a focal point, or a way to ground their random, unceasing environmental experiences.
Improved quality of sleep - Service dogs provide a certain level of comfort that can often improve a child's ability to sleep more throughout the night.
Overall calming ability - Service dogs can be a source of comfort & consistency when environments change & anxieties are high. When performing everyday tasks, children feel less pressure working with a dog as opposed to their peers. The tactile experience of having a dog as a companion has also proven to provide calming effects. Autistic children who work with dogs have been documented to feel less anger and experience less acts of aggression compared to the time before receiving a service dog. Service dogs are also trained to use tactile or deep pressure stimulation, which involves a dog using their weight to apply pressure to the child's body to elicit a calming effect.
Why a Briard
Herding breeds are best suited for autism service work. Traditional sporting or hunting breeds are more for those with mechanical disabilities, not neurological. Autism is a disorder that has to do with the brain, thus the companionship & the bond with the child is most critical. Herders have a natural instinct to tend to their child & do not mind spending long hours at the side of an autistic person. The Briard breed is known as "a heart of gold wrapped in fur". They are extremely intelligent, loyal protectors, love to please & rarely forget a lesson once taught. Their disposition is that of a stoic & confident sheepdog. They are natural leaders & perceive their family as a flock to be looked after, loved & protected.
Ry-Con Briards
After months of research we met with Mark Mathis, owner of Ry-Con Briards, a recognized Non-Profit Company. Mark started training Briards when his son was diagnosed with autism nearly a decade ago. Since then, he's placed 66 dogs with families & have changed their lives. He is certified as a NC state approved Service Dog Trainer with a specialty in Autism Service Dogs for children. We were thoroughly impressed with Marks knowledge, dedication & the overall program. We have visited with him several times, each visit lasting quite a few hours & giving us the opportunity to meet with the dogs & see first hand their training & environment. Mark truly believes in these dogs & offers a lifetime of support. Ry-Con Briards has been featured on CNN, ABC News 11, Autism Speaks, Cary Magazine & many other outlets.
We encourage you to go to their website & Facebook page to learn more, see the dogs in training & be thoroughly impressed at their amazing program.
http://www.ry-con.com
https://www.facebook.com/RyConBriardServiceDogs/
Introducing... Butters
After being on a wait list for a year, we have been matched with a dog who was chosen specifically with Eliana's needs in mind. Butters is a 5-month Briard pup, bred and born in Apex NC to Ry-Con kennels by Mark Mathis. Selected for her great ‘follow’ as a baby & clear intelligence, Butters started her training once she was weaned from her mother at 7 weeks old & has quickly adapted to Ry-Con’s training life cycle plan for a Service Dog. Butters' father is Aragorn who is rated the #20 Briard in the country & his father, Midas, is world renowned as a champion star of herding, show, & TV. Midas is currently the #6 Briard in the country. Butters' mother is Coco, a Czech Republic born dam with excellent structure, lovely lines & a beautiful temperament. She is from Bar-Bar Beskydy kennels who train Briards for police work & service roles almost exclusively. She remains the best mother Mark has ever seen in a Briard whelp.
Butters displays the characteristics of a classic 'Mother Hen' - a strong desire to look after, guide and protect her 'flock. Quick to learn, never forgets a lesson & loves a snuggle in bed, Butters will demand to be an integral part of the family. With a keen understanding of which child needs her most, she will look after and protect Eliana. She will know that Eliana is her responsibility - studying and learning how best to tend to her; and in turn, Eliana will trust in and understand that Butters is her protector and best friend. We expect they will bring out the best in each other! Butters' rigorous training will continue until she is ready to join our family, we anticipate that being in May.
How You Can Help
From the moment we adopted Eliana, we committed to doing everything we possibly could to enhance her quality of life. We are constantly advocating for her & we are the voice that she doesn't have. We know the service dog will be life changing for Eliana & our family. After our initial investment into the program, we are hoping to raise another $12,500 which will help cover the remaining costs. We are reaching out to family, friends & our community with the hopes of your assistance in making this dream come true. Reaching out is difficult for us, as always those that help others the most, find it most difficult to ask for help. But I know the power of kindness. We are very appreciative & forever grateful for any amount you are able to contribute for our girl! Even if you are unable to donate a monetary amount you can still help us tremendously by sharing our story via social media or email.
With grateful hearts,
The Deane Family
Organizer
Tara Deane
Organizer
Apex, NC
