Freedom and a friend

Hi friends!

 

We are so grateful you stopped in to read about this GoFundMe for Hobbsy guy. We have seen first hand the benefits of service animals, particularly those who have been trained for Autism. Hobbs had been fortunate this summer to work with two different service dogs who were trained to work with special needs children and able to provide him with a sense of safety and sensory breaks during his Occupational Therapy appointments. Hobbs really bonded with these animals and took on an ownership of teaching the dogs to take turns in games. The animals helped him to regulate his nervous system by using their bodies to comfort and communicate with Hobbs- skills like walking safely to and and from the car into the building through the parking lot and in and out of elevators. These skills are so important for him. Unknowingly, Hobbs puts himself at great risk with a behavior called elopement. We have three other children in the home who walk to school and play in our neighborhood. We do our absolute best to ensure safety for our son, Hobbs. Our home has special locks on all the doors, our fence doesn't have a gate to minimize entry and exits, and still, Hobbs manages to escape unannounced. It is a stress for our entire household. At night he gets up and wonders around our house. Its' terrifying to think sometime I won't hear him. We lock our refrigerator our cabinets our microwave-we disassemble our stove knobs and check all the tall locks, twice.   A service animal would be trained as a sleeping companion for Hobbs.  His wandering  is what our kids describe as their biggest fear; "Hobbs getting out and being hurt."I want our children-all four of them-to feel a sense of ease when they walk through our doors. I want them to know HOME is safe for them to relax and come together. A trained service animal for Hobbs could be that piece of the puzzle we are missing.

Here in Spokane we are blessed to have something called, Unleashed Academy. They provide a lifetime of support and training for the animals and their families. Animals are trained for specific needs in relation to the individual on the Autism Spectrum and for Hobbs and our family this could mean a freedom we have yet to know. Our goal is to raise enough money for a  fully trained service dog (not a puppy) who could easily integrate into our family's home routine and school for Hobbs.  

I woke up this morning dreaming of going to dinner together, ALL OF US, Together, as a family! Going to the park, or a weekend camping trip, even a stress free trip to Target! Right now, these things are too scary for us. We are limited on the experiences that we can have together as a family...AND I will not stop dreaming of those things for our future. For our family's sake I gotta keep dreaming and asking and looking for the next right indicated thing. Thank you for dreaming *with* us. 

Love,
The Smith Family