Help Train Michael’s Service Dog

Friends, this is Michael Collins. You might know him as a bowling aficionado or a diehard Tennessee fan. What you might not know is that when he was 13 years old, he was diagnosed with DHDDS. At the time, Michael was only the sixth person in the world to be diagnosed with this ultra-rare genetic condition that causes intellectual disability, epilepsy, global developmental delays, and movement disorder.

Now 19 years old, Michael is experiencing a decline in his balance and coordination. Ongoing DHDDS research shows that both cognitive and physical decline are possible as Michael ages.

Michael’s family has been working with K9 Fetch LLC to explore the possible benefits of Michael having a mobility service dog. Over the weekend, Michael met Cade and let’s just say it was a match made in heaven!

Cade is a 20-month-old dog who was recently rescued from a Tennessee shelter. The best guess is that he is a mix of Great Pyrenees, German Shepherd, Labrador Retriever, and Golden Retriever. If you’re doing the math then you know that this is a wonderful mix of stability, strength, smarts, and snuggles!

The Collins family has now entered an eight-month process that will begin with eight intensive weeks of the trainer working directly with Cade, followed by six months of training in the home with Michael. During this time Cade will learn many skills including:

- How to assist Michael with balance issues as he walks.

- How to cover Michael with blankets while he sleeps.

- How to use his body weight to calm Michael’s tremors during sleep.

- How to alert Terry or Hedy when Michael might need emergency attention.

- How to alert Michael to curbs or other obstacles when walking in public.

- How to open and close doors for Michael.

- How to pick up items that Michael drops.

The cost of this training is significant, but there is no price tag for the independence and safety that Cade can facilitate for Michael. Please consider donating today to make this match possible!