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BOYS BEST FRIEND BC’S FIRST EVER AUTISM SUPPORT DOG
- Kim Harding (Max’s mom)
The journey began over two years ago. While bumbling around on the net searching for a new family dog, I stumbled across a web site for Autism Support Dogs. After reading testimonials from parents and some autistic children I knew that we must have one of these dogs for our son Max. I was saddened to learn that there was no one providing these dogs to children in BC. I turned to BC Guide Dogs Services to see if they could some how help get a dog for my son. When I contacted Bill Thornton he told me that he was thinking of training dogs for that purpose, but that it was going to take time for it all to come to fruition. I continued to contact Bill once in a while over the two year time period.
My husband took the call from Bill saying that we had been chosen to be the first family to receive an Autism Support Dog. When I arrived home that evening my husband, Dave Harding, told me the news. I was so excited; I was jumping up and down yelling "I can’t believe it!" It felt as though we had just won the lottery. It is so rare in life that you get exactly what you have been longing for. I wanted this so badly for Max.
Max is a wonderful boy. Full of smiles and the most beautiful blue eyes that sparkle when he is happy. Despite all his hard work and long hours of ABA therapy he still remains very affected by his autism. The beauty of having Forest is that the focus is not on changing the child, but simply keeping him safe and more comfortable the way he is. The opportunity to have an Autism Support Dog seems to have given the entire family a new hope for things to come.
After Dave and I sparred about who would go through the training with the dog, I was off to the Coast Tsawwassen Inn. For three days and two nights I was away from home for training. This is where I met Forests’ trainers Jamie and Chris. Jamie had been training Forest since he came in for his professional training and Chris was brought in as a specialist in the field. I also met Forest, a beautiful and wrinkly two year old Yellow Lab. Jamie and Chris were very patient and made me feel at ease. At that point I realized I was in training not the dog. Forest already knew exactly what to do. That’s when I knew that he was the perfect dog for my son.
Because Max is a "flight risk" and will run away without warning we would often worry about him running into traffic or getting lost. Now we can walk safely as he is tethered to Forest and can’t run away even when he wants to. Max’s older brother Beau was very supportive of making Forest a part of our family. He is looking forward to going to places that we do not usually go to. Quite often when we attempt to do outings together, it gets really tough for Max. The sights, sounds and smells of unknown places can cause him to have a melt down, most times causing our outings to be cut short or full of tension. We have already noticed wonderful changes in Max. When we are in public he is able to handle stress much better. While waiting in line or while we stop to look at something he’s content to hug and pet Forest. If we have to be in very close proximity to strangers or commotion he will sit quietly and pet Forest. At home Forest and Max enjoy watching movies on a portable DVD player. Max will cuddle up to Forest. At first Max was afraid to be anywhere close to Forest’s head. Now when Forest is feeling playful and is mouthing the air Max will put his hand in the dog’s mouth. It is amazing how comfortable they are with each other in such a short period of time.
It is so comforting to know that Max has a best friend in Forest. Forest doesn’t want him to change or expect anything in return for his love. We have only had Forest for a month, but are already wondering what we would do without him.
Words can’t express how thankful we are to all the caring and wonderful people at BC Guide Dog Services that have made Forest into the dog he is today. He truly is "The Golden Dog."
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