Meet our sweet 7-year-old son, Jackson! Jackson has Level 2 Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and very limited verbal communication skills. He experiences frequent meltdowns and faces the ongoing risk of elopement, which means he can wander away from safety without fully understanding the danger. As his family, we want nothing more than to help him feel safe, supported, and confident as he navigates the world around him.

Jackson has always shared a special bond with our dogs. He lost his beloved Jayda last year, and his best friend Rylie, our sweet 16-year-old bulldog, is nearing the end of her life. Watching Jackson love his dogs has shown us just how meaningful that connection can be. It has also inspired us to pursue something we hope will make a lasting difference in his life.

We are partnering with 4 Paws for Ability to help Jackson receive a specially trained service dog who can accompany him throughout his day, provide comfort during overwhelming moments, and help support his safety and unique needs. We believe this partnership could bring Jackson greater security and confidence while giving our family additional peace of mind.

Our goal is to raise $20,000 to make this dream a reality. Every donation, no matter the amount, brings us closer to finding Jackson his new four-legged partner. If you cannot donate, sharing his story is another wonderful way to help.

As parents, we want to give Jackson every opportunity to feel safe, loved, and understood. We know a service dog won't take away every challenge, but we believe it could make a world of difference in his journey.

Please consider being part of Jackson's story. From the bottom of our hearts, thank you for supporting our family and helping us bring this special companion into Jackson's life. Together, we can help him find a loyal friend to walk beside him, one paw at a time. 

Training a service dog to meet our child’s requirements can be very costly. On average it costs between $40,000-60,000 to raise, train, and place a service dog at 4 Paws for Ability. While 4 Paws for Ability fundraises to help cover a significant portion of this cost, families are tasked with raising $20,000 of that amount or $23,000 if receiving a poodle, doodle or papillon. We hope that we can receive assistance from our beloved family and friends to help make our service dog dream a reality.