ANDY
There's no clearer way to demonstrate the incredible impact Assistance Dogs have on the lives of people with disabilities, than with real world examples.
Here are two letters. One is from Vanessa, the mother of two Autistic boys and the first recipient of an Assistance Dog from the ADNZ, to Annie and Doug who kindly donated their puppy to the Trust. The other is Annie and Doug's response to Vanessa's letter. Julie Hancox trained Andy (pictured left), the delightful Golden Labrador/Retriever cross who has made such a difference to their lives.
Here are two letters. One is from Vanessa, the mother of two Autistic boys and the first recipient of an Assistance Dog from the ADNZ, to Annie and Doug who kindly donated their puppy to the Trust. The other is Annie and Doug's response to Vanessa's letter. Julie Hancox trained Andy (pictured left), the delightful Golden Labrador/Retriever cross who has made such a difference to their lives.
27 September 2009
Dear Julie,
Re: ANDY - COMPANION ASSISTANCE DOG
I was wondering if you could please pass this letter on to the previous owners of Andy who kindly gave him to you to train for us as a Companion Assistance Dog for Trent and James for their Autistic Spectrum Disorder.
My name is Vanessa and I have two boys Trent (aged 10) and James (aged 6) who have both been diagnosed on the Autistic Spectrum.
We have been the lucky recipients of your wonderful dog Andy. He has been trained specifically to deal with Trent and James’s Autism.
Every day Andy makes a difference to mine and the boys lives. Julie has trained him specifically to deal with everyday tasks that are easier for children without a disability. Trent has needed a much loved non judgmental companion and has difficulty showing affection which can be typical of children with this disorder. Trent does not voluntarily show affection or express his emotions, that have all changed since Andy came into our lives. Trent voluntarily cuddles and loves Andy and tells him everyday what he means to him, even after nine years of therapy to get this response from Trent he did not show his emotions. This is something that he does not even do with me his mum. To see him express himself like this is something that I thought would never be possible.
James receives so much joy from Andy in so many different ways. Andy helps me keep James safe when walking due to James not realizing the dangers of traffic. Andy has a harness which has a lead attached to it for James to hold and I hold a main leash. Andy has been trained to assistance walk James to and from school and around our local area keeping him safe and allowing us the freedom of being able to get out and about more easily.
Within days of Andy arriving James started to speak more clearly and used a lot more descriptive words than in the past. He also has learnt to read in that time and Andy has clearly been a motivator for that. Andy helps me to encourage James to do what he is asked, for example if James won’t get out the bath, Andy comes into the bathroom and I tell James that Andy needs him to get out of the bath and give him a cuddle. A situation at one time that would leave me and James quite distressed, me trying to get him out of the bath and him refusing. Also in the first week of welcoming Andy to our family James wrote his first words and yes it was all about Andy, he still writes constantly about him. He drew his first picture and of course once again it was all about Andy.
There is so much more I could tell you, but what I really wanted to say to you is that we are so grateful and thankful for having Andy in our lives. If it was not for you putting in the fantastic work you did and caring for him as a puppy and then allowing Julie to have him to train we would not be in the very lucky position we are today.
We love him very much, so once again thank you from the bottom of our hearts.
Yours sincerely,
Vanessa
Dear Julie,
Re: ANDY - COMPANION ASSISTANCE DOG
I was wondering if you could please pass this letter on to the previous owners of Andy who kindly gave him to you to train for us as a Companion Assistance Dog for Trent and James for their Autistic Spectrum Disorder.
My name is Vanessa and I have two boys Trent (aged 10) and James (aged 6) who have both been diagnosed on the Autistic Spectrum.
We have been the lucky recipients of your wonderful dog Andy. He has been trained specifically to deal with Trent and James’s Autism.
Every day Andy makes a difference to mine and the boys lives. Julie has trained him specifically to deal with everyday tasks that are easier for children without a disability. Trent has needed a much loved non judgmental companion and has difficulty showing affection which can be typical of children with this disorder. Trent does not voluntarily show affection or express his emotions, that have all changed since Andy came into our lives. Trent voluntarily cuddles and loves Andy and tells him everyday what he means to him, even after nine years of therapy to get this response from Trent he did not show his emotions. This is something that he does not even do with me his mum. To see him express himself like this is something that I thought would never be possible.
James receives so much joy from Andy in so many different ways. Andy helps me keep James safe when walking due to James not realizing the dangers of traffic. Andy has a harness which has a lead attached to it for James to hold and I hold a main leash. Andy has been trained to assistance walk James to and from school and around our local area keeping him safe and allowing us the freedom of being able to get out and about more easily.
Within days of Andy arriving James started to speak more clearly and used a lot more descriptive words than in the past. He also has learnt to read in that time and Andy has clearly been a motivator for that. Andy helps me to encourage James to do what he is asked, for example if James won’t get out the bath, Andy comes into the bathroom and I tell James that Andy needs him to get out of the bath and give him a cuddle. A situation at one time that would leave me and James quite distressed, me trying to get him out of the bath and him refusing. Also in the first week of welcoming Andy to our family James wrote his first words and yes it was all about Andy, he still writes constantly about him. He drew his first picture and of course once again it was all about Andy.
There is so much more I could tell you, but what I really wanted to say to you is that we are so grateful and thankful for having Andy in our lives. If it was not for you putting in the fantastic work you did and caring for him as a puppy and then allowing Julie to have him to train we would not be in the very lucky position we are today.
We love him very much, so once again thank you from the bottom of our hearts.
Yours sincerely,
Vanessa
Dear Julie,
I've just read Vanessa's email to me and Doug, and we were crying through it all! I could not stop crying and we are so thankful that she even took the time to write to us. What a special lady and we are so happy about the part you played to make us feel this way.
Please tell Vanessa that she is more than welcome to contact us any time if she wants to. We already feel part of a thing much greater than us. And may God richly bless you Julie for what you do and the lives of people you can touch through our 'human' friends like Andy.
God bless,
Annie and Doug
I've just read Vanessa's email to me and Doug, and we were crying through it all! I could not stop crying and we are so thankful that she even took the time to write to us. What a special lady and we are so happy about the part you played to make us feel this way.
Please tell Vanessa that she is more than welcome to contact us any time if she wants to. We already feel part of a thing much greater than us. And may God richly bless you Julie for what you do and the lives of people you can touch through our 'human' friends like Andy.
God bless,
Annie and Doug
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