Tender Loving Canines Offers Hope To Autistic Children

Jan. 14, 2010 - PRLog -- San Diego, California----Tender Loving Canines Assistance Dogs, Inc. (TLCAD) is achieving impressive results with a specialized training program, “Leash on Life”, that offers families hope and enhances social skills for children with autism. Wesley, a 12-year old boy with high functioning autism has a new friend in Mully, a mid-size Yellow Labrador Assistance Dog provided free of charge from TLCAD.  For Wesley, this friendship is significant; he was socially challenged prior to being paired with Mully.  As is common among autistic children, Wesley couldn’t hold eye contact, maintain a conversation, engage in play or pick up on social cues.

Then along came Mully, who was selected specifically for autism training because of his stability, calmness and steady reaction to loud noises and constant motion.  These are conditions he would have to navigate in a household with an autistic child.  Mully graduated from two years of customized training at TLCAD and as a result of his presence as a new, constant companion, Wesley’s focus and attention span has improved.  Wesley now readily responds to strangers when asked about his dog and now has the courage to venture out without his parents with Mully by his side.  Above all, Wesley has taken on the ultimate responsibility of caring for another and in turn, Mully is helping to keep Wesley safe.

Mully, or as Wesley is prone to call him, “The Mullet”, “The Mull” or “Muldoon”, now has a friend who adores him for who he is, and has become a conduit for interacting and meeting other people.  Mully has become a buddy he can turn to when he needs company or he wants someone to hug.  Mully even joins Wesley for a dip in the swimming pool or a trip to the beach.  This interaction on a daily basis with Mully has improved Wesley’s social skills and elevated his self-confidence.  Eventually, Mully will be able to take Wesley to school without the help of his parents, access ATM machines and even leave a tip for a waitress in a restaurant.

According to Wesley’s Father, Stephen, “It’s so rewarding to watch Mully accompany Wesley and his Mom running errands, going for a walk or tossing a ball around.  This has helped us as a family transition into activities that other families without autistic children take for granted --- during the holidays we went to see the production of “The Grinch” at San Diego’s Old Globe Theater together --- this would have been unthinkable prior to Mully.  Most importantly, Mully will help Wesley transition from a young man with special needs into a confident, reliant adult.  There is no greater joy for a parent, knowing that your child will develop in these areas, and this would never had been possible without the help from TLCAD.  We are so grateful.”               

TLCAD is an all-volunteer run non-profit organization that provides custom-trained Assistance Dogs free of charge to people with limited disabilities in San Diego County.   Further information may be located at www.tenderlovingcanines.org or by calling (858) 461-6827or toll free at 1-800-385-1282.

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