Contact: Christa Staples
4PawsforJewell@gmail.com
Contact: 4 Paws for Ability
253 Dayton Avenue
Xenia, Ohio 45385
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Service Dogs Help to Gain Independence and Confidence for Children and Give “Piece of Mind” to Parents
Conowingo, Maryland, April, 27, 2014 -- Like most 7 year old children, Jewell Staples is a perfectionist and is curious about the world around her. She loves art and music, is energetic, and thrives on having a routine. She goes to school and is in the 1st grade, but unlike most of her peers, Jewell requires modifications and a paraprofessional aide to get through her day. Her parents have never had a back-and-forth conversation with her even though she speaks very clearly, and has a large vocabulary.
Jewell has received a myriad of diagnoses including Autism Spectrum Disorder and Severe Mixed Receptive-Expressive Language Disorder. She exhibits decreased processing in sensory integration and cognition, hypermobile joints, and low muscle tone. She also has trouble staying on task and difficulty with socialization. Jewell has to be under constant supervision and is prone to wandering. In addition to services she receives at school, she also attends several different therapies throughout the week including occupational therapy, speech therapy, and music therapy.
Jewell and her mother were introduced to a service dog several years ago when Jewell attended dance therapy. Jewell was immediately drawn to the dog, and her mother discovered that the family received the dog from 4 Paws for Ability. While researching the benefits of service dogs specifically for Autism, she learned that they can help with wandering behaviors, soothing meltdowns, and that they can be a bridge for socialization, all of which Jewell struggles with on a daily basis. At the time, Jewell’s family decided to hold off of trying to acquire a service dog until a later date. That later date has finally come, as the need for assistance to keep Jewell safe is becoming more necessary with each passing day.
After completing the application process, Jewell has been approved for an Autism Assistance Dog. Her dog will be trained in behavior disruption, tethering, and tracking. The 4 Paws for Ability website states, “At 4 Paws we have discovered a magic that exists between children and dogs, a magic that can become a life-saving miracle for a child paired with one of our Autism Assistance Dogs.” Jewell’s family is also hoping that the dog will provide her with the companionship and independence that she is currently lacking, as well as to help increase her confidence.
The cost to train one of these service dogs is $22,000. Jewell’s family has committed to helping to raise $14,000 for 4 Paws for Ability in support of their mission and can achieve that goal with your help. Please visit www.4pawsforability.org/donate-now/ to donate, and make sure you note that your donation is made in honor of Jewell Staples. You can also donate at http://www.razoo.com/story/4-Paws-For-Jewell or find more information at https://www.facebook.com/4PawsforJewell.
About 4 Paws for Ability:
The organization was founded in 1998 by Karen Shirk, after having difficulty obtaining a service dog for herself from traditional service dog agencies. 4 Paws for Ability is a nonprofit, 501(c)(3) organization whose mission is to place quality service dogs with children with disabilities and veterans who have lost use of limbs or hearing; help with animal rescue, and educate the public regarding use of service dogs in public places.
Media Contact:
Whitney Hitt
253 Dayton Avenue
Xenia, Ohio 45385
(937) 768-9096
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