Garrett's Fund Raising Effort Nearly Complete

Our fund raising goal of $13,000 for Garrett's service dog is within sight!  Donor support has been so enthusiastic, we've already raised $12,295.  If money continues to stream in as it has in recent months, we expect to meet our goal by the end of September!

Several donors have asked us what the $13,000 we're raising buys for Garrett.  The answer is a little surprising, becuase it doesn't actually "buy" anything!  The money reimburses a nonprofit that trains service dogs and matches them with those in need.  For us, that nonprofit is an Ohio-based orgnaization called 4 Paws For Ability.  You can learn more about 4 Paws by visiting its web site here.

So if the money's just about raised, what's the next chapter in the story of Boy Meets Dog?  It's a chapter where we practice the life skill of patience.  We still have to wait until Garrett is assigned to a training group.  Openings are limited, and the family hopes Garrett will be assigned to a class in the spring of 2009.

Between now and then, Garrett will start to spend more time around dogs.  We even get to make a video of Garrett's interaction with dogs to help 4 Paws find his perfect match.  That way, when Garrett finally meets his dog, he'll feel comfortable right away and can begin his training.

We are so appreciative of your donations to help get a service dog for Garrett.  To keep you informed about Garrett's progress, we intend to update this blog frequently.  Blogs work best when readers interact, so don't be shy!

Leave a comment about a post by clicking the "comment" link at the bottom of each entry.  Join the Boy Meets Dog blog community by clicking on our widget, that black, i-phone looking box in the right-hand column.  Or sign up for our RSS feeds (the orange boxes near the top of the page, also in the right-hand column).  We can't wait to hear from you!

Welcome to Boy Meets Dog

Boy Meets Dog is an online journal about Garrett, an Autistic child whose penchant for running off leaves his family both fearful and flustered.

In Autism circles, Garrett is described as nonverbal, which means he doesn't talk. So how does Garrett get back home at the end of his escapist adventures? With help from family, friends and increasingly familiar police officers.

Garrett's family knows they need help with their sweet-yet-sneaky son. And they believe they have found it in the form of a service dog trained specifically for Autistic children. His parents have chosen to work with 4 Paws for Ability, an Ohio-based nonprofit that has placed hundreds of service dogs with Autistic children.

Ten thousand dollars have already been raised to help pay the $13,000 cost of training Garrett's dog. If you'd like to make a donation, click here, or look for the Donate Now link on the right side of this page.

Garrett's family hopes to have him matched with a service dog in a matter of months. Feel free to subscribe to or bookmark this blog, Boy Meets Dog, for the latest developments on Garrett's ever-evolving story.