GOOD VIBES: Waynesboro Family Raising Money To Purchase Service Dog For Autistic Boy
A family in Waynesboro, Georgia, is on a mission to purchase a service dog for their autistic son.
Ollie is nonverbal, and the dog will provide an extra measure of safety for Ollie. “He tends to struggle with regulation and when he’s done being somewhere,” according to his GoFundMe page. The dog will also help Ollie meet his “social, emotional and educational goals.”
Assistance dogs for nonverbal autistic patients require more extensive training, which is why the animals are so costly – in Ollie’s case, over $17,000 dollars.
In addition to GoFundMe, Ollie’s family is also raising money through Shoes With Heart. The organization raises money by collecting new and gently worn shoes, and pays per pound of shoes, into the fund for Ollie’s service dog. If you’d like to donate shoes towards Ollie’s fundraiser, you can contact the family through their Facebook group here.
You can also pitch in and donate to Ollie’s GoFundMe page here. Ollie’s family has set up a Facebook page set up to keep everyone updated on the progress, ‘A Dog For Ollie.‘