Alexis’s Smart Pup

21 Mar Alexis’s Smart Pup

Although quite a bright student, Alexis felt scared of people around her. She Quickly became Socially phobic, leading to school refusal and gastrointestinal difficulties.
Alexis started seeing a Psychologist, Pediatrician, and OT, but re integrating her back into school, and public places, caused a lot of anguish.
She Still has a lot of trouble out in public, and carries her plush dog “Chase” with her everywhere. Alexis also needs to carry sunglasses, headphones and an MP3 player to minimise the noise around her (People talking, traffic, sound of air conditioners etc). When Alexis is in a shopping centre, she has to sit in a trolley with her head down, and her “aides” by her side ( being Chase, headphones etc).
We have put thousands of dollars into Alexis’s therapies, and Alexis has been doing distance Education at home so she can perform at a satisfactory level academically. School does not provide her with academic assistance, due to the fact she cannot focus and most of the day was spent in sick bay, or hiding under a desk.
She surpasses her year level in English, Reading and Writing.
Alexis absolutely adores animals. She has always been a fanatical cat lover, but the past 2 years has shown a tremendous interest in dogs, and sees them as comfortable and protective.

We can only imagine the impact an Autism Assistance Dog would have on Alexis. The companionship, the loyalty and the feeling she always has someone “safe” by her side.
Alexis suffers separation anxiety too, so being away from her Mum is really hard for her. There are only 2 other houses she will visit where she feels at ease.

A smart Pup will bring confidence back into her life, increase her mental health, by knowing that she always has a companion by her side even if Mum isn’t around, and a “Grounding” figure for when she endures intense panic attacks. Alexis misses out on friendships, and I am confident the Smart Pup will help her in this, by being seen as a “friend” and a point of focus when talking to people around her.