By Brendan Rees
A four-legged-friend could make all the difference to the life of Damon Willington.
The seven year old’s family from Cranbourne are desperate to raise enough money to buy an assistance dog to support their severely autistic son.
Damon was diagnosed with severe autism at the age of two and has no awareness of safety around roads or concept of danger with other hazards.
Mum Amanda Archer says a Smart Pup would help Damon with daily tasks and reduce his anxiety.
“He’s non-verbal mostly. He’s still low functioning and as he gets older it would just make our whole life easier, bit more independent for him as well,” she says.
An assistance dog through Smart Pups, a non-for-profit organisation in Queensland that provides dogs to assist children with special needs would be life-changing for Damon, says Ms Archer.
The cost of the Smart Pup to buy, raise and train is $25,000 and simply out of reach for the family.
“It would be awesome if I did have the money in my pocket but I want to give it a shot for him,” said Ms Archer.
“He does have a cat at the moment but we don’t have access to take that cat into areas into where he does get quite anxious.
Ms Archer’s her two other children, aged eight and 13 are also autistic: “It (Smart Pup) would mainly help with Damon but all the children as well,” she said.
“We need to raise at least $20,000 of it. I’m hoping I can do a Bunning’s barbeque or something like that and just seeing if there’s anyone out there willing to donate, every bit counts,” she said.
Damon’s school at Devon Meadows Primary held a Go Blue for Autism Day on Monday 4 June and raised just over $200.
Details to donate are: Westpac BSB 034-198, account number 415-185 and reference Damon.
