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This webpage is dedicated to our son Kyle who has autism and our quest in getting him a service/companion dog. Kyle has been matched to SSD Gilly and our family completed training with Gilly in December 2004. Gilly came home with us on December 7th, 2004. She has been a very welcome addition to our family. We'd like to extend a HUGE thank you to all that have helped us in making this all possible. The generousity of our friends, family and community has been overwhelming.
If you would like to make a contribution, please do so directly to Susquehanna Service Dogs (info at bottom of each page on website). They are an exceptional organization and are in great need of support to insure that the many persons/families needing service/therapy dogs can be provided for. Your contributions help fund anything from the puppy raising and training to the specific training of each dog for their "person".
You will notice that some changes have recently taken place on our webpage. We have changed web hosting services to VQC Designs as they offered to host our site for free. You will begin to see some new information and pictures soon. I'm planning to add pictures of Kyle and how his own autism story is continuing. More links to pictures of Gilly will soon be accessible as well. Continue to visit our blog on life with Gilly at our Xanga site as well (link on All About Gilly page).
Kyle's story begins here....
This is our son Kyle. Kyle was 3 years old when he was diagnosed in September 2003 with autism. We learned of a program that offers service dogs to autistic children. I wish you could have seen Kyle's first encounter with these dogs. For the first time in his life he did not run away to stay in his own world. It was a miracle to us! Kyle's service dog will help him with reciprocated actions and turn taking, becoming socially verbal and deal with sleep and sensory issues as well. These dogs are trained by Susquehanna Service Dogs, who provide service dogs throughout the state of Pennsylvania. They are a non profit organization with fair rules for obtaining a dog. The dogs cost up to $19000 to breed, raise and train. The cost to families is only $5000. The family pays at least $500 on their own to demonstrate that they are able to afford to care for the dog. The other $4500 can be paid outright, earned through fundraising or by applying for financial assistance. The process in receiving assistance can involve a lengthy wait for available funds. | 
