Jack (R) and his Autism Assistance Dog Dinero enjoying some time in their backyard. Dinero is not only an Assistance Dog, but also a companion and best friend to Jack.
CENTRAL POINT, OR – Dogs for the Deaf, Inc. has successfully placed their third Autism Assistance Dog with a young client in southern Oregon. Dinero, a 2 ½-year old black Labrador, better suited for autism work, came to Dogs for the Deaf from Guide Dogs for the Blind (San Rafael, California).
Dinero successfully completed his Autism Assistance Dog training at Dogs for the Deaf in February 2017 and now resides with a family in White City, Oregon. Certified Assistance Dog Trainer Jessica Reichmuth spent six months training Dinero teaching him the skills necessary to work with a child on the Autism Spectrum.
Dinero has a significant impact on the life of this child with autism and his family, as evidenced by the family’s recent trip to the Oregon Coast. “Dinero is more than just a dog to Jack (client). He is his confidant, best friend, and grounding agent when the world appears so vast and unyielding,” stated his mother Whitney.
Dinero is the third Autism Assistance Dog in the last ten months to be trained and placed by Dogs for the Deaf. Dogs for the Deaf is now inviting applicants aged 4-11 years old and residing in southern and central Oregon, to apply for an Autism Assistance Dog. As of May 1, 2017, Dogs for the Deaf has expanded the application area to central Oregon, which includes Roseburg, Eugene, and Bend. In the near future the program will expand state-wide, and eventually nationally across the United States.
Current data from the Centers for Disease Control states that 1 in 68 children in the United States are on the Autism spectrum. As a result, there is a tremendous need for Autism Assistance Dogs and Dogs for the Deaf is working to meet this ever growing need.
Dogs for the Deaf also specializes in Hearing Assistance Dogs trained to alert people who are deaf or hard of hearing to household sounds and Program Assistance Dogs trained to assist professionals such as teachers, counselors, and physicians. Dogs for the Deaf has been rescuing
dogs from shelters and training them to become Hearing Dogs and Program Dogs with qualified clients throughout the United States for nearly forty years. In the 2015-16 fiscal year, Dogs for the Deaf placed 22 Assistance Dogs across the United States.
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Dogs for the Deaf is a national 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization professionally training Certified Assistance Dogs and placing them across the country since 1977. Accredited through Assistance Dogs International, Dogs for the Deaf has been regionally and nationally recognized for its excellence, including Oregon Business’ “100 Best Nonprofits to Work For in Oregon,” top-rated by donors with GreatNonprofits, and a four-star rating with Charity Navigator. Dogs for the Deaf depends solely on the generosity.
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