Meet Izzy

Izzy is a kind, loving, sensitive, and active little boy. He loves to cuddle and freely gives hugs, kisses, and back rubs.

He is funny and likes to create jokes and rhymes with his big sister. He is intensely curious and is always full of questions—especially when someone is working on their car, or performing any handiwork around the house.

Izzy loves cars, motorcycles—in fact, anything with an engine fascinates him. Right now, he dreams of becoming a race-car driver or mechanic when he grows up. He often asks to see friends’ (or strangers’) car engines and can be found “fixing” his own toy vehicles. He loves to watch Formula 1 races with his dad, and watch the mechanics patch-up any of the damaged cars. A child of his time, he has a particular interest in electric vehicles, and has become quite the Formula E fan as well.

Izzy has ADHD and this disability can make life extra challenging for him and his family.

Izzy's Ruff Road

Izzy’s everyday life is significantly affected by communication, social, emotional, and sensory integration challenges. Izzy is a sweetheart, but quickly becomes frustrated if he feels something isn’t easily coming to him. It can be more difficult for him to focus on tasks and beats himself up when he feels he isn’t learning letters or numbers as quickly as some of his classmates. He is a smart boy and can understand very complex subjects quickly if they fall within the realm of his interests.

Occupational therapists, our pediatrician and teachers have all been helpful in giving us ways to help Izzy flourish. However, we have found that our awesome boy could benefit immensely from an equally awesome solution. Izzy’s teachers and providers have all agreed that a service dog will help Izzy with his impulse control and help him better engage and interact with his peers. We think this will help him approach difficult social situations and challenging academic environments with a greater sense of confidence and tranquility.

That's why we're fundraising for a service dog

After much consideration, we’ve decided to partner with Good Dog! Service Canines to get our son a service dog to help mitigate his challenges.

We think a service dog will assist Izzy in managing social situations and maintaining focus when surrounded by distractions. A service dog would provide a calming presence, and also provide Izzy grounding support to help with focus and self-regulation. We also hope a support dog would help Izzy with transitions between environments and activities—especially those that require different levels of energy. This type of support could also encourage more independence and help him feel more comfortable trying new experiences. The presence of a service dog may also help improve Izzy’s quality of sleep by providing a companion that could bring him comfort when he wakes up in the middle of the night.

Most of all, we want Izzy to know he is unconditionally loved and supported even when we cannot be with him. A service dog would be a constant friend to our boy and help him maintain a sense of calm and control, even in new or challenging situations.

How Will a Service Dog Help Izzy?

Federally recognized under the Americans with Disabilities Act, Izzy's service dog will be able to accompany him wherever he goes – school, parks, medical offices, stores, restaurants, etc.

Izzy's service dog will be trained specifically to meet his unique needs and may help by:

Assisting with social interactions and communication
Supplying deep pressure support and tactile stimulation for sensory regulation
Providing grounding support to help with calming, focus, and self-regulation
Reducing anxiety and frustration
Helping with transitional support between environments and activities
Improving his quality of sleep
Encouraging independence and trying new experiences
Serving as a visual reminder to others to be kind and patient
Giving unconditional love, comfort, and acceptance

Studies have shown the countless benefits service dogs provide by assisting special needs children and their families, improving their quality of life by reducing stress and anxiety, especially during family outings.

How Can You Help?

Click the donate button to directly contribute to Izzy’s service dog fundraiser!

Every donation, big or small, brings us closer to our goal. Your act of generosity will not only provide a service dog to Izzy, but it also creates a lasting bond that fosters independence and companionship. This bond will stay with Izzy for a lifetime, significantly impacting his life. How paw-some is that?!

If you prefer to donate by check, please indicate "Izzy's Pawsitive Pal" on the memo line and mail it to:

Good Dog! Service Canines
Attn: Izzy's Pawsitive Pal
855 South Main Avenue, Suite K-162
Fallbrook, California 92028

Please note that mailed donations are recorded and deposited at the end of each month, and checks received after the month's deposit will be combined with the following month's deposit. To receive an email receipt of your donation, please include your email address with your check.

Remember, your donation applies to many corporate matching programs. Please check with your HR department to get your company's support!

Wags + Gratitude

We thank you for your generosity, compassion, and kindness.

We cannot do this without you, and we are so grateful that you have taken the time to read our story and want to help make this next chapter full of love and wags!

Please share our story and this fundraiser with your friends, family, and co-workers.

Sincerely,

Izzy's Family

Good Dog! Service Canines is dedicated to bringing the benefits of the human-canine relationship to children with disabilities and their families. Our highly skilled pups not only provide assistance and independence but also bring hope, joy, and laughter back into the lives of those who need it most.

We invest an average of $32,000 to raise, care and train each service dog as well as educate and support each family who receives them. Currently, we add 8-10 new teams to the Good Dog! Family each year, in addition to supporting our active Good Dog! Teams. That means we must raise up to $320,000 annually. To help us offset these expenses, families pledge to contribute at least $16,000 towards their $32,000 service dog program costs, qualifying for matching with a service dog when they reach $26,000 of their goal amount.

Caring for a disabled child can come with emotional and financial struggles, but we believe that shouldn't stop any family from having access to cover the costs of their service dog.

That's why we created the Good Dog! Scholarship Fund.

For families struggling to raise the remaining amount of their service dog programs, we're here to help. The Good Dog! Scholarship Fund offers financial aid once they've met their minimum pledge requirements.

With your support, we can provide life-changing service dogs to Good Dog! Families in need, at little or no cost. Let's work hand in paw to create a brighter future!

All gifts are received with the greatest of gratitude from us all.

About Good Dog! Service Canines

Good Dog! Autism Companions was founded in 2011 by the parents of an autistic boy. After getting a service dog for their son, they soon realized the life-changing benefits these dogs could provide to so many more. Today, Good Dog! Service Canines provides highly trained service dogs to children with disabilities and their families, helping them live better lives! Each dog is professionally trained using only positive reinforcement methods because we believe the true power of the human/canine bond is brought about through a loving, trusting relationship. Good Dog! Autism Companions, founded in 2011, has expanded its services to help more kids and families. We are now doing business as Good Dog! Service Canines. Thanks to all whose support let the love grow!

For more information, visit gooddogservicecanines.org.

Izzy's Pawsitive Pal

By GOOD DOG AUTISM COMPANIONS

Izzy's Pawsitive Pal

Good Dog! Family Service Dog Fundraiser

Team Members