Meet Mason

Mason is a six-year-old Texan boy who radiates with joy from life's simplest pleasures -- a gentle breeze, the cool softness of dirt, a pleasing melody, and above all else, anything cozy enough to snuggle up with.

He enjoys exploring his favorite indoor and outdoor parks, bouncing on trampolines until his muscles are spent, and loves spending his downtime snuggled up in bed with his mom.

Mason also has an incredible ear for music! Whether remixing his favorite Christian worship songs to create a one-of-a-kind beat or joyfully stimming to whatever song suits him that day, his iPad is never out of reach.

It's obvious to everyone that Mason is so much fun to be around!

But you may not know that Mason is also on the Autism Spectrum, a lifelong developmental disability that causes significant social, communication, and behavioral challenges.

Mason's Ruff Road with Autism

Despite the sheer joy he exudes from life's simplest pleasures, Mason's experience with autism makes day-to-day life complicated and uncomfortable for him, especially when it comes to social situations and navigating the outside world.

Mason is non-speaking.

Despite not speaking, he communicates quite effectively. He is adept at using his ACC device but frequently chooses non-verbal cues to express his needs.

As you can imagine, miscommunication and the inability to vocalize certain thoughts would lead to frustration for anyone, let alone a six-year-old child. It's particularly heartbreaking when Mason becomes frustrated because he knows what he wants to communicate but doesn't know how.

Mason struggles with sensory regulation.

Mason's sensory processing disorder, a common challenge faced by many autistic children, sparks an intense yearning for tactile stimulation that can be baffling and overwhelming for him. As he craves more and more input, you can see on his face that he doesn't understand why.

This relentless need for sensory input often leaves Mason feeling agitated, overwhelmed, and misunderstood. He could happily indulge in deep pressure all day, but sometimes it's not feasible or appropriate.

For instance, entertaining guests at home or being out in public can become challenging when Mason suddenly requests someone to lay on him – a request that can't always be accommodated.

When Mason's sensory needs go unmet, he gets distressed, and onlookers often mistakenly perceive him as misbehaving.

In truth, his body is screaming for something it feels essential.

This is his body's fight-or-flight response.

This is not misbehavior.

Simple activities are not so simple.

Everyday activities that many of us take for granted, such as going to a friend's house, attending birthday parties, getting a babysitter, going to a doctor's appointment, or even something as mundane as a quick stop at the grocery store, can become an insurmountable obstacle for Mason due to his anxiety and desire for routine.

Looking at the world through his eyes, can you really blame his social anxiety?

As Mason's gotten older, there came a pivotal point where our outings took on a different tone, and our family came to realize just how much our son is heavily judged by the world around him:

... his joyful stims transformed from endearing to peculiar
... his once cherished loud noises and hums now raised concerns
... grace and patience once extended vanished as people's perceptions of Mason shifted
... we were met with critical and cautious glances rather than kindness and understanding

The reality is autism creates moments of emotional exhaustion and stress for all of us.

Autism challenges many aspects of Mason’s life. It also impacts the lives of his family members, who are also touched in significant ways as they navigate this journey together with empathy, love, and support.

Mason's closest bonds are with his Mom and Dad.

He coexists with his brothers but doesn't actively engage or interact with them (or other children). He isn't one to pursue friendships, and he feels uneasy when peers approach him for conversation or play. Mason's brothers grapple with the reality that he hasn't played with them or shown any desire to do so.

As they grow together and learn to understand Mason's world, there is hope that they can forge a new kind of bond that transcends conventional interaction and celebrates the special connection they share as siblings.

Now we're ready for a pawsitively life-changing solution.

It is tough for any parent to watch their child struggle, but this becomes increasingly true when your child has a disability.

When it comes to helping your child thrive, you won't leave a single stone unturned when it comes to finding every resource possible to help your child navigate this life.

That is why we've decided to get Mason a service dog - a furry friend who would provide him sensory support, act as his social buffer to set him at ease in public places and provide the comforting companionship he deserves.

How Will a Service Dog Help Mason?

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

Mason'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.

We decided to partner with Good Dog! Service Canines in getting Mason his service dog. We wish we had started them from the start of our journey, but we are glad we ended up going with them after seeing how much pride this organization takes in its work. From the application process to matching to training and follow-up care, this organization seems the best, paws down!

How Can You Help?

Click the donate button to directly contribute to Mason’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 Mason, but it also creates a lasting bond that fosters independence and companionship. This bond will stay with Mason for a lifetime, significantly impacting his life. How paw-some is that?!

If you prefer to donate by check, please indicate "Mason's Marvelous Pup Mate" on the memo line and mail it to:

Good Dog! Service Canines
Attn: Mason's Marvelous Pup Mate
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,

The Armstrong 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.

Mason's Marvelous Pup Mate

Good Dog! Family Service Dog Fundraiser

Team Members