Meet Vincent

Vincent is a Sociable, Energetic and Charismatic 7-year-old who lives in California with his parents and 3 siblings.

Vincent's enthusiasm for communication and engagement with others is truly remarkable. His deep desire to be understood and connect with people not only reflects his resilience but also offers those around him a valuable lesson in patience and empathy. His infectious laughter and the way he encourages people to dance and sing with him bring joy to any gathering. Vincent's natural inclination to be the center of attention is endearing, as it showcases his outgoing and friendly personality.

Moreover, Vincent's love for activities like dancing, swimming, and spending time with his favorite people highlights his zest for life. His passion for music, movies, and even roller coasters adds an element of adventure to his character, demonstrating that he embraces life's pleasures with enthusiasm and a sense of wonder. Vincent's positive qualities are a testament to his ability to inspire those around him to appreciate the simple joys of life and to cherish moments of connection and shared happiness.

Vincent has Down Syndrome and a Speech and Language Impairment. These disabilities can make life extra challenging for him and his family.

Vincent's Ruff Road

Vincent's everyday life is significantly affected by communication, social, emotional, and sensory integration challenges. At the playground, Vincent often resorts to yelling or making high-pitched vocalizations to be heard, which can sometimes be perceived as scary by other children, leading them to walk away. Due to his limited verbal language that is not easily understandable by his peers, others are often scared when he yells, even though he may be doing so out of frustration or to seek attention. Vincent's struggles with communication often result in peers or strangers giving up on attempting to have a conversation with him, as he doesn't communicate in the same conventional way.

Additionally, Vincent employs negative behaviors as a means to gain attention, such as removing clothing items, yelling, or running away from tasks, sometimes leading adults to chase after him. While he frequently laughs, his lack of safety awareness can make this behavior dangerous, especially when he places objects in his mouth or excessively chews on his shirt, which can lead to damaged toys and clothing. Furthermore, he often sucks his fingers to the point of causing them to peel. Despite redirection to remove his fingers from his mouth, Vincent tends to respond negatively and may engage in arm-slapping when excited. His limited understanding of social cues and lack of toilet training contribute to the need for constant supervision, even during sleep.

Vincent's disability has a profound impact on our family, and its influence extends beyond just his care. Our daily existence revolves around meeting his high level of needs, and this includes the experiences of his siblings, who carry an immense emotional weight as they witness their brother's challenges. Their lives are shaped by both love and the realities of his condition, fostering resilience, compassion, and understanding that go far beyond their years. We seek your support to not only improve Vincent's quality of life but also provide much-needed assistance and opportunities for his siblings, who navigate this journey alongside him. Your contribution can make a lasting difference, offering hope, stability, and a brighter future for our entire family.

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 disabilities.

Introducing a service dog into our family is a heartfelt decision rooted in our deep desire to transform our son Vincent's daily experiences. We believe that having a loyal dog by his side will shift the focus from his disability to the warmth and comfort of a canine companion. More than anything, we envision this furry friend becoming a bridge that brings peers closer to Vincent instead of pushing them away, ultimately alleviating his sense of isolation in social settings.

The journey to this momentous decision has been long, and we see it as an essential next step for Vincent's growth and for our family's unity. As he grows, he's becoming increasingly aware of the differences that set him apart from others. It's our fervent wish to gift him a tool, a four-legged friend, that not only lessens his sense of solitude but also brings him peace and connection with the world around him. Our reasons for seeking a service dog are numerous, but they all converge on the interactions he faces daily – encounters at parks, stores, school, and beyond, where children run away in fear or strangers stare with wide eyes. With your support, we aim to give Vincent the gift of companionship, understanding, and the chance to be just another kid, united with his family as they embark on life's adventures together. Your assistance can make this heartfelt dream a reality.

How Will a Service Dog Help Vincent?

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

Vincent'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 Vincent 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 Vincent’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 Vincent, but it also creates a lasting bond that fosters independence and companionship. This bond will stay with Vincent for a lifetime, significantly impacting his life. How paw-some is that?!

If you prefer to donate by check, please indicate "Vincent’s Partner in Paws" on the memo line and mail it to:

Good Dog! Service Canines
Attn: Vincent’s Partner in Paws
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 Sowell 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.

Vincent’s Partner in Paws

By GOOD DOG AUTISM COMPANIONS

Vincent’s Partner in Paws

Good Dog! Family Service Dog Fundraiser