Custom Trained Autism Response Dog Delivered to 4-Year-Old Girl in Hollister, California

Service Dogs by Warren Retrievers has hand-delivered a highly trained Autism Service Dog to four-year-old Kelani in Hollister, California this week.

PRESS RELEASE: DEC 11, 2017

Four-year-old Kelani from Hollister, California, has received a very special delivery this week. Service Dogs by Warren Retrievers has hand-delivered their Autism Service Dog named “Rusty.” Based in Madison, Virginia, Service Dogs by Warren Retrievers (SDWR) has a mission to provide specially bred and trained dogs for adults and children of all ages with invisible disabilities like Diabetes, PTSD, Seizure Disorders, or in the case of Kelani—Autism Spectrum Disorder. SDWR has nearly 600 service dogs working across the US and around the globe. SDWR is currently serving nearly 1,000 families.
Rusty, a labrador retriever Autism Service Dog, has already received thousands of hours of training through SDWR’s service dog in training program where volunteers raise puppies beginning at age 4 months in training for about a period of one year. These future service dogs are then taught through the foundation and skill set training provided through SDWR trainers at the facility in Virginia. Rusty will continue to learn under the careful guidance of a certified trainer from SDWR and through the rapport he builds with Kelani and her family.
Kelani has developed a complex set of challenges in her young life. Diagnosed with Autism at age 3, Kelani has issues with elopement, sleeping through the night, meltdowns with Self Injurious Behavior, and lack of social skills. Kelani also struggles with sitting still in her classroom environment. Certain environments and sounds terrify her and she will simply drop to the floor and cover her ears. These are but a few of the common challenges of Autism Spectrum Disorder. Autism Service Dogs are trained to increase socialization and communication, improve sleep patterns, redirect from self harm, and prevent elopement.
Kelani’s younger sister, 2-year-old Lahela, is also diagnosed with Autism. “With two daughters, I can have my hands full with Lahela and not be able to comfort or attend to Kelani when this happens which results in an increased distress,” says their mother, Karla. Kelani’s family is hopeful that Rusty will be able to provide a sense of stability and comfort to their household.
Rusty has received essential training to assist Kelani and her family members to live happier and more enriching lives. Since Rusty is a service dog and covered under laws in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, he will be able to accompany Kelani and her family everywhere. This means Rusty will be able to go with the family to the water park in the summers, restaurants, the grocery store, and even the trampoline park.
Rusty will continue to work with the SDWR trainers to learn new skills to assist Kelani as well as to achieve public access certification. What sets SDWR apart from other non-profit service dog organizations are the customized training methods and SDWR matches dogs to their “person.” This is an 18-month program for follow up and customization training. Through progression, hard work, and dedication of the organization and the family, they will work together to build on training foundations and fundamentals.
Service Dogs by Warren Retrievers is a non-profit organization based in Madison, Virginia, and relies on donations to help the organization in its mission, “Until there’s a cure…there’s a dog.” To make or donation or learn more about SDWR, please visit the website, http://www.sdwr.org. To learn more about Autism Service Dogs visit http://www.sdwr.org/service-dogs/autism/. To find out how you can volunteer with SDWR visit http://www.sdwr.org/volunteer-opportunities/ .

Highly Trained Autism Service Dog to Help Twin Daughters Age Six in Chester, Maryland

Six-year old twin girls living in Chester, Maryland, received a very special Autism Service Dog delivery today from Service Dogs by Warren Retrievers.

PRESS RELEASE  UPDATED: OCT 19, 2017

CHESTER, Md., October 19, 2017 (Newswire.com) - Caitlyn and Riley, six-year-old twin girls living in Chester, Maryland, received a very special Autism Service Dog delivery today from Service Dogs by Warren Retrievers. Based in Madison, Virginia, Service Dogs by Warren Retrievers, or “SDWR,” has a mission to provide specially-bred and trained dogs for adults and children with invisible disabilities like Diabetes, PTSD, Seizure Disorders, or in the case of Caitlyn and Riley—Autism Spectrum Disorder. SDWR has nearly 600 service dogs working across the US and around the globe. SDWR is currently serving nearly 1,000 families.
Jillian, a golden retriever Autism Service Dog, has already received countless hours of training through SDWR’s service dog in training raiser program where volunteers raise puppies in training for approximately one year. The dogs and raisers must follow through the foundation and skill set training provided through SDWR trainers at the facility in Virginia.
Caitlyn and Riley were diagnosed on the Autism Spectrum at age 3. Caitlyn also suffers from anxiety and is verbal, but does a lot of scripting. Riley is almost completely nonverbal but has 10 emerging words, so her family is hopeful. Caitlyn and Riley’s mother, Emily, says while describing their diagnosis, “Riley does some self harming-bangs her head on things and hits herself when she gets frustrated. It is mostly due to being nonverbal. Caitlyn's eloping is the biggest concern. Also, we are mostly housebound with them and would love to get out in the community more.” Caitlyn and Riley’s family sought out an Autism Service Dog to give Caitlyn and Riley more tools to cope with his everyday difficulties while also providing them with some additional peace of mind.
Jillian will work with Caitlyn and Riley and their family to provide practical and emotional support for issues like elopement, overstimulation, and sleep patterns. Since Jillian is a service dog and covered under laws in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, she will help their family begin to spend more time outside the home despite stimuli that may be stressful to Caitlyn and Riley. SDWR will continue to work with Caitlyn and Riley’s parents and Jillian, to train for specific needs they may have. This training program at SDWR is what sets them apart from other non-profit service dog organizations. SDWR trainers will continue to return for training sessions with Caitlyn and Riley, their family and Jillian for the next 18 months every 3-4 months to continue developing Jillian’s skills to best fit their lifestyle and Caitlyn and Riley’s disability.
Service Dogs by Warren Retrievers is a non-profit organization based in Madison, Virginia, and relies on donations to help the organization in its mission, “Until the Puzzle's Solved …There’s a dog.” To make a donation or learn more about SDWR, please visit the website, http://www.sdwr.org.
To learn more about Autism Service Dogs visit http://www.sdwr.org/service-dogs/autism/. To find out how you can volunteer as a service dog in training raiser visit http://www.sdwr.org/volunteer-opportunities/.

Trained Autism Service Dog to Help Five-Year-Old Child in Springfield, Oregon

An Autism Service Dog was delivered to James, a five-year-old in Springfield, Oregon, from Service Dogs by Warren Retrievers.

PRESS RELEASE  UPDATED: SEP 25, 2017

SPRINGFIELD, Ore., September 21, 2017 (Newswire.com) - ​​James, a five-year-old in Springfield, Oregon, received a very special delivery today! An Autism Service Dog was delivered to James from Service Dogs by Warren Retrievers to help him better communicate his needs and respond to oncoming seizures. Based in Madison, Virginia, Service Dogs by Warren Retrievers, or “SDWR,” has a mission to provide specially-bred and trained dogs for people with invisible disabilities like Diabetes, PTSD, Seizure Disorders, or in the case of James—Autism Spectrum Disorder and Epilepsy. SDWR has nearly 600 service dogs working across the U.S. and around the globe. SDWR is currently serving nearly 1,000 families.
Leotta, a golden retriever Autism Service Dog, recently graduated from SDWR’s Service Dog Raiser Program where volunteers diligently raise puppies in training for over the course of approximately one year. Both the dogs and raisers must complete the foundation and skillset training provided through SDWR trainers at their facility in Virginia.
Leotta is also an honored graduate of the SDWR Fallen Officer Puppy Program. The Fallen Officer Puppy Program, or “FOPP,” is an initiative by SDWR to pay respect to the legacy of service by fallen American police who sacrificed their lives in the line of duty. Leotta is named in honor of fallen Police Officer III Noah Aaron Leotta of Montgomery County, Maryland who was struck by a drunk driver in 2015. Leotta’s Autism Service Dog work with James will carry on in memoriam of Officer Aaron Leotta’s life of service before self.
James was diagnosed on the Autism Spectrum and with Epilepsy at two years old. Because of this diagnosis, James is nonverbal and does not recognize dangerous situations or items which may be harmful to him. “He will run, touch hot surfaces, pull a bookshelf down, run in front of cars. He can't communicate his needs, he is nonverbal. We don't always know if he is going to have a seizure or feeling unwell or overwhelmed by his surroundings,” says Paige, mother of service dog recipient. Leotta will assist in reducing the effects each diagnosis has on the family’s independence and daily life by continuously working with James.
The public health medical journal, BMJ Open, recently published research on the positive evidence of the difference a service dog can make in correlation with Autism Therapy. The study indicated that recipients of a service dog showed improved safety from self-harm and wandering, greater communication ability, and a calmer demeanor. SDWR trainers work directly with each individual to provide service dogs that fit their unique diagnosis.
Leotta’s arrival will assist James when he is feeling overwhelmed and/or alert others when he is having a seizure that is unrecognizable to the untrained eye. Since Leotta is a service dog and covered under laws in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, he will be able to accompany James and his family everywhere—especially where Leotta is most needed like while riding the school bus.
This training program is what sets SDWR apart from other nonprofit service dog organizations. SDWR trainers will continue to return for training sessions with James, his parents, and Leotta every 3-4 months over the course of the next 18 months to continue working on Leotta’s customized training, follow-up training and training the human to make a successful team and public access certification.
Service Dogs by Warren Retrievers is a nonprofit organization based in Madison, Virginia, and relies on donations to help the Organization in its mission, “Until there’s a cure…there’s a dog.” To make or donation or learn more about SDWR, please visit the website, http://www.sdwr.org. To learn more about Autism Service Dogs go to http://www.sdwr.org/service-dogs/autism. To find out how you can volunteer as a puppy raiser visit http://www.sdwr.org/volunteer-opportunities.