Ethan Schmidt & Autism Assist Dog Noble
Amy Schmidt vividly remembers trying to run a quick errand at Target with her elementary-age son Ethan. Ethan was content in the car as they were moving, but the moment she parked, and Ethan had a chance to see where they were, he began kicking and screaming and having a meltdown. When Ethan becomes frustrated, he lashes out, hitting and biting himself and others. He has difficulty transitioning from place to place and his interactions with people—especially in public places—creates a lot of stress.
“For a few years, I couldn’t even take him into a store. We started going out less and less—either my husband or I would stay home with Ethan and the other would go out and run errands.”
Diagnosed with autism at the age of four, Ethan changed from a “personable” toddler, one who interacted with others and imitated the sounds he heard around him, into a child who didn’t make eye contact with anyone. Other noticeable changes were that Ethan wouldn’t acknowledge when someone else entered the room and he began to injure himself when he was angry.
Not realizing that Autism Assist Dogs existed, Amy finally saw information in the Autism Resource Guide about Can Do Canines and immediately went home to fill out an application. Even though it took three years until a two-year-old Labrador retriever named Noble joined their household, Amy says it was worth the wait.
There are subtle, but significant, changes in Ethan’s behavior. With Autism Assist Dog Noble’s calming presence, Ethan is able to go into stores and out in public more.
“What impressed me the most was the first day Ethan went out and took Noble for a walk,” Amy says, “I thought initially that might be a problem, but it hasn’t been.”
Even when Ethan doesn’t want to be around anyone and is in his room, his faithful Noble can be found lying right outside his bedroom door. And when Ethan’s upset, Noble calms him.
“He begins to take it in stride and gets much less stressed out,” she says.
Noble is described by his Puppy Raisers as a cuddly, smart and a super calm dog. Amy says, “I am so thankful that people are able and willing to do be Puppy Raisers—they are just a godsend. If it weren’t for them, we wouldn’t have him.”
Through grateful tears, Amy acknowledges the donors and Puppy Raisers have helped changed their lives for the better. “I’m so glad we have him.”
Thank you to all those who made this partnership possible:
Puppy Raiser—Judy & Don Cochran
Long-term Foster Homes—The Inmate Handlers at the Minnesota Correctional Facility at Faribault
Contact Us
Location
