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Family seeking service dog for autistic sonMay 06, 2013 (Republican & Herald - McClatchy-Tribune Information Services via COMTEX) -- If enough donations are received, an 8-year-old boy could have his request for a dog come true. Matthew Peleschak, Pottsville, was diagnosed with autism and attention deficit disorder at 5 years old by a pediatric doctor. "He asked for a dog around Christmas," his mother, Annelle Peleschak, 34, said Thursday. Matthew attends John S. Clark Elementary Center in the Pottsville Area School District. He is in an autism support class with five students. Annelle said after her son asked for a dog, she did research on the Internet and discovered 4 Paws for Ability Inc., a nonprofit in Ohio that provides dogs for children and others to help them live to their full potential. After filling out required documentation, the family has been approved for the dog. The average cost for a dog, including training and other essentials, is about $22,000. Of that amount, those approved for a dog must pay $13,000, with the rest covered by various monetary funds. So far, the family has about $2,000, with help coming from family and friends, among others. "The dog probably isn't even born yet," Annelle said. Getting the dog could help Matthew in many ways. It could increase his vocabulary because he would have to learn commands and what they mean, increase his social interaction and the dog could prevent Matthew from going where he is not allowed. His dad said the dog could also redirect Matthew if his behavior is less than desirable such as trying to play with the boy. "Matthew has no perception of safety," his dad, Matthew, said, adding it is something that is related to his autism. His parents said they thought something was different when Matthew was between 6 and 9 months old. "He was late to walk. He was late to talk," Annelle said. He was diagnosed with Pervasive Developmental Disorder before he was 2 years old. Social and communication skills are delayed for those with the disorder. According to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, there is no known cause. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that 1 in 88 children has an Autism Spectrum Disorder. Children with ADHD may have trouble with attention spans and difficulty with behavior, according to National Institutes of Mental website at nimh.nih.gov. "Social settings are real difficult," he said. For example, when the family goes out to eat, Matthew often wants to leave after he is finished eating. "When he's done, he wants to leave," his dad said. Training the dog would take 11 months. Matthew and his parents would go to Ohio to interact with the dog before it came to their home. The dog will be at least 1 1/2 years old, his dad said, and the family will get to keep the dog. "It's permanent. It's his," he said They will get the dog when they get the $13,000. They said there is no timeline for when they must have the money. Matthew has a brother, Ronny, 4, and a sister, Caitlyn, 6. Often, his outlet is using his iPad to watch cartoon shows on the Internet. "Unfortunately, he rarely plays with toys at all," his dad said. His attention span can vary. "At times it could be as short as 30 seconds," he said. Both parents said they want acceptance for their son, who is most often happy. "A walk. A walk. A walk," Matthew said to his dad. He told his son they couldn't go now. In the future, the boy could be going on a walk with a dog next to him. To make a donation for the dog, visit www.4pawsForAbility.org/donate-now or send a check to 4 Paws for Ability Inc. in honor of Matthew Peleschak, 253 Dayton Ave. Xenia, OH 45385. Please write for Matthew Peleschak on the memo line. To learn about autism and ADHD, visit www.cdc.gov. ___ (c)2013 the Republican & Herald (Pottsville, Pa.) Visit the Republican & Herald (Pottsville, Pa.) at republicanherald.com Distributed by MCT Information Services |