Dogs play a key role in Alaska’s history, and now a Skagway child needs an autism assistance dog to keep him safe from everyday dangers. With tourists numbering over 10,000 a day during tourist season, it would be easy to lose a wandering child. Besides being the state sport, dog sled teams used to carry supplies and medicine to remote villages and keep the prospectors going. And to be part of an occasional miracle. Here’s Jami Leeth to explain:
My son, little Trapper Leeth, needs a miracle. The 1925 story of Balto and his amazing serum run to the village of Nome segues into our family’s need in 2008 for a highly trained autism service dog.
Trapper turned three in November 2007. He’d developed a small vocabulary, but at about 18 months he stopped all talk, eye contact decreased, and our whole world changed. In April 2007 Trapper was diagnosed with PDD, an Autism Spectrum Disorde that makes his life very difficult...
Trapper has no speech. He shows little eye contact and doesn’t respond to his name. He can’t comprehend simple commands like “Sit down” or “Come here.” If you know anything about autism, you’re aware that the word “meltdown” is not just a word in the dictionary. When our little guy becomes over-stimulated or angry (and this happens daily), he screams, arches his back, and is inconsolable for long periods of time.
And then there’s fear, something that Trapper experiences in one way, while his parents and older sister experienced fear in other ways. Trapper doesn’t understand the dangers of water, fire, vehicles…anything that’s dangerous for little children. He loves to climb fences, crawl under vehicles, and hide. Because he doesn’t respond when called, you can imagine some of the situations we’ve found ourselves in, even though we do our best to watch him every minute.
How amazing a service dog would be in not only Trapper's life, but for our entire family. We are beside ourselves with our active, curious, super-fast child. Safety has been our biggest concern. My husband and I want to feel that his word is a little safer. I think we have aged ten years in one year on this issue alone.
The town we live in is all about history: Skagway is the first city of Alaska and "The Gateway to the Klondike." Our population is about 800 people in the winter and we’re making sure everyone here understands Trapper's autism. If ever he escapes or if the worst become reality and we cannot find him, everyone in this town will know what he looks like. That’s one reason that living here is so wonderful, even though the lack of services for Trapper is a major issue. His father and I feel a service dog may be the key to helping him navigate our world a little better.
Skagway is a tourist town in the summer, bringing over 10,000 people a day into our tiny city. We are surrounded by mountain forests, waterfalls, and a raging (in the summer) Skagway River. In winter it is a "not solid" ice floe. If I showed you a map, you would see our house, cross the road to the airport strip, and cross that to the river. It’s a huge safety issue because of Trapper’s speedy getaways.
Also, with so many people flooding the town, strangers are also an issue. Trapper has no understanding that someone could hurt him. The crowds here from May to October also bring more traffic, noise, and crowds. This overwhelms Trapper. Meltdowns are inevitable, and they get worse as he gets older. Going to the store or to get a coffee at the local coffee shop with him is a challenge.
A service dog would also be a constant companion for Trapper, helping to calm him if he should become over-stimulated, providing him with a sense of independence from his hovering family. Trapper will be tethered to his dog, who will be his best friend, and this will prevent him from running away or into traffic.
Trapper can figure out anything after seeing it done only once, like locks and doors. He is curious, and this adds to his need to explore. His favorite thing to figure out is how to escape a room. Yet another reason for a trained service dog.
While Trapper has sweet dreams about escaping; my dreams about his escaping are nightmares. It’s difficult to sleep well wondering when he’ll decide to figure out how to defeat the locks we have and go outside at night. Massive bears and wolves occasionally wander close to town, and they pose an increased risk, as if the weather issues weren’t enough.
Another aspect of seeking out a service dog is tied in with his social response to others. We are praying this dog will be a friend he can count on. And a friend we can count on. At three, Trapper is not interested in other children, but later on, things will change. We pray this amazing dog will be an open door for others to speak to him or notice him for something other than having a public meltdown.
After reading and searching the Internet, we have learned that Trapper is the second child in Alaska that we know of to have an Autism Assistance Service Dog through 4 Paws for Ability. The first was Leo Bernert, of Anchorage, just last year. In my application, after giving a brief history, I explained about Trapper's need for safety, independence, a friend who never leaves his side, and who is a comfort during sensory overload…a dog that is trained to respond to Trapper's need of pressure, as with touches or hugs.
On October 27th, 2007 we were busy making breakfast when the phone range. It was Karen Shirk of 4 Paws on the phone. Trapper had been approved for a service dog. I was so excited. I asked about 700 questions and couldn't wait to read more about what to do next. I was nervous about the fundraising and the fact that we were leaving on vacation the following morning wasn't helping with my anxiety.
Originally our plan was to return to Alaska on Nov. 30th, but after only four days visiting in California my children, Katlynn (4), and Trapper (2), my mother (50), grandmother (82), my youngest brother (14), my niece (2), and I (30)...were all in a vehicle roll-over.
The children were okay, with barely a scratch. I was the most critical. My head was split open, and I had three fractures in my neck and three in my back. I was transported by air to a hospital in Southern Oregon. After five days, I was released to my mother's care and told not to travel for three months. This put a huge damper on fundraising for our son.
The good news is after two months, I was permitted to come back home to Skagway in neck and body braces, and ready to raise funds for our Trapper.
Life has been even harder on Trapper since the accident. I am thankful to be alive and walking, and am recovering well, but it is just plain painful for me to pick Trapper up, hold him, or even squeeze him tight like he likes. His daddy and sister, Katie, help Trapper, and me but he clings to me mostly, and doesn't seem to understand. But this is only temporary. In the meantime, almost all our efforts are going toward fundraising for our miracle dog.
If you can help with a tax-free donation, please go to 4 Paws for Ability and indicate that it's for Trapper Leeth. Thank you.
For more info on Trapper Leeth, click here to go to his blog.
Note from Judy: 4 Paws for Ability is an amazing nonprofit organization located in Xenia, Ohio. It provides highly trained service dogs in many areas, but does require that approved families raise funds to train the dog. Please consider this lonely little boy whose life will change significantly upon receiving his dog. Read the testimonials. Reading them could change your life. It changed mine.