April is autism awareness month

Since April is designated as Autism Awareness month it seems like a suiting time to spend more time talking about, Autism and our efforts behind our autism awareness dog collars, leashes, etc. Most of you reading this already know that many of the items on Felinefido.com are products we have created that are near and dear to us. This also applies to the products we have designed to support awareness for autism. -- Let me stop for one second to toss in a number and please pause and think about this for one moment...it is now estimated that 1 in 150 children are diagnosed with some type of Autism Spectrum disorder. -- Did you give that a chance to sink in? 1 in 150. This is an epidemic -- we need to use our voices to promote awareness, donate to causes benefiting those with autism and donating to research efforts.

A few months back we elected to donate a portion of our autism awareness dog collars, leashes, key fobs, etc. to a special organization called 4 Paws for Ability that specializes in training and placing autism service dogs . More and more families are coming forward to rave about the positive experience that is a result of the addition of an autism service dog. Yesterday, ABC posted a story about service dogs helping autistic children. The article includes several personal accounts from families that currently have a service dog for their autistic child, a few of them from 4 Paws for Ability.

We currently donate to 4 Paws for Ability in honor of a little boy in Alaska named Trapper Leeth. We posted about him a few months back, you can read the previous post here. Trapper's family resides in a remote area of Alaska where his wandering tendancies can pose a huge danger in particular. Trapper has been approved for his service dog and is in the process of trying to raise the $13,000 donation needed to train and raise his dog through the 4 Paws for Ability program. Thanks to so many generous folks, he is nearly 1/2 way through his fundraising requirements. We are excited to hear this news and hope that through the donations made through so many caring folks, their local community, some generous businesses contributing to their cause and our autism awareness product sales that we will be able to see Trapper bring his dog home within the next year! If you have it in your heart to help, you can donate directly by visiting Trapper's website.

Skagway, Alaska - Small town, Big Heart

Many of you know that we are supporting the efforts of a 3 year old boy in alaska to bring home his autism assistance dog. We were so excited to read the story Trapper's Keepers (as a child of the 80's I can certainly appreciate this cute article title!)in his hometown newspaper, the Skagway News. Have a looky at the article, you'll really gain some insight as to what this family has been through and overcome in less than a year. You'll also get to see a cute photo of the Leeth family at dessert time!

It just goes to show you how much heart lives within a small town. The local community is really pulling together to help the Leeth family. Just a few weeks ago, their local fire department raised over $1,000 towards Trapper's fundraising requirement. A local church is hosting a spaghetti dinner in Trapper's honor, the Skagway police department has an event coming up where a "criminal" can call friends and family to post his faux bond to bail him out of 'jail' and lastly a silent auction is being held this week. All the money raised from these events will be donated to 4 Paws for Ability in honor of Trapper Leeth.

Trapper still needs well over $11,000 before he raises the $13,000 required to bring home his autism assistance dog. A dog that will also be trained in search and rescue , which is crucial to keeping Trapper safe from the elements and natural wildlife that surround him and his home in remote Alaska.

If you have the heart to help this wonderful little boy, please visit 4 Paws for Ability and make a donation in honor of Trapper Leeth. Be sure to include Trapper's name on your donation! Just a few dollars, the money from your daily cup of coffee can add up quickly and make a huge difference for this family.

Lastly, a big thanks all that have posted about Trapper's Dog and spread awareness about Trapper and Autism. His family has been touched by all the support and warm wishes and all the awesome folks that have posted about him on their blogs. Thank you all!

Help this little boy bring home his assistance dog

A few days ago, I wrote to tell you about some plans to shift our autism donations to a group that provides service dogs to autistic children. I also metioned that google had guided me from link to link to link, which is how I arrived at 4 Paws for Ability. First though, I stumbled upon the webpage of Trapper Leeth, a 3 year old boy with Autism.

Trapper's family started updating their website after learning of his autism diagnosis in April, 2007. Guess what? Trapper has been approved for an autism assistance dog. Great news, right? YES! However, before he can bring his dog home he must meet his fundraising goal of $13,000. Not an easy task to begin with, but Trapper's fundraising is several months behind where it should be. Just days after Trapper's family was notified of their approval for a service dog, they were involved in a very serious vehicle roll-over accident. Trapper's mother, Jami, was hospitalized in Oregon and subsequently released to the care of her mother with strict orders not to travel. She returned home to Alaska, 3 MONTHS later - in body braces! Any of us parents out there know what an exhausting task it is chasing after a toddler, but can you imagine having this sort of set back?

Trapper & his family live in a remote area in Alaska. They must travel several hours by Ferry, to get much needed medical service for both Trapper and his mother. Have you ever traveled hours at time by boat with two small children? YIKES!

Please learn more about the Leeth family by visiting their website. You'll also find a wealth of information about autism, service dogs. Meanwhile, we will work hard to get the word out for Trapper. Don't forget, 15% of the proceeds from all Feline Fido Autism Awareness Dog Collars, Leashes & Key fobs will be donated to 4 Paws for Ability in honor of Trapper Leeth.


Please share this story, the more the word gets out, the more support we can rally to bring home Trapper's dog! Hopefully a business or entity with resources larger than ours will have the heart to help this beautiful, strong, inspiring family in Alaska. I hope that soon enough, we'll all be introduced to the dog that changed the world for this family.

P.S.
Here is a slideshow of Trapper & his family.