A buddy for Austin: Arctic Paws training service dog for 8-year-old autistic boy

WILLOW — Eight-year old Austin Jennings of Willow is afflicted with

autism. He communicates, but, like many autistic children, is prone to

not paying full attention when doing something. His father Andreas

(Andy), has taken it upon himself to raise funds for a service dog for

Austin. But the elder Jennings doesn’t plan on stopping his effort

after securing the needed money for his son’s companion.

“I would feel guilty if I stopped after Austin,” said Jennings who

works as a correctional officer at Mat-Su Pretrial Facility. “I’ve

been in Willow for 25-plus years and I can think of quite a few who

could benefit (from having a service dog).”

Jennings said his main impetus for acquiring a service dog is to help

keep his son safe in public.

“One of my biggest concerns would be if he wandered off. We live next

to the Su (Susitna) River. Sometimes he doesn’t pay attention. Having

a service dog would be a huge asset and a great piece of mind,” said

Jennings. “It would also provide a search and rescue-trained K9 if he

were to wander off.”

Jennings said both drowning and exposure is among the leading causes

of death for an autistic child. He said an autism-trained service dog

can keep that person from wandering and away from bodies of water.

“Autistic children are drawn to bodies of water which is why drowning

is a leading concern for missing autistic children,” said Jennings. “A

lot of autistic children do not recognize danger like wildlife or

traffic. A service dog would be able to recognize these dangers (and

redirect) the individual away from (that) danger.”

Jennings said most people with autism experience sensory overload

causing them to act out or feel extreme anxiety in larger social

gatherings such as stores or other place where the public congregates.

He said service dogs are trained to recognize such situations and can

help the person refocus and/or calm themselves thus reducing the

chance of acting unsafely or running off.

Jennings is getting help and direction from Arctic Paws, a non-profit,

501 (c) 3 agency based in Willow. Arctic Paws’ main focus is to assist

families and/or individuals in mobility assist, seizure alerts and

autism assist.

The organization states it takes particular pride in its service dogs

trained to help families with autistic children. The service dog is

trained in a team approach with the parents and child. Having he

family involved allows the canine to assist parents in calming a child

in crisis, in addition to the individual focus the dog gives the

child.

The plan

Jennings said he has applied for grants to help offset the estimated

$8,500 cost Just over a month ago. He is not only unsure if and how

much grant funding may be available but Jennings said he’s not waiting

around. He is expecting to find out within the next couple of weeks if

the grant application process pays off adding he’s not the kind of

person that would consider starting a gofundme account to assist in

the cause.

“I started thinking...I’ll make fudge. And I can’t have it because I’m

lactose intolerant,” Jennings said. He said Roni’s Chinook Deli and

Pizza in Willow volunteered to be an outlet for the sugary confection.

“They told me to bring in a couple of batches.”

Jennings said he keeps a meticulous kitchen, to the point of being

obsessive about it. Everything from set-up and preparation is done

under the cleanest conditions possible. So about the middle of last

month, on a Monday which Jennings said is his official fudge-making

day, he concocted six batches and delivered it to Roni’s the following

day. Sitting on the counter are neatly wrapped packages of chocolaty

goodness with a donation can explaining where the funds are going.

“Within the first day, we made $50. It floored me,” Jennings said. “I

wasn’t ready for that much.”

Sales in the heart of Willow have been brisk. Jennings said he crossed

the $600 mark late last week and he has no intentions of slowing

down. Although his work schedule is fierce, Jennings said he’s going

to try and expand.

“(Making fudge) is a really slow process. I don’t use cheap ingredient

and you can’t hurry,” Jennings said.

Down the road

Jennings said Arctic Paws has a dog in training right now. It is his

goal to make it part of the family by next summer. He, family members

and friends are brainstorming more fundraising ideas centering on

food. At the same time, fudge sales are continuing to climb.

“I’ve gotten requests here and there and we may (expand to) other

businesses. But we have to go slow and not get over our heads. Quality

is more important than quantity,” Jennings said. “So far, I’ve been

making fudge every other week.”

If he’s successful in his venture, Jennings said there’s no plans to

stop. He said it wasn’t his idea, but an account to help get the

process started has been established at Matanuska Valley Federal

Credit Union. Those wishing to make a donation can direct it to

account number 155071.

“I also want to make it clear I am not doing this to just raise funds

for my son and then stopping. My plan is to first get Austin a

service dog, and then to continue to raise money for other people from

all walks of life to help them obtain a service dog. Regardless of if

it is a Veteran with PTSD (post traumatic stress disorder) or anyone

who experiences a physical or developed mental disability, If they

are in need of (or) would benefit from a service dog, we want to

help,” Jennings said.

Jennings ask that the person sign up and apply for grant funding to

help aide in financing for the service dog, and contact Arctic Paws

about its program. Once that takes place, Arctic paws will contact

Jennings regarding the amount needed.

“We will be actively raising money to help on a first come first serve

basis. We are hoping once we get a base under us, (we can expand our)

fundraisers and raise money even faster,” Jennings concluded.

To find out more, contact Jennings through his Facebook page

https://facebook.com/andreas.jennings.