Adventurous and active are two words to describe the Doyle family. Fashion designing, movie watching, writing, and cooking are just a few of this close-knit family’s many activities. Violet, their six-year-old, has a very creative spirit. She loves to paint, watch movies with her siblings, and be in the company of her family. A few years ago, Violet was diagnosed with PDD-NOS, a form of autism.
“We always knew Violet was different and we just adjusted our parenting to help her flourish,” said Allan and Tara, the proud parents of four. But they noticed that as Violet approached school age, interacting with strangers was difficult for her. People reacted uncomfortably when she tried to communicate with them. “We decided to take her in for diagnosis because we wanted help getting the tools we needed to prepare her for the world outside of our family,” they said.
Her autism means that her brain is always processing information, putting her on high-alert and causing a lot of nervousness and anxiety. Tara and Allan have to calm her down and soothe her a lot, but it doesn’t always work. “This has meant that family outings may be cut short or cancelled altogether,” they added. Violet’s young siblings can’t quite comprehend that she is disabled. Because she speaks to them and loves them normally, they don’t understand her autism.
For a long time, her parents wondered what to do. They realized a service dog would be a great option and began a long search for the right one for their daughter. Having a companion by Violet’s side would bring her so much comfort when she’s anxious or stressed. “The dog will help bridge the gap between her and the outside world,” said her parents. It reduces her meltdowns by helping her find a quiet spot to escape to when she’s overwhelmed. The dog also alerts her parents when she has an episode so they can come quickly to her side.
Allan, a disabled veteran, was furloughed from his position in Afghanistan and is now taking a chance by starting his own home inspection business. Tara is a stay-at-home-mom with a small job selling essential oils. Because they’ve had to travel extensively—living in eight different places in only a year—they’ve had a tough time establishing roots in a community, and ultimately, finances.
Finding the right service dog for Violet was more exhausting than they ever imagined. One organization fell through and the other was a scam. They finally found the right fit, but now they lack finances to pay the trainer and take Violet’s pup home. Please support the Doyles so their daughter can have peace and safety. Reaching their goal of $9,500 means that Violet can have a constant friend who understands her—even when people don’t