Mason Montgomery is an  8-year-old boy who has been diagnosed with high functioning autism, bi polar, ODD, ADHD, sensory processing disorder, general anxiety, and disruptive mood dysfunctional disorder. He often suffers from outbursts that make leaving his home difficult, which is why his Dad needs help raising money to get Mason a service dog which will allow him to live a more social life. 

Mason Montgomery's Dad, Troy, recently told the Rockford Register Star about one of Mason's recent outbursts that kept him hospitalized for nearly a month, and reading it broke my heart. Mason and his Dad were at Walgreens picking up prescriptions when a meltdown occurred over a can of mixed nuts:

Mason wanted his dad to buy mixed nuts. Montgomery said, "No." Mason kicked his dad and cussed at him for some three minutes. "I could not get him to calm down," Montgomery said. "I had to carry him out."

As a parent we've probably all dealt with a child's store meltdown at some point, but I'm guessing never as bad or as often as Troy Montgomery does. We need to help him and young Mason live a better life, and a service dog to help Mason calm down may just do the trick. The Montgomerys are working with a nonprofit group called Service Dogs by Warren Retrievers that has placed over 600 golden retrievers and Labs in special needs families, and doctors believe a service dog could greatly help Mason as well.

The service dog will be able to alert to masons behavior and help before a meltdown starts or help during a meltdown to help Mason stay safe. We are starting a fundraiser for Mason so he can get a service dog that he is in need of. Mason will be able to take the dog to school and help him through the day at school as well.

Mason's service dog may not be a cure all for his health challenges, but it will go a long way to help Mason's quality of life, and he's still got a lot of money to raise before his dog can come home. Please make a donation now if you are able, and then follow his progress here.

 

 

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