Autistic girl matched with guide dog
Chip trained to keep Melissa Knoot safe

Little Melissa Knoot of Prince George has a new friend that is expected to change her life for the better.

The nine-year-old will spend her days and nights with Chip, a chocolate Labrador national service dog trained specifically for autistic children.

Melissa, diagnosed with autism at age five, is a risk to herself at all times, say her parents Diane and Neal.

"She has no concept of fear when it comes to risks like deep water, hot stoves, traffic. Chip will help her with these safety issues," said Neal, explaining autism is a neurological disorder which affects the thought process.

"They just don't think the same way as you and I," said Diane.

Melissa, who received Chip just days ago, is the first person in B.C. to receive a national service dog, and is also the first female with autism in Canada to receive such a dog.

Chip will help Melissa with socialization and independence.

"Through Chip, Melissa will have more social contact with her peers," said Diane, explaining Chip will be with her in school and wherever she goes outside the home.

"It's different than us holding her hand all the time. She'll be attached by a belt around her waist, allowing her complete freedom of her hands and mobility," Neal said.

Chris Fowler, a trainer at National Service Dogs Training Centre in Cambridge, Ont., is spending this week in Prince George "to begin the relationship between Melissa and Chip" with the long-term goal being the safety of the child.

He said progress is being made with Melissa "doing a bit of hugging of Chip", but it's too early to tell the long-term benefits, or whether the two will one day be able to go out on their own without a human nearby to give the dog directions.

Once a person has been approved by the National Service Dogs organization, they are matched up with a dog.

"We look at the size of the child, activity level and environment. We want the two to compliment each other," said Fowler.

"Melissa is active, so we wanted a dog that can keep up with her, but also be calm and confident in that environment," said Fowler, who noted Chip is only 19 months old.

In May, Diane and Neal went to the Ontario centre to do six days of training with three other couples in the same situation, and heard the experiences of others who have national service dogs for their special needs family members.

"The stories they tell are fantastic," said Neal, who has great hope that Melissa will be a lot safer with Chip beside her.

"This is an overwhelming experience for us, but we're confident that in time we'll be working as a team and Chip will be a big asset in our lives,"Diane said.

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National Service Dogs train dogs for four disabilities -- epilepsy, wheelchair persons, blindness and autism.

Since the training centre was established in 1996 the centre has trained 39 dogs in total including 34 for autistic persons.

The centre has its own breeding program of Labrador and Golden Retrievers which begin training at eight weeks with volunteer families who are monitored by the organization in obedience classes, nutrition and veterinarian care. During that 18 months the dogs are introduced to a variety of situations like malls and school before returning to the centre for a final five to eight months of training.

During final training, dogs are assessed as to what program they are best suited to, and when about four months into it, they begin specialized training.

About 45% of the dogs do not graduate, but there are long waiting lists of families who want to adopt them.

It costs about $8,000 to train each dog. Families must pay $250 equipment fees for the familiar purple dog harness, leashes and required dog food.

Because National Dog Services is a non-profit organization, it relies on the public, corporations and service clubs for donations. For more information or to contribute phone 519-662-4223, fax 519-662-4697, visit the Website at www.nsd.on.ca or e-mail: info@nsd.on.ca
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