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Service Dogs
By Richard | May 27, 2008
Sarah Hoida | Globe and Mail
From Tuesday’s Globe and Mail
May 27, 2008 at 10:00 AM EDT
Hayden Kaack has a dangerous attraction to water. He will dart toward sprinklers on neighbours’ lawns, oblivious to oncoming traffic. During a school trip, he suddenly jumped into Lake Ontario.
Hayden’s tendency to bolt and his lack of awareness of potential risks are characteristic of autism, the condition that afflicts the 13-year-old from Kingston, Ont.
Naturally, his rash behaviour is a constant source of worry for his mother, Heidi Penning.
But Ms. Penning’s fears have eased considerably since the arrival of Printer, a yellow Labrador trained as a companion for autistic children.
In public, Hayden is attached to his new best friend with a special leash; if the boy tries to bolt, the dog sits, stopping him in his tracks.
“My son has very quickly figured out that there’s no point and now he rarely tries to bolt,” Ms. Penning said. “The dog is important for his safety.” MORE
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