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Arizona Alpha family meets fundraising target for specially trained dog
The Maricopa Alpha family with two special needs children reached their fundraising target for a specially trained dog that will offer some relief.
The Truetts, first featured in one of our web stories and later in our Alpha-1 magazine, are a big family of seven: Dakota is 9, Kaylee is 7, Abigail is 3, Jamie, who is adopted, is eight and Justin, also adopted, is 5. Jamie and Justin are special needs children.
Justin has cerebral palsy, profound brain damage, microcephaly, and is tube-fed. He’s nonverbal and immobile, and requires 24-hour supervision. He also experiences frequent “silent seizures” that can be deadly if not treated in time.
A “seizure alert” dog would be able to monitor Justin during the night and alert the family of any seizures.
Jamie, who is legally blind, would also benefit from the dog, who could help guide her around.
Their fundraising target was $25,000. The cost would cover the funds for their new best friend, travel expenses, dog equipment, food and training.
After holding a carnival, creating a fundraising page, spreading the word through media and selling buttons, the Truetts finally found themselves one step closer to that dream.
The staff at “4 Paws” is currently training a few dogs to meet Justin’s needs. The dogs will be able to create an “alert” for Justin’s seizures based on the smell of his shirts. The dog that performs this task the best, will be chosen to care for him.
The dog will also be trained to turn on/off lights, fetch toys, lead Jamie around in public places and provide companionship for the entire family.
Read the previous stories on the Truetts
