Help Ethan get his puppy!

This is not your typical "little boy wants a puppy for Christmas" type thing…this is a legitimate request for an Autism Assistance Dog that could, some day, save Ethan’s life. Please help in anyway that you possibly can. I became acquainted w/ Ethan through his father, Steven, who is one of the police officers I dispatch for. Any help you can give would be greatly appreciated.

This is Ethan. He is a handsome four year old boy who lives in Warner Robins Ga. Like other kids his age, he loves to play in the sandbox and swing. But Ethan was born with Autism. He has limited understanding and very little speech. Ethan lives in a world of his own. He is constantly overwhelmed by sights and sounds, yet he has no appropriate fear of traffic, strangers, bodies of water, or getting lost. His independent spirit and inability to communicate can make life very frustrating for him and his family. You can help! We are raising money to qualify for a trained AUTISM ASSISTANCE DOG. These dogs accompany autistic children and their parents everywhere, acting as a safety feature. Attached to his new friend by a special harness, Ethan would be unable to run into traffic or get lost. The dog will be trained to comfort Ethan and interrupt his repetitive autistic behaviors, like hand-flapping. It would also act as a "social magnet" making it easier for other children to approach Ethan and make friends. In Ethan’s case, his dog would also be trained in Search and Rescue–to track him if he leaves unexpectedly. Unfortunately, some austistic kids are "elopers" and take every opportunity to escape. Combined with their attraction to dangers like water, this makes a deadly combination! The organization that we are working with is called 4 Paws For Ability and they are a 501 c3 non-profit agency so your donations would be tax-deductible. In order for Ethan to recieve his dog, we hae to raise $13,000.00 for 4 Paws For Ability. This is no small task and every cent counts!! If you would like to help, please send your tax-deductible donation to: 4 Paws For Ability 253 Dayton Ave. Xenia, OH 45385 Please indicate the donation is for ETHAN RESLIE. Thank you!!! For more information you can contact Karen Shirk at (937)374-0385 e-mail karen4paws@aol.com or go to http://www.4pawsforablility.org

You can also learn more by going to http://www.myspace.com/4pawsforethanreslie and adding Ethan as your friend.