Help Get a Dog for Toby

My friend Sara has a son Toby, who needs our assistance. He is 10 years old and he has cerebral palsy.

David's older brother Marshall had cerebral palsy, and it was when he was 10 that his mother could no longer lug him around, what with two more children to take care of at that time (it was the 1940s, not today -- a different world where there was no assistance but for the family members) and he had to move to the Tewksbury State Hospital in Massachusetts, where he lived the rest of his life. He died a few years ago. He lived a long life, and he was much loved. As I told Sara, he could not speak but he was an excellent communicator. He read voraciously, though he could not sit up straight. He used to wheel and deal at the hospital by selling cigarettes and betting on horses and sports games. He was often described as The Mayor of Tewksbury State Hospital. He was quite the man.

So when Sara asked me to help out, she really touched a nerve.

Toby would like to have a service dog, and he explains why so eloquently here. Sara researched all the service dog agencies and feels most comfortable about NEADS.

She explains a little bit about her search process here:

I spent a fair amount of time picking an organization to work with. Many won't work with kids. A few gave off some serious "scam" alarm bells (e.g., one required a 15K fundraising effort, which ok, but if the dog didn't work out and was a poor match? it was too bad - if you wanted another dog - you had to start all over again and raise another 15k). Mostly, this organization has been around for a long long time, it started working with "hearing ear" dogs for deaf clients (a draw for me given that I work at a college for deaf students), AND they run two really awesome shelters too - a dog one and a cat one. 

But they need to raise quite a lot of money to be able to get their dog for Toby -- about $8,000 more.  

They have already done some fundraising and have raised their initial $1,000 which entitles Toby to be matched with a dog:

They'll now match us with a dog to be trained for Toby. (They'll do that once you've raised about $1,000.) Once the dog is trained, then we'll have to go through a week-long training too. Then, Toby will have a dog :) Though, until he's 14 I'll be a partner in the effort - he'll need a grownup team member.

See Toby's page, and if you can, make your donation there.  Sara and I and Toby thank you. 

Comments

[Sara]

Thank you thank you thank you - Norma and all the knitters ;) (And Norma, you should know that 8 times out of 10 when I type your name, i have to backspace and delete an L at the end - !!)

[Ruth]

Happy to help! A friend of mine is also waiting for a dog for her 12 year old son, also through NEADS ... I hope things move quickly for Toby!

[Elaine]

**sniff** **sniff**
It's not much, but I guess every bit helps.

[Luise]

You might want to mention that you have to scroll to the bottom of Toby's page to find the info to click on. The limitations of my computer held me up on this point -- though I obviously did figure it out. You don't want anyone to be deterred! Good luck!

[Lucia]

Good luck to Toby! I have donated.

[Sara]

to all - you can also click on the red "heart" on the right of Toby's picture to get to their donation system. As long as you select his name in the drop-down box, or note his name in the comment box, it'll get routed to him :)
I am unbelievably humbled....-Sara

[Jessica]

My dog training club has raised money to donate a puppy to NEADS.. and a few of us are puppy raisers for them! It is a fantastic organization, and I'm thrilled to help Toby get a dog.

[Kathy]

I live about 3 miles from NEADS they are wonderful people doing wornderful work. I have raised a puppy for NEADS and she lives in Cambridge with her human. We have also adopted a flunkie from NEADS. I wish you the best of luck with your dog. They really do make a difference in the life of the human that they are placed with.

[Midj]

Done!

[marianne]

Finally got my...self back over here, and I'm only too happy to help Toby out. xox