Riley Duggan is autistic and lives in Cork, Ireland.
The boy is terrified of new locations and has difficulty making eye contact with strangers.
Willow, a companion dog, was acquired by the family to assist him.
Riley’s pet helps him relax and provides emotional support in stressful moments.
A previous trip to the dentist is one of them. Riley, who was seven years old at the time, was sitting on the dentist’s chair for the very first time.
The child became scared as soon as he entered the clinic and repeated the same phrase: “I will not let them glance at my teeth.”
Riley refused to sit in the chair when his mother, Nicole, entered the doctor’s office, preferring instead to sit on the chair by the door.
Riley was terrified, and no amount of persuasion could persuade him to open his mouth.
Then something unexpected happened. Willow let the dentist to examine her teeth as though she understood how to assist the owner, demonstrating that the treatment was painless.
The youngster was able to relax after seeing an example of a pet.
He immediately began to imitate Willow’s actions, opening his mouth and exposing his teeth.
Riley calmed totally and consented to take a seat in a chair as long as Willow sat with him at all times.
Riley had obviously cheered up by the end of the examination, to the point that the dentist was able to take an x-ray of his teeth.
Willow’s arrival, according to Nicole, completely transformed the family’s lives.
Prior to that, her son would refuse to sit in the stroller and would frequently run away, forcing the mother to catch him.
It became increasingly difficult to keep an eye on the child’s safety.
However, the nonprofit foundation asked the family to enroll in the My Canine Companion program, which provided support dogs to youngsters with autism.
Willow and Riley hit it off right away. The youngster truly opened up after allowing the pet into his life.
Willow, who has undergone special training, is sensitive to the owner’s attitude and is constantly willing to assist him.
Riley’s family planned a charity marathon to benefit a foundation that helps persons with autism as a thank you for her service.
During the month of June, they walked 95 kilometers together and raised thousands of dollars for assistance dog training.
It’s their way of saying “thank you” to Willow, whose unspoken encouragement is priceless.
