Similar to many kids diagnosed with autism, Leon Kirby-Bulner was an aloof and timid toddler. He wasn’t fond of interacting with other people and seemed locked in his own tiny world. Fortunately, all of these changed with the help of his special, furry friend named Fern.
The cocker spaniel joined Leon’s family back in 2017 when the kid was just about a year old. The moment Leon met the pup, he quickly warmed up to her. And from then on, the duo had been inseparable. They would always be seen playing hide and seek and dressing up with matching outfits.
As the days pass by, Leon’s parents, Hayley and Karsten, noticed that Leon had become more confident and sociable. He started opening up to them and talking non-stop, unlike before. The parents knew it because of Fern’s help, and they couldn’t help but be grateful for her remarkable assistance.
Apart from being a companion for Leon, Fern was also helpful when calming the kid down and keeping him safe. You see, every time Leon had a meltdown, the cocker spaniel would immediately provide deep pressure stimulation to comfort him.
She also made it a habit to guard the kid around their stairs and prevent him from banging his head against the floor. Hayley admits that over the past three years, Fern had made their family life so much easier and smoother. Without her, she believed that they would be a complete mess.
So as a way of giving back, the couple started a fundraising program to provide an assistance dog like Fern to other families with autistic kids who couldn’t afford one. Thanks to the embroidered items that Hayley and Leon started making since the lockdown, they are now very close to achieving their goal.
Hayley and Karsten are happy that they can soon help another family experience the same comfort and convenience they did with Fern. But they are more pleased to see their son finally getting out of his shell under the pup’s supervision. Watch Leon’s adorable friendship with his cocker spaniel here.
Courtesy of Caters Clips