Posts tagged "autistic child"

Family Battles School District to Allow Autistic Son's Service Dog

by Helena Sung (Subscribe to Helena Sung's posts): Sep 4th 2009 11:00AM Filed Under: Dogs, Pets News

Photo: Zia Nizami, BND

Five year-old Carter Kalbfleisch is autistic. He doesn't talk, has temper tantrums and anxiety attacks, is prone to running out of the house, and suffers from Pica, "a disorder that compels him to eat anything new to him, such as rocks or mulch or other nonfood items," reports the Belleville News-Democrat.

But since a salt and pepper Bouvier de Flandres dog named Corbin came into Carter's life in July, the change in the little boy has been startling. According to the Belleville News-Democrat, Carter's parents, Chris and Melissa Kalbfleisch, were overjoyed to hear him utter his first words, telling Corbin to "wait" and to "hold." They were able to start taking Carter to restaurants, shops and the zoo -- places they had been afraid to take their son due to his outbursts and anxiety attacks. But with his dog Corbin at his side -- attached to him by a leash encircling his waist -- Carter remained calm while in public.

"We were never really able to go into public before," Chris Kalbfleisch told the Belleville News-Democrat. "Now, we go out, and he follows this big dog. I guess he feels safe because he has his buddy with him. If he gets scared, he grabs Corbin's handle and knows Corbin will get him to the right place."

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