A special service dog is having a profound impact on the life of 9-year-old Cohen, far beyond his family’s expectations. Cohen, who lives with spina bifida and uses a wheelchair, had a hard time with motivation and independence.
Now, with a “dash” of help from his expertly-trained best friend, Cohen is embarking on a transformative journey towards greater independence.
Malorie, Cohen’s mother, says that Service Dog Dash has given her son a sense of purpose and responsibility in addition to increasing his independence and self-reliance.
Through Dash’s trained tasks, like retrieving items and interactive games including hide-and-seek, a bond has been forged, encouraging Cohen to do
more than he was comfortable with before receiving Dash. Cohen proudly trains new tasks and manages feeding and daily care for his fuzzy best buddy.
“Cohen devised his own system for feeding Dash,” Malorie says. “He’ll take Dash to the drawer where his food is and have him tug the door open, leaving
Cohen to dispense his food. Cohen feels so special that it’s his responsibility to feed and take care of his dog. It’s amazing to see how much pride he takes in his responsibilities.”
While Dash is also a constant companion, he serves an important role in ensuring Cohen’s independent future.
“Our dream is for Cohen to be prepared for adulthood, and having Dash now is a crucial step in that preparation,” Malorie explains. “We hope Cohen will live a completely independent lifestyle with the support and love of a service dog
like Dash by his side.”
With Dash, Cohen is not only finding joy, friendship and confidence, but also gaining the independence he needs to thrive – now and into the future.