As a young boy with autism, James Isaac relies on his service dog, Mahe, for many things. James does not speak and flinches from human touch and eye contact with his family, but with Mahe things are different.
Mahe keeps the 9-year-old from feeling anxious and fearful, and the way they interact speaks volumes of how much the dog means to him.
Recently, James had an appointment to go to hospital for an MRI to help diagnose his seizures. His mother was worried how the experience would go, but was relieved that Mahe was allowed to accompany James on the visit.
While there, Mahe worked hard to comfort his boy in his hospital bed.
He made sure to nuzzle James’ face as the boy was put under anaesthesia. The worried dog never left his side.
James’ mother says that Mahe is always with James, keeping the young boy from wandering off, protecting him from harm, and helping him in social situations. Mahe is also trained to alert his family if James is having a seizure.
The black Labrador Retriever was trained by Assistance Dogs New Zealand and came into the Isaac’s family two and a half years ago.
Since then, the improvements to everyone’s lives have been dramatic and welcomed! Service dogs like Mahe can make a world of difference to children with autism!
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