This loyal dog never leaves this autistic boy’s side, and he is the best friend ever
James is a nine-year-old autistic boy from New Zealand who can’t speak and finds it difficult to make contact with others. Whenever he and his family went out to a café for coffee and family time, he would be overcome by anxiety and would immediately leave. However, all this changed when he met his best friend, Mehe, two and a half years ago.
Let’s get to know Mehe.
Mehe is a beautiful assistance dog who was trained for six months by the Assistants Dog New Zealand Trust to help autistic children as well as other disabled children, for instance, children with cerebral palsy. Assistance dogs are highly trained to connect with these children, to track missing persons, and to alarm caregivers if something is wrong with their children. They are also taught to distract their owners, helping them to shift their focus from their condition for a while.
James and Mehe’s relationship
Mehe is a loyal friend to James, he never leaves his side. Even when James underwent an MRI scan to diagnose his seizures, the duo was inseparable, prompting the doctors at the Wellington Children’s Hospital to allow him to stay with Mehe during the scan. Mehe snuggled up to James to keep him calm and comfort him during the scan under the machine. The dog watched over and cuddled James as he underwent general anesthetic. This precious moment wowed his parents who could not believe the love the dog had for their son.
James refuses to go outside and make contact with people, but with Mehe by his side, he remains calm as he helps him with his anxiety. James’s parents are mesmerized by the loving relationship between the two.
Conclusion
Assistant dogs are best friends for disabled and autistic children, according to Wendy Isacs, the Trust’s Funding Development Manager. These dogs are magical in the way they calm the kids. Dogs are the best friends ever.