A Lake County mom and 911 dispatcher is turning to her community for help as she works to raise $20,000 to provide a trained service dog for her 10-year-old son who has severe regressive autism and is nonverbal.

The service dog will be trained to meet the specific needs of Rosie Laffler’s son, Reid, who faces numerous challenges in daily life.

“He is 10 and has severe regressive autism, is nonverbal, and will benefit greatly by having a service dog that is able to assist him in the community,” she says.

The family is working with 4 Paws for Ability, a nonprofit organization based in Ohio, that specializes in placing service dogs with disabled children and veterans. The total cost of training and placement ranges from $40,000 to $60,000, with the family responsible for raising $20,000 of that amount.

“It is a phenomenal organization,” she says. “100% of the donations made through Reid’s fundraising page go directly to 4 Paws for Ability and into Reid’s account.”

According to the mother, a service dog trained specifically for Reid could be life-changing. “It would give him some independence and confidence while keeping him safe out in the community, alert for seizures, assist in tracking, and provide Reid with a companion.”

For those interested in helping, the family has created a fundraising page and provided a QR code and Facebook link to make giving easy.

“We need all the help we can get,” she says.

Donations go directly to 4 Paws for Ability in Reid’s name and will support the costs of training, placement, and travel associated with the service dog.