FAMILY RECEIVES $12,000 THERAPY DOG FOR FREE
A YOUNG Gold Coast family has been gifted a trained therapy puppy worth more than $12,000 – for free.
Samson, the newest member of the Carnelly family, is just 13 weeks old but already has an important role to play.
His new owner, sevenyear-old Ryder, has ADD, ADHD and autism, often suffering from meltdowns and attempts to self-harm.
Mother Kristie Carnelly said Samson would be the calm within the chaos, as Ryder’s tantrums could often upset her two other children, Neveah, 6, and one-year-old Malia.
“Samson will help with meltdowns, with the appropriate training,” she said. “He still has heaps to go … but he might lay his head or paws on him, he will be able to sense when (meltdowns) will happen with the way Ryder acts.”
Ms Carnelly said she had first spotted the amazing offer of a free trained therapy puppy on the Toowoombabased Xyleance Kennels’ Facebook page.
Breeder David van Gelder said he only began training up therapy dogs and gifting a handful of each litter for free last year. “I get more satisfaction out of doing this than showing them, having trophies in the room,” he said.
“St Bernards are placid, lethargic, calm dogs. It costs around $20,000 for a fullytrained therapy puppy. I wanted to make it easier for families.”
He said with his own trainers it cost around $8000 to train the puppy.
Eventually, Samson will receive a certificate that allows him to go into public places as a registered therapy dog with Ryder.