Arlington helps girl, 6, get her own service dog
Ava Reed is 6 years old and thinks dogs are funny. That’s one reason she’s excited to get a golden retriever. Another reason is that she falls, often, due to Charcot-marie-tooth disease, a neurological disorder that makes it difficult to walk and maintain balance.
“What do you think a service dog will help you with?” Ava’s mother Karon Reed asked recently.
“Going up stairs,” Ava said. “Walking in the hallway at school.”
Ava, who attends Arlington Elementary School, has been accepted by K9 Direction as a candidate for a service dog.
The golden retriever puppy will cost $2,000 to $3,000, and training and equipment will cost more than $7,500.
Already, Arlington community members have helped the Reed family raise more than $9,000. A fundraiser at Arlington’s Crave Coffee Bar and Bistro raised additional money.
“We are just blown away by it,” Karon Reed said. “The amount of people coming forth who don’t know us is incredible. I feel so loved. It’s hard to believe so many people are so selfless.”
Any additional money will go for veterinarian bills, dog food and other puppy needs, said Jeff Tawater, executive director of K9 Direction.
Ava currently walks using a walker and leg braces. Charcot-marie-tooth affects both motor and sensory nerves, but doesn’t impact Ava’s mental development. Because of that, Ava is starting to understand that she’s different than other children, Karon Reed said.
“I’m hoping a dog can bring a bright