She’s waited more than three years, now 11-year-old Teagan has finally got her little “sister.”
Her new sibling, however, boasts more body hair, has a wetter nose and is unlikely to be borrowing her clothes or watching Disney movies with her.
The latest addition to Teagan’s family is Totem, a super-soft, very adorable, 18-month-old autism support black Lab.
Sitting in her favourite McDonald’s restaurant on Russ Baker Way, near her Burkeville home, the Grade 6 Brighouse elementary student smiled in between burger bites about having a new “sister,” Totem.
Teagan — who is classed as “moderately affected by autism, but verbal” — is still getting used to having Totem around and the family, including mom Renee Robinson, has never even had a pet before.
But in the coming weeks and months, Robinson is dreaming of being able to take her daughter to “normal” places, where there’s lots of noise and people — something that was off-limits in the past due to Teagan’s autism.
“Teagan bolts in public, especially in parking lots where there’s often a lot going on,” explained Robinson.
“Then there is the meltdown, which can last from two to four hours. The only way I can control her is by yelling and she thinks she’s getting into trouble.
“She can now be tethered to Totem; so Totem knows when to use her weight to anchor her; to stop her from bolting. And Totem already senses her anxiety and rolls over on her back to calm her.
“I want to be able to go to normal places; big venues such as a Canucks game or even the SkyTrain, anywhere where there’s noise and lots of stimulants for Teagan.”
It’s taken three and half years to get a dog like Totem from BC & Alberta Guide Dogs — not surprising, given it takes up to two years or more, and $35,000, to breed, raise and train just one dog, before it’s provided at no cost to recipients. Only 32 such autism dogs have “graduated” in B.C. and demand is always very high.
Totem spent her first three months with the puppy trainer and then her next year or so with a boarding family in Ladner.
“I just started training with her last week,” said Robinson.
“I’ve never even had a family pet before, so it’s a big learning curve.”
Laura Hilbert, autism support dog instructor and guide dog trainer with BC & Alberta Guide Dogs, has been showing Robinson the ropes — walking, grooming, feeding etc.
Hilbert said it could be weeks or up to a year before Robinson and Teagan begin to reap the benefits of having Totem. “It totally depends on the family,” she said, adding that, as an official guide dog, the family can take Totem anywhere.
In the meantime, Totem will be spending sleep time with Teagan, who’s on the top of a bunkbed, with her “sister” snoozing below.
The charity is running a fundaid campaign to help get more dogs trained. If you’d like to help out, go to www.fundaid.ca/bcguidedogs.
