Child with Gene Defect in Peril - Family from Bamberg County Seeks Urgent Aid
In the Bamberg district of Germany, a family is striving to provide their eight-year-old son, Linas, with a service dog to help manage his condition and ensure his safety. Linas, who has Syngap Syndrome, a genetic defect, often finds himself drawn to water and moving objects, creating potentially dangerous situations.
The family is considering training the service dog themselves to reduce costs, as professional training can be expensive. Typically, the cost to train a service dog for a child with autism and epilepsy ranges between €9,000 to €27,000 or more, depending on factors such as the dog's starting skills, the complexity of required tasks, the length of the training, and trainer expertise.
If a dog already has a solid obedience foundation, task-specific training might be less expensive, normally charged per session, at approximately €130 to €220. Training sessions can span 18 to 24 months due to the extensive nature of the work involved, especially for dogs assisting children with multiple conditions like autism and epilepsy.
The family is aware that self-training a service dog could cost around 20,000 euros, compared to professional training costs of between 35,000 and 43,000 euros. However, they are hopeful that this approach will help them secure a service dog for Linas sooner.
Linas, who cannot speak, has epilepsy and autism. He was diagnosed at two years old, and his condition significantly impacts his family's daily life. His mother, Sarah, works part-time in Breitengüßbach, while his father is an employee of the Fränkischen Tags. The family constantly needs to secure their home to prevent Linas from wandering off.
A tragic incident involving an autistic child in the Main-Donau Canal has heightened the family's fears, making the need for a service dog even more urgent. If a service dog were to be trained to bark when Linas tries to open the door, it could provide him with more freedom and independence, while keeping him safe.
Donations can be made to the family's account to help them achieve their goal of obtaining a service dog for Linas. Despite the challenges, the family remains hopeful and determined, and Linas, despite his condition, appears radiant in pictures.
- To help manage Linas's condition and ensure his safety, which includes epilepsy and autism, the family in Bamberg is contemplating self-training a service dog, as professional training can cost from €35,000 to €43,000.
- The family's hope is that self-training the service dog will reduce costs and help them secure the dog sooner, considering the high costs associated with professional training, particularly for dogs assisting children with multiple conditions like autism and epilepsy.
- In the realm of health-and-wellness, mental-health, and family-health, a service dog could greatly benefit Linas, who is eight years old and has Syngap Syndrome, by providing him with greater independence and safety, potentially through tasks such as barking when he tries to open a door.
