Six-year-old Olivia Anders loves dancing, reading and playing with her favorite reindeer.
Her mother, Rebecca, said we caught her on a calm day, but on those bad days:
"If she gets off her routine, then there's kicking and screaming," she said.
Rebecca said Olivia sometimes will unbuckle her seatbelt and try to open moving car doors. She also tries to leave the house, which is why the family installed an alarm.
"If we're in another room, and she tries to leave, it will go off," she said.
Olivia has Autism and mild cerebral palsy. Caring for her is a round-the-clock job. A special assistance dog would be life-changing.
"A dog would calm her and also track her," Rebecca said.
In steps 4 Paws For Ability, a company out of Ohio that provides such dogs. They've already approved Olivia for a special hypoallergenic golden doodle.
Part of the program is the families must raise $15,000 first before they can go to Ohio to begin the training with their new dog.
"We just hope with tools we provide her, she will have great successes."
The Anders family so far has raised $1,500. They plan to have a fundraisers all summer to hopefully reach their goal.
How the community can help
If you would like to make this little girl's dream come true, there are several ways to help:
- A fundraiser at Zoyo Neighborhood Yogurt at 3067 Rochester Road in Troy on June 10 from noon - 10 PM where 20 percent of all sales will go to 4 Paws in honor of Olivia.
- Checks can be mailed to 4 Paws for Ability, 253 Dayton Avenue, Xenia, OH 45385 with Olivia Anders in the memo field.
- Credit card donations can be made on First Giving or on the 4 Paws website here -- please indicate Olivia Anders in the special instructions field