A dog guide changed this boy's life. He's walking the walk to help others get one, too

Cohen Matthews, 11, has had Kito as his autism assistance dog guide for the past five years. (Bernice Hillier/CBC)

Most people who get a dog say having a pet changed their life but, for the Matthews family of the western Newfoundland town of Pasadena, their dog gave them back their lives.

Cohen Matthews, 11, has an autism assistance dog guide. He says his dog, Kito, has helped him to sleep through the night and has lessened his anxiety.

Now he and his family are helping others have the same positive experience by walking in a fundraiser this Sunday for Lions Foundation of Canada Dog Guides.

"It's important. The Walk for Dog Guides is a very good thing to do because it helps kids like me get a dog guide," said Cohen.

Cohen's mother, Shawna Matthews, said her family was desperate for something that would work for them when they put in Cohen's name to request a dog guide.

Cohen was six years old at the time and was not sleeping well, which meant his parents were often up multiple times a night to try to console and settle him.

The lack of sleep had an impact on everyone's well-being.

Shawna said she hoped a dog guide would give Cohen a sense of peace and calm throughout his days at school as well as at home.

"I was actually really scared of him at first," said Cohen. "Now I just love him."

Shawn said adding Kito to the family exceeded her wildest expectations. Within a month, Cohen was getting an uninterrupted night's sleep for the first time in his life.

"He was sleeping through the night with the dog on the bed with him, which meant we were all sleeping, which meant we were all living a healthier, better life in general as a family," she said. .

Kito on the first day he accompanied Cohen to school. (Submitted by Shawna Matthews)

Love my dog, love me

Matthews said she believes having Kito has also helped other people to better understand and be patient with Cohen in public settings.

"Kito allows people to understand that Cohen may have some challenges that are invisible," said Shawna. "People have a greater understanding when they see Kito."

At school, Kito sits dutifully in the classroom on a mat near Cohen, and he goes to his kennel at recess time.

Shawna said the staff and students at Pasadena Elementary have been excellent at integrating Kito into school life, and they know not to approach Kito to pet him without permission.

"It could easily distract him from doing his job," said Cohen.

Kito even got a school portrait at Pasadena Elementary. (Submitted by Shawna Matthews)

Usually takes a dog's age

It can be a lengthy process to have a dog guide assigned to a family, and Shawna is appreciative that Cohen didn't have to wait too long.

She said everyday life unfolds more smoothly than before Kito arrived, and special opportunities such as a vacation to Prince Edward Island were improved because Cohen's dog guide has been such a calming and soothing presence.

"He plays such an important role in all of our lives as a family in allowing us to fully participate in the things we want to participate in," said Shawna.

"I play with him, snuggle with him. I actually really, really love to do that," said Cohen.

Maria Galindo, director of marketing and communications for Lions Foundation of Canada Dog Guides, holds a future dog guide puppy. (Lions Foundation of Canada Dog Guides)

Teaching a new dog tricks

Maria Galindo, marketing and communications director for the Lions Foundation of Canada Dog Guides, said the organization has its own breeding program, with dogs bred with specific traits for the purpose of being working dogs.

Foster families take the puppies at about eight weeks and train them until they're about 15 months old so they are socialized and well behaved.

"They put a little green vest on the dog that says 'Future Dog Guide' and that dog goes to movie theatres, dentist appointments, classes and work with the person because ultimately the goal is to get that dog socialized and used to any environment," said Galindo.

By about 18 months of age, the dogs are just about ready to be matched with a family.

"It's almost like a love match in a way. We're making relationships that will last eight to 10 years, and that bond needs to be there in order for that to be a successful relationship," said Galindo.

Shawna Matthews and her son Cohen have a constant companion in dog guide Kito. (Bernice Hillier/CBC)

Dog guide gets his day

The entire process of breeding, training and placing a dog costs about $35,000, all at no cost to the recipients. Galindo said offering the dog guides free to families requires a lot of fundraising and, this year, the organization's goal is to raise about $1.6 million.

Galindo said it's rewarding to hear about the impact having a dog guide has on people's lives.

"We have clients that have said, 'I couldn't have graduated from high school if it wasn't for my dog, and now I'm going to university because of the dog,'" said Galindo.

The Lions Foundation of Canada Dog Guides currently has 863 active working dog guides countrywide.

Ten people in Newfoundland and Labrador have received dog guides from the organization, including seven autism assistance dog guides, two canine vision dog guides, and one hearing dog guide.

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