Leon Kirby-Bulner, 4, has autism and struggles to communicate with others.
The boy lived in a world where neither his parents nor anyone else could enter. When Fern, a Cocker Spaniel puppy, appeared in the house, everything changed. In becoming this boy’s best friend, this dog achieved the impossible: he found an approach to the “difficult” boy. Hayley, Leon’s mother, says it was love at first sight.
Until he met Fern, my son suffered from loneliness, locked in his little world. He seemed to wake up when she spoke to him. Leon’s eyes had a gleam I hadn’t seen before,” Hayley says. For three years, the boy has been inseparable from his pet. Through non-verbal communication, he learned to “communicate” with the dog. Fern is very subtly aware of what the little owner is trying to tell her. Together, they accomplish everything. Hayley’s heart melts when she sees her son play hide-and-seek with the dog and dress up the spaniel in suits.
Fern’s assistance is invaluable to us on a daily basis. Additionally, she serves as his medicine as well as a cheerful companion. He calms down when he experiences sensory overload breakdowns with the help of the dog. Whenever Leon hits his head, Hayley puts her body between him and the floor to prevent him from hurting himself. Family life has been made easier by having a spaniel in the house, the mother says. With the help of this kind and patient dog, Leon gained confidence and was able to open up to the world. Through their own experience, the parents of the boy with autism were convinced that communicating with a pet could improve his condition and development.
They created a Facebook group where they raise funds to provide companion dogs to families with children who have autism spectrum disorders. It was dedicated to Fern, their savior. With the proceeds from the sale of the embroidery Hayley made during quarantine, she was able to purchase a therapy spaniel for Leon, who will soon be able to have his own Fern.
