Autism assistance wonderdog and schoolgirl are honoured by Support Dogs
Just three years ago, Scarlette Hudson was unable to attend school, missing half of her junior school education.
But once matched with autism assistance dog Ivanhoe, by the Sheffield-based Support Dogs charity, all that changed.
Scarlette, who turns 12 this month, has been attending full-time specialist secondary provision since September and is thriving, thanks to the handsome black lab.
Wonderdog Ivanhoe is credited with changing Scarlette’s life by helping her to regulate her emotions – pre-empting any meltdowns by licking her face and making her laugh and going above and beyond what he has been trained to do by Support Dogs, which trains and provides specialist assistance dogs for autistic children, as well as adults with epilepsy or a physical disability.
The pair’s hard work was rewarded when they were crowned Client Partnership of the Year during Support Dogs’ annual Graduation and Awards ceremony, held at the Sandman Signature Sheffield Quays Hotel.
Scarlette and mum Vicki Whitbread, 32, of Hackenthorpe, were rewarded for working really hard with Ivanhoe, ensuring that the pooch’s health and welfare are taken seriously and that they are working well with the charity’s training team.
Ivanhoe doesn’t wait for cues to help Scarlette and is so in tune with her, when they went to a hospital appointment and waited over two hours, Ivanhoe picked up straight away that Scarlette wasn’t okay and that she needed to go home.
Vicki, a psychology student at Sheffield Hallam University, said: “Having Ivanhoe has become the norm, but it was quite refreshing to be recognised for his ongoing support.
“Their bond has never broken, but it’s been rekindled by this award and they have become even more close.”
She added: “I couldn’t be prouder. I look at where Scarlette was, where she wouldn’t leave the house to now attending events like Support Dogs’ graduation and awards ceremony.
“We as a family can all see the difference. We’re spending weekends away and going trick-or-treating, which Scarlette never did before.
“Our boy really has changed her life – she’s so much more positive, so much more sociable and so much more accepting of things.
“It’s still a journey in progress – Ivanhoe will never cure her autism. He just makes it so she can manage situations better.”
Rebecca Cochran, a Support Dogs instructor who oversaw Scarlette and Ivanhoe’s initial training, said: “It’s lovely to see Ivanhoe come so far and to see the really positive impact he has had on Scarlette.”
Support Dogs receives no Government funding and relies on voluntary donations.
To find out more about the incredible work of Support Dogs, please visit www.supportdogs.org.uk or call 0114 2617800.