David "Alex" Polk, 4, of Kennett, recently brought home a service dog named "Dixon" to help control the characteristics and symptoms associated with his autism at home and in the community. [Click to enlarge]

For a child who suffers from speech issues due to his autism, David "Alex" Polk, 4, son of Freddie and Kristi Polk of Kennett, and grandson of Rudy and Beverly Meredith of Kennett, has learned very quickly what the name of his new service dog is.

"Dixon," says Alex, with a big smile on his face as he runs towards the service dog he recently brought home from an organization known as Pawsibilities Unleashed Pet Therapy, (PUPT, www.pawsibilitiesunleashed.org). "My dog," he continues.

Alex was diagnosed with autism in December 2007. Since his diagnosis, his mother, Kristi, with support from her family has done a lot of research in a short amount of time on the disorder and discovered there are many benefits of using a service dog with autism or other debilitating disorders.

After making the discovery, Alex's mother turned to a woman by the name of Liz Norris.

Norris is an expert Animal Behaviorist with over 30 years experience as a former U.S. Air Force K-9 unit trainer, including search & rescue (SAR), cadaver detection, drug detection, and K-9 obedience. She has also trained Malamutes as sled dogs, shown on the AKC circuit, been an AKC judge, and has volunteered with her own dogs in multiple SAR missions.

Along with other professionals and volunteers, Norris developed PUPT, a non-profit organization that specializes in selecting and training service dogs for children with special needs such as autism, diabetes, seizures, panic attacks, mobility and hearing disorders.

According to behavioral research, the presence of a dog like Dixon in the life of a child like Alex presents a calm, reduces emotional outbursts and serves as a positive social link for Alex to his home, school and community.

A few months ago Kristi Polk began making arrangements for Alex to get a service dog through Norris's organization.

Polk said in researching other organizations she found that the normal cost to families for such a tool could be up to $10,000 or more, however, with PUPT, Norris' organization, service dogs are available to applicable families and individuals for a tax-deductible donation of $3,000, a substantially lower, and more attainable amount.

Polk began saving every penny she could and sought out the community's help in raising the money.

Once Polk assembled enough money to do so, she opened a savings account at a local bank for the sole purpose of keeping track of what money she had raised through her own efforts and the generosity of Dunklin County residents.

Because of the community's overwhelming response, it did not take long for the Polk's to raise the funds needed to bring Dixon home.

According to Alex's mother, the dogs used in Norris' organization are rescue dogs that have passed rigid temperament and aptitude tests.

"They are highly trained and taught to serve," Kristi Polk said of PUPT service dogs like Dixon.

Since bringing Dixon home, Kristi said the adjustments that needed to be made on both the dog's and Alex's part has been smooth.

"He really likes the dog and seems to be responding well to him," Polk said. "Of course, it will take time to fully adjust and this will be somewhat of a journey for us all. We're looking forward to the experience though and hoping that it all falls into place because this opportunity has the potential to impact my son's life in a huge way."

Besides raising the money needed to get their service dog, the Polk family will also be required, as service dog recipients, to attend an intensive one-week training course or a regular scheduled six-week course to make the adjustment easier on all parties involved.

"We are just grateful that 'Dixon' is here and owe our community a lot of thanks for helping in such a way to make this all possible for Alex," Polk said.

According to Polk, aside from obtaining the financial help she needed, one of the positive benefits of seeking assistance from the community was that it allowed her a platform to talk about the issues her son faces daily because of autism.

"It has helped me to begin raising awareness throughout the community," Polk explained. "No one knows exactly what causes Autism but children like Alex who have been diagnosed often appear to live in a world we have little understanding of. I just want to do what I can to help others understand what little there is to be understood about the disorder.

Alex, wearing a shirt that reads "Autism Helps Me See Things Differently", written under a colorful rainbow, is not completely different from most children his age.

Though he possesses typical autistic traits such as no sense of consequences and ritualistic or repetitive behaviors and language, he still likes to color, watch Maggie and the Ferocious Beast on Nick Jr., sing or hum familiar songs, and cuddle with his mommy.

Children with disabilities like Alex's disorder do present a unique challenge to parents, but Kristi hopes that continued support and compassion from her family, friends and the community, as well as resources and tools such as Dixon, will help during the difficult times.

"This is only the beginning in a life-long journey," Polk said. "But we love our son and because of that we're ready to face whatever lies ahead."