Hello! Thank you for taking the time to read our story. I’d like to introduce you to Asher. Asher is
almost 4 years old, and is a sweet, snuggly, outgoing boy with the biggest heart.
Asher was diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder at age 2 and just recently epilepsy. As of
right now we have not been able to get his seizures under control with medication which poses
a lot of danger for Asher. He has an extremely rare genetic mutation that caused all of this; it is
so rare that there are only about 100 children in the world who have been documented to have
it. With that being said, there is a lot to learn about Asher, and he is teaching us as we go and
as children often do.
One thing we know for sure about Asher is that he has an intense connection with dogs. If
Asher sees a dog, there isn’t a chance it’s getting away without some pets and hugs. Asher is a
completely different child with a dog; he is relaxed, happy and carefree. Over the last couple of
years we’ve talked about when the time was right we would pursue a service dog for Asher.
Many therapists and professionals have given us encouragement that this would be an amazing thing for him. Given the development of his epilepsy, we’ve decided that time is now.
There are some very specific tasks Asher’s service dog will be trained to do:
● Seizure alert: Asher’s dog will be trained to detect seizures, alert us, and provide
comfort for him.
● Behavior disruption: Asher can easily become overwhelmed by many things in our
world that we don’t notice (lights, sounds, unfamiliar places). His service dog will be
there to provide comfort and companionship during times of stress whether that be
through hugs and kisses, a paw or snuggle in his lap or just as a friend who provides
unconditional love.
● Tethering/tracking: As some of you may know Asher has a wild or what I call a little bit
of a spicy side. Asher will often decide to leave a situation or place with no awareness of
the danger that carries. Asher’s dog will prevent him from this elopement/wandering
behavior and be trained to track him in the event that he does escape.
In addition to these tasks which can only be performed by a well trained service dog, Asher’s
dog will be a loving companion for him to help ease the stress of daily life, to help him sleep
better as he wakes frequently and be a constant friend in an unpredictable world.
We have decided to work with the organization 4 Paws for Ability because they are one of the
best when it comes to training service dogs for children. They are kind and very clearly devoted
to helping others and especially children like Asher. On average it costs between $40,000-
$60,000 to raise and train a service dog. We are responsible for raising $23,000 for Asher’s
dog. After we raise our funds 4 paws will begin training the perfect dog for Asher.
The wait time is currently 2-2.5 years.
We are usually not ones to ask for help, but many of you have already reached out so
generously offering to help us make this happen for Asher. We are so grateful for the support of all of you, our family, friends, Asher’s therapists, nurses and physicians who have been with us
every step of this journey. We couldn’t have done this without you. Please share Asher’s story,
or if you find it in your heart to donate we would be so appreciative.
Thank you for taking the time to read about Asher and our journey to getting him a service dog.
Love,
Asher and The Hill Family.
Donations in support of Asher should be made directly to 4 Paws for Ability – be sure to write Asher’s name on the check memo line. You can donate online through this site or mail checks to:
4 Paws for Ability
In Honor of Asher Hill
253 Dayton Ave.
Xenia, Ohio, 45385