In the words of our CEO and founder, Hilary Armour:
There’s a photograph I often come back to — one that, for me, captures everything about why Dogs for Autism exists and how a dog called Daisy changed our lives.
I could say so many things about this image and why it’s symbolic of the life-changing work Daisy is doing. She doesn’t just help Marcus — she empowers our whole family. Because of Daisy, we can go out into the community. We’re no longer stuck inside, avoiding the world. She helps us push back against the isolation that so many autism families slowly slide toward, as the outside world becomes more and more overwhelming for their autistic loved one.
Daisy brings calm to Marcus’s inner chaos. She gives him tools to manage his emotions, especially in public — where those moments can be the hardest. She has his back. And because of that, she has ours too.
We have lots of photos of Daisy working with a happy and smiling boy. But this one photo stands out. It might be harder to connect with at first glance, but it truly tells our story. Because without Daisy, that shopping trip would have ended in trauma — upsetting, embarrassing, abandoned before we ever reached the checkout.
Thanks to Daisy, we now have early warnings of Marcus’s meltdowns with 100% accuracy. She’s opened up public spaces and travel in ways we never thought possible. And when Marcus does become emotionally disregulated, Daisy is right there. Her deep pressure work helps him settle, grounds him, calms the storm.
Dogs aren’t the answer for every autistic person. But for a significant number, they are life enablers. They are the elusive key that unlocks the door to the outside world.