Estimated read time: 2-3 minutes
This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.
LEHI — Autism is a condition affecting more and more of Utah's children every year. It can be a huge strain on families cause a lot of stress in social situations. But one family thinks that a solution to autism's troubling symptoms may walk around on four legs.
Most of the time Cameron Bateman and Stella are inseparable. A boy and his dog usually are. But their relationship goes beyond the running and playing you usually see. Believe it or not, Stella is working. Trainers are preparing her to work with Cameron's autism.
In the same way a dog helps a blind person get around, dogs can also help those with autism deal with their own issues.
"They just fill the need or the hole that these kids have," said Ryan Olsen, a man who trains the dogs.
Cameron's parents say he doesn't do well with crowds, he doesn't socialize and he doesn't like people touching him. With Stella, That's all changing."
"He'll take her for walks around the block and he's actually engaging with other kids more when she's there," said mother Tamie.
Stella is working miracles with Cameron. That's why his parents say they are working to get the word out on service dogs.
The problem is that these dogs can cost up to $20,000 to train.
"They need to have very good obedience," Tamie said. "They need to be very well behaved. They almost need to act like a human"
That's why they started "Paws for the Cause." Saturday, they got up at the crack of dawn for the first fundraiser.
People joined together in a 5K run and a 1 mile walk to raise money for these furry companions. For most participants, it hit pretty close to home.
"I'm willing to get out more," said runner Michael Hamblin. "I'm willing to go shopping. He comes to work with me.
They say the run looked like a success.. And they hope it will make a big difference for kids and adults all around Utah.. Just like Cameron.
"It's given him the confidence and the comfort to know that she's there," Tamie said.
