Local 11-year-old autistic boys' family raising money for service dog

PINE BELT, MS. - The parents of Jack Sellers, 11, is raising money for a service dog Sellers desperately needs. The parents teamed up with Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) to host a "Benefit Ride and Poker Run" Saturday.

Robin Sellers, Jack's mother said, "Knowing that he would have that companionship and that ability to protect him, when I am not around, means the world.”

Motorcyclists will stop at five different locations where they will draw a card. "The one with the best hand at the end of the ride will win a prize" said Mrs. Sellers.

Jack needs $18,000 for the autism service dog. According to Mrs. Sellers the community has helped raised nearly $6,000.

"He can't take medication, so I can't let him out of my sight when we are out-and-about because he tends to wander" said Mrs. Sellers.

"Jack would be tethered to the dog so he is less likely to wander, the dog is trained to nudge him if he gets off task" she added.

To start the process to have Jack's name on the autism service dog list the family needs $7,500 and has to be on top of the list.

She said, "It is trained to comfort him if he has a meltdown." Once his name is on top of the list the family will go to North Carolina to match a dog with Jack. "It would lay down on him or get next to him to comfort him" said Mrs. Sellers.

You can click on the picture for more information on the fundraiser on Saturday April 29.