NEW BRITAIN, Conn. — A specially trained service dog named Adele is the newest addition to the Hospital for Special Care, a not-for-profit long term acute and chronic care facility in New Britain.
Adele, a black Labrador Retriever, has been assigned to HFSC’s Autism Center therapy team after completing extensive training to work with children on the autism spectrum, according to a release from the facility on Tuesday.
“Adele will work alongside the hospital’s team of occupational therapists, speech therapists and other professionals to provide a unique form of therapy for children with autism spectrum disorder,” the release said.
According to HFSC, Adele was donated to the hospital by The Hometown Foundation, Inc. and trained by the Forever in My Heart Foundation. Michael Gallagher of Gallagher Buick GMC in New Britain also provided a $10,000 sponsorship as part of the dealership’s commitment to the local community, and Pierogies for Paws gave HFSC a $15,000 grant.
Known for its dedication to improving lives through service animals, the Forever In My Heart Foundation provides service dogs to aid families of children with autism, the release said, noting that research has revealed that therapy dogs can be highly effective in helping children with autism strengthen their abilities to communicate, assist with sensory processing and help reduce anxiety.
“The foundation's commitment to enhancing the lives of individuals with autism through the provision of service animals underscores its mission to foster inclusivity and support within communities,” said Mira Alicki, Forever In My Heart Foundation founder and president and Pierogis for Paws board member. “Adele's training represents a significant step forward in achieving this goal, promising to make a positive impact on the lives of countless individuals.”
Douglas Shaw, director of The Hometown Foundation, Inc., said HFSC contacted the foundation, requesting help with covering the costs of a service dog, and the foundation responded.
“Knowing the importance that this donation would have on the Autism Center, the foundation worked for several months to find the right donor to help fill that need,” Shaw said, in the release.
HFSC Chief Operating Officer Marc Brunetti said the facility is thrilled to welcome Adele to its team. He said in the release that the new furry addition will play a critical role in rebuilding lives by offering comfort, companionship and support to patients with autism.
“We are thankful to the Forever In My Heart Foundation and The Hometown Foundation for their support in making this happen,” Brunetti said, in the release.
For more information on HFSC, one can visit the webpage here.
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Dalton Zbierski is a digital content producer at FOX61 News. He can be reached at dzbierski@FOX61.com.
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