Andy the Saint Bernard has a permanent spot in the Montes family’s Vancouver home.
Perched on the mantel above the fireplace, Andy’s ashes rest in a wooden box next to his paw print, cemented in stone.
“He’s always with us,” Rochelle Montes, 36, said.
Most dogs become irreplaceable members of the family through their humor, love and joy. But Andy also earned his standing by keeping watch for the Monteses’ 12-year-old autistic son, Deklan, until the 130-pound dog died in 2017 from a ruptured intestine. Now the Monteses are raising funds for a new service dog.
They need around $15,000 to acquire Valor, a Leonberger, from Autism Anchoring Dogs, a Portland nonprofit which also trained Andy. Valor is in training now.
Deklan’s autism has lead to behavioral and social struggles throughout his life. In their nearly 1 1/2 years together, Andy helped Deklan in social situations, and even saved him from harm.
“He saved Deklan’s life on more occasions that we can really document between school and at home,” Rochelle Montes said, seated next to Deklan, her husband Mark, 40, and 4-year-old son, Asher.
Andy, and Valor, get the label “anchor” because the dog is strapped to Deklan by a harness, and acts as a counterweight. It helps stop Deklan’s dangerous impulses, which can cause him to run in the middle of the street to chase a ball, or into the woods if the family goes camping.
Deklan, who is in seventh grade at Alki Middle School, also tries to run out of classrooms if he gets overstimulated, and Andy helped stop that on numerous occasions. Rochelle mentioned that “grocery stores and parking lots are scary places” for a child with autism. Valor will help there, too.
Rochelle Montes said Valor can act as a helpful signal to people when Deklan is involved in unique social situations, such as when Rochelle has to take Deklan into a women’s restroom.
“If they see a service dog with a child of this size coming into the restroom with me, it’s much less alarming than seeing an almost full-grown male child coming into the restroom,” Rochelle Montes said. “It almost brings awareness to people around us not to judge, not to look at us sideways.”
Valor would help quell meltdowns and provide some companionship for Deklan, who used to lie on Andy while playing video games. Andy served as a conversation icebreaker with peers.
“It really bridged a huge social gap for him and his peers,” Rochelle Montes said. “Right now, as it sits, Deklan is such an amazing kid and so many kids miss out on that opportunity, they don’t take the time to get to know him. … It’s really important that he does eventually develop friendships and meet other kids, and maintain friendships.”
The Monteses said they’ve had less peace of mind since Andy died. Mark Montes explained that when Andy was around they knew he’d was “OK, that he’s going to be taken care of.” Deklan said Andy helped him calm down.
“I sure do miss him,” Deklan continued.
Rochelle Montes mentioned that recently, while waiting outside for the school bus, Deklan verbalized how helpful a service dog can be for him. Rochelle Montes recalled that Deklan had his head down and said: “I really need Valor today.”
