High Court Seeks Input on Case

The U.S. Supreme Court is asking the Obama administration to weigh in as it considers whether to take up a case brought by the family of a girl with cerebral palsy who sought to bring her service dog to school.

The family of Ehlena Fry petitioned the Supreme Court to take their case last fall. Rather than accept or decline the case outright, however, the high court this week asked the U.S. solicitor general to provide the federal government’s viewpoint before the court decides whether to hear the matter.

Service Dog Donated to 6-Year-Old Autistic Boy

Lugnut, a service dog, with his
new family.

XENIA, Ohio —A 6-year-old autistic boy’s dream of getting a service dog almost was crushed after an Illinois woman scammed his family last year.
But on Tuesday, Samuel DeWitt met a donated service dog at 4 Paws for Ability in Xenia. Lugnut, a golden retriever, was given to the DeWitt family after $23,000 combined was donated by an anonymous donor from Cincinnati ($13,000) and Wrestle Against Autism ($10,000). The average cost to train a service dog is about $23,000.

Dog Works with Autistic Children, Stars in 'Annie'

A sweet story about an even sweeter dog who took her calm and patience from working as a service dog to the center stage! Check out the full article for more information about her work with autistic children. Go, Bella!

FORT MEYERS, Fla. -- She's been onstage only two weeks, but already Bella acts like a diva.

Minutes before showtime, the dog starts barking outside her handler's dressing room at Broadway Palm Dinner Theatre.

Then she happily struts across the stage during the musical "Annie" and soaks up the applause at curtain call.

Bella even "signs" autographs with her paw and an ink pad.

"She loves to be on the stage," says owner Madison Terrasi, 16, who plays the orphan July. "You can see it in the way she wags her tail."

McDonald's Manager Punches Customer with Service Dog

ATLANTA -- A Marietta McDonald's manager is accused of punching a mother who brought a service dog and her autistic children into the restaurant.

A Cobb County warrant charges Tiffany Denise Allen with simple battery, simple assault fear and disorderly conduct.

According to the warrant, Jennifer Schwenker entered the Marietta McDonald's located at 1291 Bells Ferry Road with her children and service dog on July 12.

Allen, off-duty at the time, became irate that the dog was in the restaurant, the warrant says.

Student Can Bring Service Dog to Class

HILLSBORO, Ore. – After a three-year battle with the Hillsboro School District, a young autistic boy has won his fight to bring his service dog to class.
Due to a federal investigation, the school district had to make a decision, and Oregon's attorney general laid it out bluntly: It could be a long, expensive lawsuit. So, Scooter Givens’ service dog, Madison, will be allowed during a trial period at Patterson Elementary.
"We’re thrilled; we’re absolutely thrilled," said Scooter's mother Wendy.

Carter and His Service Dog's First Day of School

Check out the story of Carter, 5-year-old from Columbia, Illinois, and Corbin, his support dog. I'm sure we'll be hearing more about this as the legal case continues.

Student With Autism and Service Dog to Attend New School

An autistic boy who won a temporary court order to bring his service dog to class in his hometown school district Monday will instead be starting at a new school Wednesday nearly a half hour away.
Carter Kalbfleisch, 5, and his service dog, Corbin, will begin classes at the Illinois Center for Autism in Fairview Heights instead of his former pre-kindergarten special education class in the Columbia School District, said his father, Chris Kalbfleisch.
The remedy adds thousands of dollars to the cost of Carter’s education, with the district and the state picking up the tab. But while the district said it will pay for Carter’s transportation, it will not pay for the service dog to travel to the new school. The parents will instead have to drive the two to and from school.