Marblehead Rotary Helps Unite 9-Year-Old Boy With Service Dog

MARBLEHEAD, MA — Six months after the Marblehead Rotary Service Dog Project began raising funds to unite a 9-year-old, autistic Chelsea boy and his new service dog, Gabriel and Kacey are now together.

With the combined efforts of Marblehead Rotary Club and Chelsea Rotary Club, Gabriel and Kacey are ready to take on their world — or, at least the fourth grade. The pairing is the culmination of a campaign to raise the $8,000 necessary to secure Kacey and train him as a service dog.

The World Class Service Dogs organization, NEADS, matched Gabriel with Kacey about a year ago. Just last month, the two finally completed their training and held an official graduation from the program.

It costs the National Education for Assistance Dog Services about $45,000 to breed, raise and train a service dog — of which NEADS asks each family receiving a dog to raise $8,000.

When two Marblehead applicants did not qualify for the program last fall, the Rotary connected with the Chelsea Rotary in their efforts to help Gabriel.

"Its enormous benefits to people with disabilities to improve their day-to-day function and secure their safety and well-being is well documented," Arthur Schwartz, Marblehead Club president, said. "For us, it is a compelling (mission)."

The Marblehead Rotary Service Dog Project originated in 2019 and was directly inspired by Rotary District's assistance to Micaila Britto, a veteran of the U.S. Marine Corps. Studies have shown that service animals can dramatically improve the lives of individuals living with the debilitating effects of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

Soon after that success, Rotarians, Linda Sullivan, Gail Novack, David Deutsch and Rosie Segil looked into extending the project to benefit others.

Maureen Foley, Chelsea Rotary's past president and board member, said that this success "is a cause to celebrate, and a way to energize and rally members to a new and collaborative project that extends beyond our own community."

Gabriel told the Rotary: "My life is different because I'm calmer with Kacey by my side, she was the love added to my heart, never-ending love.

"I would like to thank my parents, especially my mom who always helps me with everything, everyone from NEADS, the Chelsea and the Marblehead Rotary Club, and everyone else who donated and supported us."

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(Scott Souza is a Patch field editor covering Beverly, Danvers, Marblehead, Peabody, Salem and Swampscott. He can be reached at Scott.Souza@Patch.com. Twitter: @Scott_Souza.)

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