A pit bull gave an autistic teen a new outlook on life after the teen and his mother rescued the dog from a Los Angeles shelter. Joey Granados was diagnosed with high-functioning autism, called Aspergers, at the age of seven. He couldn’t connect with anyone, including his mother Angela.
After being suspended from school for behavior he couldn’t control and having issues making friends, Joey asked his mom for a dog.
Thinking the animal might help her son socialize better, Angela began her search. The two saw a photo of Roxy, a blue-nosed pit bull, at Best Friends Animal Rescue in Los Angeles.
When the pair went to see Roxy, who walked right past Angela and hopped up in Joey’s lap. It was an instant change.
“I get emotional thinking about it. For all those years, he wouldn’t hold my hand, he wouldn’t hug me — it was all part of the autism — but this dog has taught him how to give and show affection,” Angela told TODAY.
“He holds my hand now! He hugs me! The first time I got a kiss on the cheek was when Roxy came home,” she added.
While Roxy did her part in rescuing Joey, the 14-year-old had his own hand in rescuing the pit bull. Angela confessed that she was nervous about having a pit bull, given the bad rap they have received in the past.
However, Roxy’s immediate connection with her son changed her mind. She explained, “She doesn’t care about his differences — there’s no judgment with her — she just loves him.”
The autistic teen added that the pit bull comes running to comfort him when he’s having a bad day. Roxy also calms him when he is upset. Joey noted, “If I’ve been having a bad day, Roxy can hear a tone in my voice.”
Amanda noted that both pit bulls and children with autism get a bad rap. However, the adopted pit bull gave her autistic teen a new look on life using her affection and love.
