The Shadow
MILLBORO — A Bath County family is attempting to raise funds to provide a service dog for an autistic child.
Three-year-old Savannah Gillispie of Millboro suffers from non-verbal autism.
Savannah, the daughter of Adam and Krista Gillispie, attends pre-school at Valley Elementary near Hot Springs. Her brother, Wyatt, is in first grade at Millboro Elementary School.
“Savannah loves to play ‘Ring Around the Rosie’ with her friends,” said her grandmother, Debbie Randozzo of Millboro. “She also loves Mickey Mouse and she is a big fan of ‘Mickey Mouse Clubhouse.’”
Randozzo and her husband, Guy, are working with the rest of the family to raise $17,000 to provide Savannah with a service dog. The dog would provide her with companionship and help prevent her from wandering away.
“The dog has to be specially trained to help with search and rescue,” said Randozzo.
The service dog would come from 4 Paws Service Dogs in Zenia, Ohio. The company provides service dogs to children with special needs.
The cost of the dog is expected to range from $40,000 to $80,000, with the family’s share being $17,000.
Raffles have been held and Randozzo has started a Go Fund Me page. Contributions can also be made at BB&T. Donations will be deposited into an account that has been established for Savannah.
“We are a small community, but Bath County usually sticks pretty close together when people need funds,” Randozzo said.
Savannah’s mother is employed by Bath Community Hospital in Hot Springs as an X-ray and CT technician. He father serves as chief of emergency services in Highland County.
The family also has ties to the Covington area. Savannah’s paternal grandparents are Bobby and Robin Gillispie of Covington.
For more information on the fund drive to assist Savannah, call (540) 958-8423.
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Three-year-old Savannah Gillispie of Millboro suffers from non-verbal autism and needs a service dog. Savannah is the daughter of Adam and Krista Gillispie. Her brother, Wyatt, is a first grader at Millboro Elementary School. For more information on a drive to raise funds for Savannah’s service dog, call (540) 958-8423. (Photo Courtesy Debbie Randozzo)
