Newsweek

Boy’s Best Friend

BRINGING HOME A GOLDEN retriever named Topaz has been a “life-altering opportunity” for a Pennsylvania family.

Topaz lives with “her boy,” 9-year-old Chaise Clouser, as well as his mom Ashley, dad Justin and 5-year-old brother Conner, in Shelocta, about 50 miles from Pittsburgh.

The 3-year-old service dog was trained to help Chaise cope with his symptoms stemming from autism and ADHD, the 9-year-old’s mom, Ashley Clouser, told Newsweek in a series of interviews in November and December.

“She has a love for Chaise that I have never seen a dog have with anyone,” Ashley said.

Ashley said their lives were “pretty normal” until COVID-19 shut down the world in 2020 and the Clousers began noticing concerning behaviors they had never witnessed before.

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