Life Partners Before Smith Pruitt got Aubrey, his three-year-old yellow Labrador retriever, trips into town could be difficult for his mother, Erin. The thirteen-year-old has moderate to severe autism; conversations are limited to keywords he’s learned. Among those he uses the most these days are “lean” and “hug.” When Aubrey hears those commands, she quickly complies. The simple pressure of her warm, soft presence is enough to calm Smith down when he’s upset, easing an unpredictable anxiety that can suddenly arise. Smith no longer has to hold his mother’s hand when they’re out shopping or at the library, instead gripping tight to a handle on Aubrey’s harness. And Aubrey attracts people to Smith, which helps his peers to understand that any out-of-the-ordinary movement or vocalizations are a result of his autism. “She’s been a bridge to a lot of kids in explaining what autism is and what a service dog is,” says Erin. “Aubrey has been such a great help in terms of signifying that he’s ‘got something up with him’, so people might be a little more understanding, instead of thinking he’s just some weird kid or his parents can’t control him. She’s served to teach a lot of children.” Aubrey can do everything from turning on and
Aubrey is Smith’s calming force.
A detail shot of the harness that allows Zack to do his job.
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