HANOVER COUNTY, Va. (WRIC) — For years, 12-year-old Charlie Kreitz lived in fear. Diagnosed with autism and severe panic disorder as a young child, his panic attacks grew so debilitating that even leaving the house became overwhelming.
“Charlie’s fear of being around people had become severe, and he was living in a constant state of fear, unable to participate in things he used to enjoy,” said his mother, Angie Kreitz. “It was progressing quickly, and nothing we were doing helped.”
That changed this summer when Charlie met Wendy, a 2-year-old Golden Retriever/Labrador mix trained as a service dog through Canine Companions. After two weeks of intensive training in Long Island, the family brought Wendy home to Mechanicsville in August. Within weeks, Charlie’s parents say they saw a transformation.
“In just weeks, it’s been an answer to years and years of prayers, just watching Charlie become free of so much weight,” Angie said. “There’s a joy in him now when he goes into public spaces without carrying all that fear and worrying.”…