Disabled girl’s cat rapport inspires plea for helping dog

The mother of a severely disabled girl is appealing for help to find her daughter a specially-trained assistance dog.

Rebecca Slator, 12, needs constant care as she suffers from a rare undiagnosed genetic condition which has come to be known as SWAN (Syndrome Without A Name).

The youngster has the mental age of a two-year-old child, is deaf and severely mentally and physically disabled yet is “exceeding expectations” after fostering homeless kittens.

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Her mother, Nicola Slator, feels an assistance dog could help her daughter learn valuable life skills such as finding her clothes, going into her bedroom by herself, and maybe even learning to count to two but so far Rebecca has not met the criteria for the various organisations providing the specialist dogs.

Mrs Slator, 46, said her daughter has been refused a dog for reasons including: she is not autistic, she is more than 10 years old and because of her complex needs.

“We have been knocked back so far because she does not fit any criteria,” said Mrs Slator, of Bingley near Bradford. “We need a specially trained dog that’s allowed into restaurants, libraries etc like a guide dog.”

The mother-of-two said her daughter has exceeded expectations and learned new skills after the family began to foster kittens from Yorkshire Cat Rescue in Haworth.

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Mrs Slator said: “During the time we have been fostering cats for Yorkshire Cat Rescue, Rebecca has come on leaps and bounds and it is truly wonderful to see. Being with the kittens unlocked things in her brain.

“She began to understand the difference between their toys and her own toys. It might seem small to normal parents, but anyone with a special needs child knows to appreciate even the smallest steps of learning.

“Rebecca has an amazing affinity with animals; cats and dogs alike. They bring a whole new perspective to her life with sounds, smells, movement and textures that she quite clearly enjoys.

“Some of the kittens we have had even actively sought out Rebecca’s company. It was as if they understood each other in a way most of us will never understand. I have seen the cats spark a reaction in Rebecca that I have never seen before. It is a little miracle.”

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