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Lost as well, in so many ways, is the family she left behind because Echo is a service dog. Her best friend is a young boy with autism.
"She's changed our life. She's not a pet, she's a critical care giver for our son. She keeps him safe," said Emily Fontana, the dog's owner.
When Echo puts on her work vest, the 5-year-old black lab knows her job is to protect 5-year-old Mark Fontana.
Mark was diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder at 3 years old, meaning he's not verbal, he doesn't speak.
"He's a runner. He runs into the street. He runs to water. He loves swimming pools and he can't swim. We have had many scares where he's gotten out of the house," Fontana said, "When he's lost, he doesn't even know that he's lost, he's not able to go up to someone and say, 'My name is Mark,' or his phone number or where he lives."
Echo disappeared from the family's Rye home Wednesday.
Neighbors have covered the area with fliers searching for her.
Echo was donated to the Fontana family by Guiding Eyes for the Blind in Yorktown Heights, who paid the $45,000 it costs to train her.
"She wears a tether, a harness, we connect the two of them. And when I'm out with Mark and he tries to run with no command from me, her training is to automatically brace," Fontana said.
Echo is between 50 and 55 pounds and she was wearing a red collar with tags.
If you see her take her to vet, Humane Society, really anywhere they can swipe her chip and get her back home.
"We desperately need Echo home. Mark needs Echo," Fontana said, "Has Mark said anything to me? No. Does Mark miss her? I know he does."
Follow the search for Echo at #FindEcho on Twitter and Facebook.
(Copyright ©2013 WABC-TV/DT. All Rights Reserved.)
via abclocal.go.com/wabc/story?section%3Dnews/local/northern_suburbs%26id%3D9322237
RYE, N.Y. (WABC) -- There's a desperate search in Westchester County to find a black lab named "Echo". She's a service dog that's been lost since last Wednesday.
Lost as well, in so many ways, is the family she left behind because Echo is a service dog. Her best friend is a young boy with autism.
"She's changed our life. She's not a pet, she's a critical care giver for our son. She keeps him safe," said Emily Fontana, the dog's owner.
When Echo puts on her work vest, the 5-year-old black lab knows her job is to protect 5-year-old Mark Fontana.
Mark was diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder at 3 years old, meaning he's not verbal, he doesn't speak.
"He's a runner. He runs into the street. He runs to water. He loves swimming pools and he can't swim. We have had many scares where he's gotten out of the house," Fontana said, "When he's lost, he doesn't even know that he's lost, he's not able to go up to someone and say, 'My name is Mark,' or his phone number or where he lives."
Echo disappeared from the family's Rye home Wednesday.
Neighbors have covered the area with fliers searching for her.
Echo was donated to the Fontana family by Guiding Eyes for the Blind in Yorktown Heights, who paid the $45,000 it costs to train her.
"She wears a tether, a harness, we connect the two of them. And when I'm out with Mark and he tries to run with no command from me, her training is to automatically brace," Fontana said.
Echo is between 50 and 55 pounds and she was wearing a red collar with tags.
If you see her take her to vet, Humane Society, really anywhere they can swipe her chip and get her back home.
"We desperately need Echo home. Mark needs Echo," Fontana said, "Has Mark said anything to me? No. Does Mark miss her? I know he does."
Follow the search for Echo at #FindEcho on Twitter and Facebook.
(Copyright ©2013 WABC-TV/DT. All Rights Reserved.)
via abclocal.go.com/wabc/story?section%3Dnews/local/northern_suburbs%26id%3D9322237
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