Reggie
Date of Passing: 12/06/2025
Message to Reggie:
Our one hope
Living with a special needs child is short of what someone would call a struggle for all. It is not just a struggle for the special needs child, but it is a struggle for the family and everyone that interacts with them. My son is diagnosed with ADHD, Oppositional Defiant Disorder, Speech and Receptive Language Disorder, LD, and has some of the crossover symptoms that a child with Autism would have.
Since he was three, we have been in and out of doctor offices, seen holistic doctors, therapists, nutritionists, neurologists, and psychiatrists for answers to what we could do to help him. The only answers were for my son to go on medication and herbal supplements. However, even though he was able to get some relief, the true relief came with the arrival of Reggie, our Tricolor Cavalier King Charles Spaniel.
We had no idea that our decision to get our first dog, would end up being the best decision we ever made. Maybe it was that Reggie understood my son, or my son understood what he had been through as a rescue dog, whatever it was, they “got” each other. To better understand, with my son having this diagnosis, he tends to have melt downs daily. Sometimes he is violent, other times erratic, and most often he is uncontrollable. Little did we know that Reggie’s compassion would comfort and calm my son! Every time my son melts down, no matter what state of mind he was in, Reggie would march right up and lick my son’s face and lie across his neck as if to say. “It’s ok, I am here, and you don’t have to get upset.” And wouldn’t you know it that is exactly what he did. My son would begin to calm down (not entirely), but at least slow down his meltdowns, and over time has made them less and less.
Now, at the age of nine, my son knows what he needs, so when he is starting to get upset, he goes right to Reggie and Reggie knows just what my son needs. I have never seen anything like it. Keep in mind, Reggie has not been trained as a therapeutic dog, and has had no training of any kind. He just has this sense that my son needs him and goes to his side over and over and over again. I know everyone says that all dogs know you and your needs, but Reggie knew from the first day he met us. Reggie was never scared as most rescue dogs probably would be. We as humans were scared at times of his behavior, but not Reggie. Now by no means is my son cured, or may never be, but he is better, thanks to the love of our Cavalier, Reggie. Our many thanks goes to GCCR, for bringing more to our family then just a rescue dog.
Tell us about Reggie:
In treasured memory of a cute Cavalier King Charles Spaniel named Reggie. His family got him when he was around a year old and they had 15 years with him. He was the start of a legacy that became a household full of Cavaliers that they rescued over the years. He was such a sweet boy and a big part of his family. He had three human siblings and he was their world growing up. He lived with other dogs and got along with everyone.
Reggie was the reason his mom became a volunteer for Greater Chicago Cavalier Rescue and the rest of his family also got involved. He was truly a special dog who was one in a million. He helped his mom and human siblings through some very tough times and provided unconditional therapy to them all. He developed a taste for coffee and was known to help himself. He loved a good car ride and went many places with his family. At home, he liked to snuggle up on the couch. He was known to “help” with the laundry and climbed right on top of the clean clothes.
His family took wonderful care of him through the years. He developed several health issues and when his condition worsened, they made the selfless decision to let him go. Reggie passed peacefully at home with his loved ones and will be missed.