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Newbury girl Estella has a new best friend





For six-year-old Newbury girl Estella Kotz, her loveable new pup is not only a friend and companion, but also a vital part of her life.
The 12-week-old golden retriever, called Banjo, is a service assistance dog that helps the youngster with day-to-day tasks that she can sometimes find challenging as a result of her autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.
The pair were only introduced to each other last week, but have already formed a heartwarming bond.
Estella’s father, actor and musician Adam Kotz, said: “She is very much enjoying his company and he is settling in well with the rest of the family.
“The two of them are really starting to bond and we have already noticed that Banjo seems to have a calming effect on Estella, which can be really important as she can sometimes get over-excited due to her autism.
“Her reaction to him has been tremendous. She is extremely excited but is learning to be very gentle. We are hoping it is going to be the start of a very happy and beautiful relationship.”
Mr Kotz added: “He is teaching her empathy and responsibility and teaching her to focus.
“ASD can affect people in different ways depending on the level of severity – some children with more severe autism are non-verbal and it is a lifelong condition which can have a very profound effect on the person – but other children are able to function with help and support.
“Estella can be extremely sociable and chatty but there is a limit to how much information she can actually process. It’s like she has her own little agenda. Her ADHD also makes it difficult for her to concentrate and she can experience a high level of anxiety.”
Theale Green Primary School pupil Estella, who celebrates her seventh birthday tomorrow (Friday), said: “I am very happy that Banjo is here. He is cute and he loves me.”
Mr Kotz and his wife Helen decided to look into buying an assistance dog after reading about the positive effects they can have on autistic children.
They set up a fundraising campaign in September 2014 which raised £6,500 in just four months through donations from friends, family and people they had never met before.
Mr Kotz said: “We have had lovely messages of support and donations and that is the most moving thing.
“We cannot thank them enough. We really didn’t think we would achieve this so quickly. It has gone from an idea to reality in four months. It is an absolute godsend.
“I heard this remarkable story of a child with autism who had never been able to say the words ‘I love you’ to his family before getting an assistance dog – but after he had the dog for a while he started saying it. The family were convinced it was the dog and it just goes to show the positive effect they can have.”
Last week Banjo met pupils at St Nicolas Junior School, Newbury, where Estella’s brother Alec, 10, is a pupil. To mark their visit, the school took part in a non-uniform day to help raise money towards the £7,000 fundraising target.
Despite the community’s fundraising efforts, the family are still around £500 short of the money needed to pay for the associated certificates and training costs for the dog.
Mr Kotz has organised a fundraising night at ACE Space on Saturday February 14. ‘Estella Takes The Lead’, will start at 7.30pm and feature live music, a quiz and a raffle.



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