Service dog gives Hanover boy freedom from panic attacks

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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.”

Wendy is trained to sense an oncoming panic attack before it becomes overwhelming. She positions her body against Charlie to help calm him — a method that cuts recovery time from nearly an hour to just minutes.

“Charlie has a lot of confidence now that we haven’t seen in a long time,” said his father, Matt Kreitz. “He’s proud to have Wendy by his side in all sorts of public spaces, and it’s giving him an opportunity to thrive and do things he wasn’t able to do before.”

For Charlie, the change is simple but powerful.

“Whenever I go somewhere with her, I just feel better,” he said. “She makes me less nervous and more calm.”

The path to matching Charlie with Wendy was long. Canine Companions — a nonprofit that has provided service dogs free of charge for 50 years — carefully selects and trains its animals over several years. Puppies spend their first year with volunteer raisers before advancing to specialized training to learn skills for people with disabilities.

The Kreitz family applied in 2022, submitted medical records, and waited nearly two years before being matched with Wendy. In July, they traveled to New York for certification, while Charlie and Wendy bonded through play and training sessions.

The family now hopes to use their experience to educate others about the importance of service dogs, especially for people with invisible disabilities. Charlie even carries cards explaining Wendy’s role, reminding strangers not to pet her while she’s working.

“This can be challenging because they may have great needs that nobody else sees,” Matt said. “You may not know why someone has a service dog, but if it’s legitimate, you can be sure they have a disability and a need.”

Their advocacy reached the state level this September during National Service Dog Month. Gov. Glenn Youngkin signed a proclamation declaring Sept. 20 as Virginia Service Dog Day, presented to Charlie and Wendy at the Executive Mansion.

“These highly trained animals are not pets,” wrote Hanover Supervisor Faye O. Prichard in a letter of support. “They are crucial partners for individuals with disabilities, providing a wide range of life-changing assistance.”

With Wendy by his side, Charlie has returned to activities he once avoided — going to church, visiting stores and even showing interest in sports again. At home, Wendy remains a constant source of comfort.

“When she puts her head on my lap, it makes my stress melt away,” Charlie said.

His sister, 14-year-old Becca, says the change has been life-giving for their whole family.

“I’ve watched Charlie suffer for years, and I’m so glad he now has Wendy to help him,” she said. “They have developed an amazing bond in just six weeks. I know they both have a bright future, as long as they stay together.”