Ryder Newhouse loves baking.

And what he loves baking more than anything else is treats for Tommy, his unofficial therapy dog.

So when Connie MacDonald, co-owner of Fergie含羞草研究社檚 Doggie Delight Pet Bakery in Chilliwack, agreed to let Ryder spend part of the day in her shop making dog cookies as part of a school project, both Ryder and his grandparents were thrilled.

含羞草研究社淚 think she含羞草研究社檚 amazing,含羞草研究社� said Lillian Newhouse, Ryder含羞草研究社檚 grandmother. 含羞草研究社淗e含羞草研究社檚 going to fulfill what he likes to do which is bake, and the fact that he含羞草研究社檚 able to bring his dog含羞草研究社� it hits two categories of what Ryder really enjoys which is baking and dogs.含羞草研究社�

Ryder is 14 years old and has autism. He lives in Harrison Hot Springs with his grandparents Lillian and Maxwell Newhouse.

One day Ryder brought home a letter from Agassiz secondary school encouraging all Grade 9 students to participate in 含羞草研究社楾ake Our Kids to Work Day含羞草研究社� on Friday, Dec. 10.

The Newhouses didn含羞草研究社檛 quite know what to do as there aren含羞草研究社檛 many workplaces that would be suitable for Ryder even though he has a good work ethic, Lillian said.

含羞草研究社淗e含羞草研究社檚 limited as to what he can actually do,含羞草研究社� she said.

She recalled going to Fergie含羞草研究社檚 in downtown Chilliwack with Ryder in the summertime. When he walked through the door, Ryder told MacDonald how much he loved baking dog cookies.

含羞草研究社淚 said 含羞草研究社榊ou should come in here and we含羞草研究社檒l make some dog cookies together,含羞草研究社櫤�羞草研究社� recalled MacDonald.

Nothing came of that offer for several months until Ryder brought home the school letter about Take Our Kids to Work Day. Lillian and Ryder returned to Fergie含羞草研究社檚, wondering if MacDonald remembered them.

She did.

含羞草研究社淚 said 含羞草研究社榃e含羞草研究社檙e in,含羞草研究社櫤�羞草研究社� MacDonald recalled. 含羞草研究社淓very child needs an opportunity. We wanted to offer him the experience.含羞草研究社�

On Friday, Dec. 10, Ryder got that experience with help from MacDonald and co-owner Rose Bouthillier.

MacDonald went an extra step and also brought in a friend of hers, Ruby Rodier, who not only helps out occasionally at the bakery but also works with children as an art teacher and yoga instructor. She used to work as a daycare instructor and has experience working with children who have autism.

Rodier patiently helped Ryder as he rolled out dough, cut bone-shaped cookies into it, baked them, and finally packaged them up in containers labelled 含羞草研究社楾ommy含羞草研究社檚 Choice.含羞草研究社�

Ryder said he enjoyed his time at Fergie含羞草研究社檚 that day.

Tommy was there too, ready for frequent hugs from Ryder, scratches under her chin含羞草研究社� and to test the cookies, of course.

She含羞草研究社檒l get more of the dog treats at home, but many of the cookies will actually be going to other dogs.

Ryder, who含羞草研究社檚 a newspaper carrier with the Agassiz-Harrison Observer, will be delivering the cookies to all of the dog owners on his route just in time for Christmas.

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