Sunday, November 15, 2026
John Paul Amato, a 16-year-old student at Sanford H. Calhoun High School’s COORE Program, has a new reason to smile — a furry friend who will stand by his side, providing him with the support and services he needs while he’s out in public.
John Paul and his family received a service dog, Sunny, at Newbridge Road Park on Oct. 3. And even though the animal has only been a part of his family for a few weeks, her arrival has already greatly impacted his demeanor, according to his mom, Kristen Amato.
Kristen said her son, who has Fragile X Syndrome, a genetic disorder that can cause a wide range of developmental issues, including intellectual disabilities, learning disabilities and behavioral problems, received his first service dog, Perky, in 2016.
“She really did help him out with his anxiety,” she said of Perky. “He has anxiety when he goes to outdoor events, with regards to traveling, airport travel. If he’s in a large group, like at an amusement park, he’ll have a lot of anxiety. And she really did help ease that anxiety.”
Perky went everywhere with the family, Kristen said, like restaurants and as far away as Disney World in Florida, but she died in January at the age of 13.
The Amatos reside in Bellmore, but John Paul attends Calhoun High School in Merrick, which houses some of the Bellmore-Merrick Central High School District’s special education services, including its COORE program, for students with special needs.
Melissa Rohr, Calhoun’s special education chairwoman, said John Paul is such a pleasure to be around.
“John Paul has such a vibrant personality,” she said. “He loves being at Calhoun. He’s like the life of the building — every single person knows him. He’s just an absolute pleasure and love to be around.”
Rohr said that after Perky died, John Paul’s educators did notice a change in his demeanor. “It was really hard on him,” she said. “There was a total shift in aspect — he was just sad.”
Kristen said the Amato family has planned a trip for next summer and noticed that some of John Paul’s social anxiety has returned following Perky’s death. They began looking into getting another service dog, but the first organization they had worked with no longer assisted families that were seeking a service animal for individuals with autism. Receiving a dog through certain agencies and services can cost upwards of $20,000, she explained.
Kristen’s husband, an NYPD officer, and the family contacted a group called LEO Weekend, a nonprofit organization that works with law enforcement families on a wide range of topics. They were able to contact the K9 Kitt Foundation, another nonprofit that provides relief to injured K9 teams across the country, and were able to help the Amato family receive Sunny.
“They found a breeder, they picked up the dog, and then within 10 days, she was certified and ready to go,” Kristen said. “From the minute that he met her, you know, he was in love with her. He said ‘She’s my girl.’ He was so happy when he first saw her.”
Sunny does not attend classes at Calhoun with John Paul, helping him more in his home life and while he’s out in public. Rohr said they’ve had other students with service dogs, and said it enforces a level of security in their lives.
“It is just such a level of comfort and companionship,” Rohr said. “It gives him this feeling of security. He sees that someone is always with him and taking care of him. He calls her ‘Sunny Girl’ and when I ask him what he loves about Sunny, he says that she takes care of me and that she comes with me everywhere.”
The Amato family is amazing to work with, Rohr added.
“We look for that partnership with families, and they give that to us,” she said. “They’re supportive of everything that we do here because they trust that we have the best interest of their kids at heart.
“Right now, in three years, he’s really made such great progress,” Rohr added of John Paul. “I’m excited to see what Sunny will do for him as he continues to grow and mature into adulthood.”
