Not quite guide dogs, Bodie and Moby are visual companion dogs for children — a concept that sprung from Kim Ward's persistence to help her children and one organization's willingness to help.

Based in Madison, OccuPaws is a nonprofit organization that aims to place trained guide dogs with Wisconsin residents who have visual disabilities.

Its Children's Visual Companion Dog program aims to place dogs with Wisconsin's visually impaired children ages 3-12 for free.

Organizers believe it is the first program of its kind.

"All of the guide dog schools in this country won't even touch children," OccuPaws president and founder Nicole Meadowcroft said. She said reasons include liability issues and the sensitivity of working with children.

Calls from families of visually disabled children persuaded the organization to break the mold.

"No one is doing it," Meadowcroft said. "Let's do it."

One of the calls came from Kim Ward.

She turned to OccuPaws when Tyler was 3, just as he was becoming mobile. Because his vision disorder, achromatopsia, makes him sensitive to light — it tires his eyes and makes him lose even more sight — he would lose his vision outdoors and panic. He would become so upset he would sometimes break out in red bumps.

"It's a big thing when you're a kid to be able to explore your environment," Kim Ward said.

The organization set the Wards up with a breeder who, nearly a year ago, gave the family Bodie, a black lab.

For Tyler, his mother said, "the change was night and day."

Without Bodie, Tyler would cling to his parents, shuffle instead of walk and move with hunched shoulders. Holding onto Bodie's harness, Tyler has a sense of security and walks with shoulders relaxed, Kim Ward said.

Furthermore, she said, Bodie sleeps with Tyler, who often awakes from panic attacks. Sensing the attack before it happens, Bodie alerts Kim and Jim Ward so they can stop it from progressing.

The Wards later welcomed Moby, a yellow lab for Tanner.

Bodie and Moby accompany the Wards just about everywhere they go. Tyler and Tanner cannot go on outings with the canines alone, though. Parents must hold onto their leashes.

Although the Wards received the help they sought for their kids, they aren't finished with OccuPaws. They welcome other companion dogs in their homes to make sure they are kid-friendly. Reese, their chocolate lab, gave birth to a litter of seven several weeks ago, and the family donated them to the organization.

Kim Ward has "huge hopes" other families affected by visual disabilities will be helped by her family's efforts.

"It's very rewarding to me to know our trials and tribulations may be able to help someone else," she said.

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Information from Beloit Daily News