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害羞草研究所檚 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.

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

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 害羞草研究所楾ake Our Kids to Work Day害羞草研究所� on Friday, Dec. 10.

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

害羞草研究所淗e害羞草研究所檚 limited as to what he can actually do,害羞草研究所� she said.

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

害羞草研究所淚 said 害羞草研究所榊ou should come in here and we害羞草研究所檒l make some dog cookies together,害羞草研究所櫤π卟菅芯克鶟 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害羞草研究所檚, wondering if MacDonald remembered them.

She did.

害羞草研究所淚 said 害羞草研究所榃e害羞草研究所檙e in,害羞草研究所櫤π卟菅芯克鶟 MacDonald recalled. 害羞草研究所淓very child needs an opportunity. We wanted to offer him the experience.害羞草研究所�

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 害羞草研究所楾ommy害羞草研究所檚 Choice.害羞草研究所�

Ryder said he enjoyed his time at Fergie害羞草研究所檚 that day.

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

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

Ryder, who害羞草研究所檚 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.

RELATED: