New Jersey Boy With Autism Hopes To Give Back After Receiving Gift Of Service Dog

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- A New Jersey boy wants to give back after he says a service dog completely changed his life, but first he needs to raise $50,000.

Lucas Weiner, 11, said his service dog Rafael is the color of Darth Vader and his best friend, CBS2's Vanessa Murdock reported.

They go everywhere together, but before Rafael stood by his side, many of the activities Lucas enjoys weren't possible. He lives with autism.

"Lucas wasn't eating, he wasn't sleeping, had a tendency to wander," Len Weiner, Lucas' father, said. "I remember we were at the airport, we turned around he was gone. He was outside. That kind of was a wake-up call. One of the reasons we got Rafael."

Now, nearly two years later, Lucas' parents describe life as fantastic.

"The stress is gone on our end, but definitely on his as well because he knows his friend is always with him," Michelle Weiner, Lucas' mother, said.

Rafael has been such a force for good in his life that Lucas wants to help another kid get a service dog. With help from his folks, Lucas set up a GoFundMe page to make it happen. The page has raised nearly $7,000, but they need more. It costs $50,000 to train a service dog, but the cost to the family is free.

"If ever there was a kid who could raise $50,000, Lucas is the one. He is so loving and really understands what this dog means to him," Caroline McCabe, director of Heeling Autism, told CBS2. "He's continually asking 'How much, any more?' I think Lucas would love to see another child benefit like he has."

Lucas hopes that another child might be able to have a dog like Rafael by his side.

"He's my pal," he said.

The company that trains the dog said they have 24 children currently waiting for service dogs.