VASHON ISLAND, Wash. -- A boy needs his dog, as the saying goes. But for one autistic boy, that special dog cost $13,000.

It's no small change for anyone, especially kids. But that didn't keep a group of local children from trying to raise the money. In fact, they made it their pet project.

James McCrackyn swings to his own beat. He wears head phones that block out noises that block out noise that could send the 7 year old into sensory overload.

"You'll have a really good day where he's social and then a bad day where he's in his own little world," said mother Raven Pyle-McCrackyn.

James suffers from severe to moderate autism. When he focuses on something, it's tough to switch gears. Changes in routine trigger commotion.

James adores dogs, but his only family only had a fraction of the $13,000 needed to pay for a specially-trained dog.

The McCrackyns could not find a solution. That is until a group of young strangers joined the search.

The children at Maravilla School, who had never met James, decided to help him buy a very highly-trained dog.

"I think it will mean a lot and it will help a lot," said Kevin Rice, a fundraiser.

The kids placed donation boxes at businesses around Vashon Island in hopes of convincing some local grownups to help the McCrackyns pay for the dog. The children's tactic may sound too simple, but it proved to be more than enough.

In a week and a half, the island raised more than $12,000 toward a dog that would provide James comfort, consistency and security.

While all the other children are playing together, James is alone. Stress can increase his symptoms, and his mom hopes a dog would decrease anxiety and the symptoms.

"If (he's) making this kind of noise at school, a dog could tap him and change his behavior," said Raven.

By week's end, the McCrackyns should have enough to afford a trained companion for James.

"I felt so lonely and just realizing that everyone's here to help us has been astounding," said Raven.

And thanks to the people and children of Vashon, James or his mom won't feel like an outsider.

Autism service dogs are valued at more than $30,000 because of the thousands of hours of training each animal is given. Grants will help the McCrackyns cover most of the cost.