A New Service Dog for Wendy

My name is Wendy M. McCoy and I have utilized the assistance of a number of Service Dogs for more than fifteen years.  One of the pictures is of Boss (my current Service Dog) helping me shop when he was four-years-old.  He is now a few months from nine-years-old and I expect to retire him when he turns ten.

The other picture is of "Friend" (at about eight-months-old) who is currently being trained for me as Boss' replacement (although NOTHING can TRULY "replace" Boss!).  Friend is being trained by the professional dog trainer, Ken Schilling, who I've worked with and trained for (until I became disabled) for over 20 years.  All of my past Service Dogs have come from Ken and have been more impeccably trained than most Service Dogs I see.

I know when people see me, they often don't think I NEED a Service Dog, but that's how well-trained my dogs have been -- they make my life run smoothly (like a "normal" person)!  I need my dog mainly for mobility issues and retrieving.  I  have had numerous back surgeries, fusions, degenerative disk disease, etc., and have constant pain and difficulty bending.  Besides being able to pick up items as small as a dime or a paper clip, Boss pulls off my socks and pant legs, gets clothes out of the dryer, and brings me the phone (and anything else I point to with my laser pointer), among other things.

When one of my previous Service Dogs died suddenly and I was without a dog, I didn't want to leave the house! Even IN the house my life was difficult at best. I tried using my grabber more, but it did not work as well as my dog and just frustrated me. (Having to get up and down to acquire items just aggravated my back pain.) When my Vertigo kicked in, there was no dog there to recognize my need and steady me, so I'd fall.

Mom helped me acquire my previous Service Dogs, but she is now 90-years-old and does not have the available income afforded her in the past.  She is  not able to financially assist me in acquiring Friend.  This is where YOU come in.

Friend is coming up on one year old and I may soon be able to take him home to complete his training.  I need $4,000 to accomplish that.

I am doing what I can to put money aside, but, on my limited, fixed income, I'm lucky if I can save $25-$50 a month.  Many of my very generous friends have helped me with my dog expenses in the past and I have no words to express what that has meant to me.  I HATE to ask again, but I know what my life (or lack there-of) is like without a Service Dog.  I will be eternally grateful for ANY assistance you can provide.

God bless you for your generosity!