Hi! I’m Rebecca-Eli. If you know me, you know I’ve had a lot of big changes in my life recently, including moving across states to begin working on my PhD at Purdue University. These changes have been exciting, and they also mean I need new supports to navigate my life as a disabled grad student. I started researching getting a service dog following the sudden death of my emotional support animal from cancer last year, and I decided that a service dog would fill in some of the gaps in my support system. A service dog will provide constant help in managing life with my disabilities, including autism, PTSD, and chronic pain.

 

Right now, I have a hard time going out in public, especially crowded or unfamiliar places, without a friend's help. My service dog will help manage sensory and emotional overload, keep me calm in crowds, and even alert me to oncoming panic attacks. These tasks will make a big difference in me being able to feel confident in my day-to-day life now and prepared for the next step in my career after graduate school.

 

I’m on the waitlist with Medical Mutts, a non-profit that trains rescue dogs for new careers as service dogs. Though I still likely have several more months to wait before I’m matched with the perfect dog for me, I’m beginning to raise funds for this big expense.

 

The specialized training service dogs need is not cheap, which is why I’m asking for your help! The initial cost for my dog and training is $17,000. I’ve already paid part of this amount and need to have the rest before I can learn how to work with a service dog and bring my new partner home. All of the funds raised will go towards making sure this expense is not a barrier to getting the support I need! Thank you!