Service Dog

My name is Jacqui and I am a student and aspiring vet tech. I have struggled with anxiety and depression for a very long time and I have dealt with it in many different ways. I've tried numerous types of therapy and many different medications, however, medications don't always work and sometimes have lifelong side-effects. For the past few years my mother and I have been trying to find me a service dog, in an attempt to help me cope with day to day life and gain independence. Throughout these past few years mobility issues have popped up. I've developed weakness in my legs that causes pain whenever I move. Along with stomach issues that seem to be out of control, I have celiac and a mast cell issue which we are still trying to diagnose. In order to help me with all of these issues my mother and I recruited the assistance of a service dog foundation to train a dog for me. This dog would do more than any other dog, they will be trained to help me with my mobility by assisting me in getting up if I fall, helping to give me the momentum needed to walk longer distances, and alert as well as assist if I have a panic attack. This organization does their best to keep the prices as low as possible, being a non-profit and enlisting the help of volunteers, however there are still a lot of things they need to pay for, such as the dog itself, veterinary bills, and training. The majority of the cost is training and this is estimated to take about 5 months. 

The issues have caused great stress on my life preventing me from going to college. Last year when I attempted to go to class I would repeatedly have severe panic attacks that left me immobile and missing out on valuable information I needed.  My anxiety has left me out of a lot of social gatherings and prevented me from enjoying time with friends and family I love.  My mom does all she can to help me but she is unfortunately a single mother due to my fathers passing when I was 8 years old and she has other kids to support financially. We are both putting a lot of funds into this but we can't do it alone I appreciate any support even if you think its not enough, or nothing, every little bit helps.