
Help fund my service dog and regain independence!
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Hello, my name is Chanelle! I’m a chronically ill disabled gal in her 30's currently residing in central Texas. I’m a very creative individual. I do artwork, make working dog gear, and even make mascot costumes when I’m able
to do so!
Unfortunately, most of my time is spent managing my debilitating chronic medical and psychological disabilities. I suffer from an autoimmune condition called lupus. While a lot of cases of lupus are well managed, mine has progressed to a state where it is not manageable without significant day to day disability care and assistance. I have round the clock assistive care from both my partner and my retiring service dog because without it, I typically end up in the emergency room. I also have a comorbid condition, POTS (Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome). It's an autonomic deregulatory condition that essentially means my body shuts down and I faint when I do normal day to day tasks. I'm an incredible fall risk which is why I was prescribed my service dog by my entire medical team!

Oakley was a multipurpose service dog. He helped me manage my medical disabilities by providing me with crucial alerts whenever I'm about to have a medical episode. This prevents me from falling unconscious in an unsafe situation and risking a dangerous injury or concussion. He also provided grounding tasks like deep pressure therapy whenever I had medical or psychological episodes to help me get back on my feet quicker and avoid emergencies.
Seeking the medical care I need to manage the multitude of medical conditions is inaccessible to me without the aide of my service animal. Oakley was trained to provide grounding assistance during my medical appointments to prevent meltdowns during scary and invasive procedures. Without a service dog I cannot navigate my medical appointments or even travel to and from them.
Oakley will be looking at an early retirement. He has been attacked on several occasions by improperly trained dogs in public spaces while working and no longer feels confident working in places where dogs may be present. He also struggles in some of the medical offices I need his assistance in, which unfortunately is nonnegotiable in a service dog candidate for me.
Because he's been pulled from public access and cannot properly assist me outside of the home, I no longer can safely leave my home. I do not travel, visit my friends, go to my medical appointments, run errands, drive, or access the outside world in any way without constant supervision from my partner. This is not the life I had envisioned for myself and I need my independence back.
I’ve recently been approved for a started program dog from PIB Dog Training (a subset of Errorless Service Dogs) that has a dog that will be ready to place in my care in June! He’s currently in training until he is ready to come home to us. His name is Sven! He’s also golden retriever!
These dogs are not cheap. $8,000 is his placement fee and while that’s not too outrageous for a service dog, it’s a lot of money to have to pay out in a short time period. I have a very small window to be able to acquire the funding for placement for this dog.

My quality of life without a full time working service dog has drastically declined. Accessing the world with my limited disabilities has become impossible. Managing my medical needs has become inaccessible. I’ve given up most of my independence until a new working dog can be placed with us.
It would mean the world if y’all could help! Thank you for taking the time to hear out my story! ♥
Organizer

Chanelle McDonald
Organizer
Temple, TX