Dear Friend,

My name is Rachel, and I am writing to request financial assistance for psychiatric service dog training that is essential to my mental health and daily functioning. I have lived with mental illnesses for many years. Despite more than a decade of treatment—including Cognitive Behavior Therapy, Dialectical Behavior Therapy, Intensive Outpatient Treatment, Partial Hospitalization Program, Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation, and Art Therapy—I continue to face significant daily challenges. One of the most difficult symptoms I experience is persistent ruminating thoughts, which can make it hard to function and get through the day.

Through my journey, I have learned how profoundly dogs can support individuals with mental health disabilities. Dogs have an incredible ability to sense distress and interrupt harmful thought patterns, providing grounding, emotional regulation, and safety during difficult moments.These are some of the tasks that I would need in a service dog. I truly believe that a properly trained psychiatric service dog would make a meaningful and lasting difference in my life.

After a lot of feedback, I have adjusted my plan and decided to try training my dog that I already have, Marshall. He will need 2 weeks of intensive training with a trainer named Sarah Bostock ($2,500), then some one-on-one sessions about every other month for 2 years ($2,925), and I'll be using an online training program called Pettable ($199). I realized that PCAs can help with service dogs, so I'm planning on doing this everyday with my PCAs instead of only doing intensive trainings. Marshall will still be able to go in public and help me before the 2 years is over, especially as a Service Dog In Training. All of this will come out to $5,624.

These steps are not optional—they are essential for my mental health, safety, and long-term stability. Unfortunately, I am currently on Disability, and the financial burden of this training is far beyond my means. However, it's about $10,000 less than it was going to be when I was only going to do intensive trainings and with a new dog!

Any assistance you are able to provide would be life-changing. No amount is too small. Your support would help me access the tools I need to manage my mental health more effectively and regain a greater sense of independence and quality of life.

Support me…

by sending money through GoFundMe: https://gofund.me/3b3a098f0

by sending a check to me (message me for my address)

by buying a t-shirt for my campaign from Bonfire: bonfire.com/service-dog-for-rachel

by using a money app (ask me for details)

Thank you sincerely for your time, compassion, and consideration.

With Thankfulness,

Rachel Revennaugh [email redacted]