Hi, everyone! We’re the Oney family, and we’re reaching out to our amazing community, friends, and loved ones for support. Our sweet 11-year-old daughter, Olivia, is an incredible, bright, and loving girl who faces daily challenges that most kids her age don’t. After much research and thoughtful consideration, we’ve partnered with Canines for Change , a highly respected organization dedicated to training service dogs that transform lives.

We are raising funds to help cover the cost of a specially trained service dog that will provide Olivia with the tools, comfort, and confidence she needs to thrive — at home, in school, and out in the community.

Why a Service Dog?

A service dog will be life-changing for Olivia in so many ways. These highly trained dogs are more than companions — they’re partners in daily life. Olivia’s service dog will help her:

Improve Social Interactions – Offering a friendly bridge for connection, helping Olivia feel more comfortable engaging with peers and others.

Manage Anxiety in Crowded Spaces – Providing reassurance and grounding techniques to keep her calm when the world feels overwhelming.

Find Comfort During Stressful Moments – Using deep-pressure therapy and emotional support to regulate her emotions and reduce sensory overload.

Stay Focused in Academic Settings – Helping Olivia remain calm and attentive, improving her ability to learn and succeed at school.

Increase Independence and Confidence – Empowering Olivia to face new situations with less fear and more courage.

The impact of a service dog extends far beyond the practical support — it opens doors to freedom, safety, and hope for Olivia and our family.

A Moment That Inspired Us

One moment that really showed us just how much Olivia would benefit from a service dog happened last summer when the fair was in town. Olivia was so excited to go, but when we arrived, she spotted some of her school peers. They were thrilled to see her and ran up to say hi — but for Olivia, the situation quickly became overwhelming.

She froze, her heart raced, and before long, tears started streaming down her face. She felt shy, anxious, and unable to respond to the excitement around her. While her friends wanted to connect, Olivia’s anxiety made it impossible for her to enjoy the moment.

This is where a service dog can make a life-changing difference. The dog will be trained to recognize when Olivia is becoming anxious and provide deep-pressure therapy and calming techniques right there in the moment. With the help of her service dog, Olivia will be able to regulate her emotions, feel grounded, and confidently engage with her peers — turning situations like this from moments of panic into moments of joy.

Where We’re At & What We Need

We’ve already made a $2,000 deposit with Canines for Change to secure Olivia’s place in their program. However, we still need help covering the remaining costs, which we expect to need within the next 4–6 months.

Although service dogs are considered medical devices, the costs associated with them are not covered by insurance. That means families like ours must rely on personal savings and the generosity of others to make this life-changing support possible.

Your generosity will go directly toward funding Olivia’s service dog, including training, care, certification, and placement. Every contribution — big or small — brings us one step closer to giving Olivia the support she needs and deserves.

How You Can Help

Donate – Every dollar makes a difference and brings Olivia closer to her service dog.

Share – If you can’t give, please share our GoFundMe page with your friends and family.

Encourage – Your words of support and kindness mean the world to us and help us stay strong on this journey.

From the Bottom of Our Hearts ❤️

Thank you for taking the time to read our story and for supporting Olivia’s journey. This service dog represents more than a companion — it represents freedom, security, and hope for our daughter’s future.

With love and gratitude,

Matt and Carrie Oney