Help Shanna Locker Get a Service Dog

06/24/2025 New Update:

Hogan has achieved Canine Good Citizen and Advanced Canine Good Citizen status and is a much loved member of Shanna and Bill’s family for the past year.

Upcoming events:

Soon (16-18 months old, up to 2 years) Hogan will need to receive OFA Certification. (Orthopedic Foundation for Animals). This is a program that provides health certifications for dogs, primarily focused on orthopedic health. Think of it as ‘structural testing’. OFA testing and certification can be beneficial for working dogs like service dogs. There will be preliminary testing and final testing. He’ll need this prior to his service dog training. He’ll also need specialized equipment like a support harness for use when he’s working.

Sometime this Fall he’ll need his final 8 week service dog training. This portion is boarding and training. The total cost of this upcoming training is $4000 so we are adjusting our goal. We appreciate anything you can give to help make this become a reality!

UPDATE: The ball is rolling! Shanna and Bill have teamed up with Brittany Triner from Saragold Kennels in the Magic Valley. Brittany specializes in training service dogs and has begun searching for a puppy with the reputable breeders she works with. Thank you for your generous donations! Let's make this happen for Shanna!

Say “Hi” to Shanna Locker! Many of you know her–sister, mother, wife, daughter, friend, and so much more. For those of you who don’t know her: Since 1994, Shanna has been battling Multiple Sclerosis (MS), a progressively degenerative neurological disease. This has brought many struggles to her life, including: degenerative mobility, loss of balance and fine motor skills, decreased vision and memory recall, and anxiety. In 2010, Shanna was named Idaho’s MS Mother of the Year, and has inspired many through her courage and drive, to live the life she’s been blessed with, to the best of her ability. She puts on a brave face and rarely complains about her challenges. Her husband, Bill, says her symptoms are progressing, and he is becoming increasingly concerned about her being home alone while he is working at Lowe’s. A service dog would enable her to more confidently navigate the outside world, that has become increasingly difficult. A service dog would provide emotional support, as well as assistance at home, such as:

In spite of these challenges, her steadfast faith as a Christian and her trust in God brings her peace, and allows her to focus on how she can be of service to others. She shows friends and family her love and support through prayer, scripture verses, phone calls, and visits in her peaceful home. On good days, she visits ailing friends, and plays encouraging hymns on the piano, and bakes treats to share. Shanna lost her faithful companion dog, Lottie in 2017, which has left a hole in her life. Service dogs, as you can imagine, are expensive which makes it far out of Shanna and Bill’s budget. Most likely, none of us alone have the resources to buy a service dog for Shanna. However, all of us, together–each giving the amount that we are able–can give this incredible gift to an amazing woman who gives so much to us.