Jackson's Doggie College Fund

Jackson is a Belgian Malinois that I had the great fortune to find in an animal shelter as a volunteer. He is, as of the writing of this, heartworm positive and was slated to be put down due to overpopulation and because he was there a long time. People can be intimidated by a big dog, especially if they are untrained. As a volunteer there, I was able to see Jackson on walks and interactions with other dogs before he was trained, as he was a stray. The most important thing I saw, however, was his interactions with me. Everything I saw told me this dog was special. He was not mean, but gentle even when he should have been scared. I knew then that I needed to save this dog. Little did I know he was what I needed too. With time, I saw that he needed to be my service dog one day. You see, I am a disabled USAF vet trying to get a service dog. It is a difficult and expensive process, and I knew that did not matter once I knew he was the right dog. I need to have the fur therapy. I have various mental health issues, and my VA doctor even has given me a letter of recommendation for a service animal. Jackson needs to be that fur therapist.

This is where I need some help. It's not cheap to save the life of a wonderful dog, nor is it to train him. Additionally, the place I live is also not friendly to any kind of animal, and I do not have the legal resources to fight and win that battle, so I am in the process of finding a new place to live. However, we ran out of time, and I had to scramble too early to save him from being put down before I was fully financially ready. I have a job as a cook currently, and I want to get into work with animals, but I need to save up while I need to pay for doggie college. This is where I need help. Jackson has come so, so far already from the beautiful pup I saw in that cage at the shelter! The trainers at Integrated Canine Solutions have done a masterful job and gotten him trained up so well already that he can sit and stay off the lead around free-range chickens and not be bothered! He's so well on his way to becoming my dream dog, my fur therapist. So I ask, whatever you feel comfortable with, please help my Jackson get through doggie college. He's been making awesome grades, and heck, even the trainers want to keep him! ^_^ I get it, he's a wonderful dog, and when I'm around him, I can feel my mental health dramatically improve just by him being there, much less the awesome behavior. Anything will help, and I want to also say that already the help of other volunteers has even gotten me this far. Without them, Jackson would not have made it, and I would not have been able to have such a wonderful dog. Thank you to all of those who have gotten me and Jackson this far. It has made life just that little bit more enjoyable and less painful. Thank you again, and with the help I get, the money will go to his trainers. Currently, the heartworm is being treated by the shelter as I am fostering to adopt him. Further updates and progress will be posted as I know it, so anyone interested in following him will get to see his journey.

Ryan & Jackson