A Service Dog for Mercedes

Mercedes moved in with our family in May of 2017.  She has quickly become a member and it is hard to believe that she is not our biological child.  Along with growing to love Mercedes as our own, we saw her  wounds that left deep scars on her heart and psyche.  As a young child Mercedes was abused physically and mentally by  several family members and sexually by a different family member.  This resulted in a diagnosis of a complex form of PTSD, depression, anxiety and a physical condition called concussion syndrome that leads to memory loss, fatigue, pain and seizures.  It has been suggested by the wonderful team that cares for her that a service dog would give her a new lease on life and help her feel safe in a very unsafe world. 

The type of service dog that Mercedes needs is a hybrid service dog that can help with the emotional aspects of PTSD, anxiety and depression, but also help with medical emergencies which have been increasing.  These dogs are highly specialized and specifically trained for the client they serve.  It is our hope that we raise the funds to get her the service dog in 2018.