Service Dog for Disabled Law Student

Hello! My name is Meredith, and I am a recent law school graduate. I am in need of a service dog, as I live with a rare medical condition called Ehlers Danlos Syndrome (EDS) as well as a disorder called Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome, or POTS. As a result, my heart rate goes haywire, especially when I am in the standing position, and I can faint or have a seizure and hurt myself when this happens.

My current service dog, Monte, is a great dog but he is getting ready to retire and will not be able to help me much longer. I am fundraising to get a new service dog whose job will be to help detect my high heart rate before I faint, allowing me to sit down or take medication to mitigate the issue, and who will also be able to provide mobility support to help me walk and move normally.

Unfortunately, I am in a difficult situation with my health, as well as the effects of the global pandemic, and I am currently unemployed and living at home with my parents. Despite this, my doctors and my service dog trainer are urging me to get a puppy now as this would be the ideal time to raise and socialize one. As such, I am asking for your help with paying for the initial fee of the service dog. I am specifically going with a well known breeder who has many successful pups turn out to be service dogs; sadly, this means the dogs are more expensive and just out of a recent grad student’s budget!

Food, supplies, veterinary, and training are not an issue, but it is this initial cost that is proving to be the hardest to overcome. In the meantime, I am working at DoorDash and also as an online debate coach while I study for my bar exam, but any extra penny would be so appreciated. Thank you!