Help Me Train my Future Service Dog
Donation protected
Hi there, thanks for taking the time to visit my fundraiser!
I'm Britt - 20 years old andjust finished my first part-time semester at NVCC. I am a computer science major and while I'm unsure what area of CS I will go into, I have a special interest in repair and programming. I have taught myself computer hardware and software repair and am currently learning phone repair at my part time job. I have a knack for writing and find comfort in sharing my words.
As a child, the summer before I started the first grade, a scary experience left me with severe anxiety, separation anxiety, and PTSD. My first grade teacher was not at all sympathetic to my situation and made the whole thing worse. I have struggled with school, social, and generalized anxiety alongside the depression my whole life and it has affected my ability to go to school. I ended up doing online classes in 9th grade and then dropping out once I was of age. I got my GED and am trying my best to continue my education and follow my dreams, but the stress and anxiety of just 2 classes are making it unbearable.
My doctor has told me multiple times that he believes a service dog would help me greatly, as my two pet dogs at home are my world. They make me feel so comfortable and safe. I feel more outgoing when I am with them, and it's easier to calm down when I feel a panic attack starting. I most definitely agree with him and have, after a long internal debate, decided to start fundraising for my future service dog.
This service dog will assist me in so many ways in my day to day life, as in addition to mental illnesses I also have POTS (Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome) which causes fatigue, dizziness, and fainting and EDS (Ehlers Danlos Syndrome).
The current plan is to owner-train with assistance from professional trainers once I choose my prospect puppy. However, before that happens I must first get my two dogs, Cosmo and Ava, trained so that they do not interfere with the pup's training, or cause unwelcome habits.
Any help is greatly appreciated, and if you know me personally and have any questions please feel free to talk to me about it. I try to be open about mental illness so to help reduce stigma :)
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TL;DR- I am raising money to 1) train my two dogs at home so they do not influence any future service dog prospect, and 2) get and train a service dog for my severe anxiety and depression.
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Thank you so much for taking the time to read my story!!!
I'm Britt - 20 years old andjust finished my first part-time semester at NVCC. I am a computer science major and while I'm unsure what area of CS I will go into, I have a special interest in repair and programming. I have taught myself computer hardware and software repair and am currently learning phone repair at my part time job. I have a knack for writing and find comfort in sharing my words.
As a child, the summer before I started the first grade, a scary experience left me with severe anxiety, separation anxiety, and PTSD. My first grade teacher was not at all sympathetic to my situation and made the whole thing worse. I have struggled with school, social, and generalized anxiety alongside the depression my whole life and it has affected my ability to go to school. I ended up doing online classes in 9th grade and then dropping out once I was of age. I got my GED and am trying my best to continue my education and follow my dreams, but the stress and anxiety of just 2 classes are making it unbearable.
My doctor has told me multiple times that he believes a service dog would help me greatly, as my two pet dogs at home are my world. They make me feel so comfortable and safe. I feel more outgoing when I am with them, and it's easier to calm down when I feel a panic attack starting. I most definitely agree with him and have, after a long internal debate, decided to start fundraising for my future service dog.
This service dog will assist me in so many ways in my day to day life, as in addition to mental illnesses I also have POTS (Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome) which causes fatigue, dizziness, and fainting and EDS (Ehlers Danlos Syndrome).
The current plan is to owner-train with assistance from professional trainers once I choose my prospect puppy. However, before that happens I must first get my two dogs, Cosmo and Ava, trained so that they do not interfere with the pup's training, or cause unwelcome habits.
Any help is greatly appreciated, and if you know me personally and have any questions please feel free to talk to me about it. I try to be open about mental illness so to help reduce stigma :)
--
TL;DR- I am raising money to 1) train my two dogs at home so they do not influence any future service dog prospect, and 2) get and train a service dog for my severe anxiety and depression.
--
Thank you so much for taking the time to read my story!!!
Organizer
Britt Walker
Organizer
Sterling, VA
