Help support Illini Service Dogs!
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Mobilizing the world, four paws at a time.
Illini Service Dogs is a Registered Student Organization at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Founded by Bridget Evans and her service dog, Coal, in 2010. This groundbreaking initiative is the first and largest of its kind. Illini Service Dogs has now grown into a volunteer-run organization in which we train mobility service dogs from puppyhood to placement. Each semester, we advance both the training of our dogs and awareness of the disability culture.
Our organization has a rigorous training program to equip our student volunteers with the skills necessary to train mobility service dogs. Our volunteers also become advocates striving to bring awareness of disability culture and laws to the public. We adopt our dogs from reliable breeders, rescue groups, and shelters. We manage to keep our costs for training comparatively low because of our dedicated volunteers and in-kind donations.
Upon completion of the training program, the dogs master over 40 commands to assist with activities of daily living, a few of which include picking up objects, turning on lights, and helping someone who has fallen. Each of our dogs is then placed with a person who has a physical disability free of charge.
The Illini Service Dogs initially started with just a few students, but in the past five years has grown into a comprehensive group with a robust population of volunteers.
The Illini Service Dogs relies solely on the generosity of others. Our organization can only grow if there are dogs to work and train each year. The cost of care of the dogs includes veterinary care, food, training tools and toys. All donations go directly to the dogs, so your support allows for the expansion of our program and maintain their care and training. Any donation, whether it is $1 or $1,000, will be immensely appreciated, and you will be making a contribution to change someone's life.
Check out our website for more information!
Illini Service Dogs is a Registered Student Organization at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Founded by Bridget Evans and her service dog, Coal, in 2010. This groundbreaking initiative is the first and largest of its kind. Illini Service Dogs has now grown into a volunteer-run organization in which we train mobility service dogs from puppyhood to placement. Each semester, we advance both the training of our dogs and awareness of the disability culture.
Our organization has a rigorous training program to equip our student volunteers with the skills necessary to train mobility service dogs. Our volunteers also become advocates striving to bring awareness of disability culture and laws to the public. We adopt our dogs from reliable breeders, rescue groups, and shelters. We manage to keep our costs for training comparatively low because of our dedicated volunteers and in-kind donations.
Upon completion of the training program, the dogs master over 40 commands to assist with activities of daily living, a few of which include picking up objects, turning on lights, and helping someone who has fallen. Each of our dogs is then placed with a person who has a physical disability free of charge.
The Illini Service Dogs initially started with just a few students, but in the past five years has grown into a comprehensive group with a robust population of volunteers.
The Illini Service Dogs relies solely on the generosity of others. Our organization can only grow if there are dogs to work and train each year. The cost of care of the dogs includes veterinary care, food, training tools and toys. All donations go directly to the dogs, so your support allows for the expansion of our program and maintain their care and training. Any donation, whether it is $1 or $1,000, will be immensely appreciated, and you will be making a contribution to change someone's life.
Check out our website for more information!
Organizer and beneficiary
Alyssa Henkels
Organizer
Champaign, IL
Rebecca Kolzow
Beneficiary
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