Hello and thank you for reading.

My name is Michelle and I'm multiply disabled. A service dog will help me stay safe, conserve energy, minimize pain, do household chores, and spend more time outside, all of which are important for maintaining my independence and improving my quality of life.

Specifically, a service dog will help mitigate my disabilities by carrying and retrieving medicine, food, water, and other items; pulling heavier things; alerting me to low blood sugar; turning lights on and off; applying deep pressure; and helping me navigate in public, among other tasks.

Service dogs are invaluable and in short supply. Very few dogs are suited for service work, and turning a promising dog into a service animal takes a lot of time, hard work, skill, and money. In addition to the regular demands and costs of caring for a dog, service dogs require temperament and health screenings, a suitable disposition, years of rigorous training, extensive socialization and desensitization, basic and advanced obedience, and individual assistive task training.

Obtaining a service dog is a tremendous undertaking for anyone. It's a particularly daunting job to tackle alone. Fortunately, after an extensive application process to ensure we're a good fit, Little Angels Service Dogs has approved me to partner with one of their service dogs! I am delighted to have the support of this unique and reputable organization and to work with their caring and dedicated staff.

Now comes fundraising. Most programs' service dogs each cost $50,000 or more. (Yes, really.) With the help of volunteers, Little Angels has been able to lower their cost to $38,000 per trained dog. That is still a lot of money, but it takes a lot to choose, raise, train, and place a service dog. Food, lodging, socialization, professional training, medications, medical care, and gear—collar, tag, leash, vest, crate, food and water bowls, shampoo, toys, treats, etcetera—add up!

Every dog Little Angels places is paid for by donations from generous donors. While I await receiving my own service dog, I am helping Little Angels raise money to meet their fundraising goals. Please consider making a tax-deductible donation to Little Angels Service Dogs so they can continue their mission of changing lives one dog at a time.

Here's where your money goes:

• $8 provides a leash for a service dog
• $24 feeds a dog for an entire month
• $48 provides a working dog vest & identification
• $108 spays or neuters a service dog for a long & happy life
• $300 pays for a puppy's medical screening, vaccines, toys, & a crate
• $500 pays for the boarding cost of a dog in training for an entire month
• $3,500 pays for comprehensive veterinary services for one month
• $8,750 pays for acquisition of new dogs—adoptions, breeding, & whelping—for one month
• $38,000 pays for the entire cost to raise, train, & place a dog with a deserving recipient

Please donate if you're able to. And please share this page with friends, family, neighbors, colleagues, acquaintances, clubs, congregations, and groups who might like to help. Many hands make light work! If you'd like to send money directly to Little Angels, please be sure to include my solicitation code—AM-GR-MI—on all donations. If donating money is a hardship, please support me by sharing this page instead.

Thank you again for reading, considering donating, and sharing!