Welcome! Glad you are here. My name is Sheena and I am partnered with a black Labrador service dog named Leon. He is a mobility dog, meaning he helps me keep my balance when I walk and retrieves items for me off the ground, among other tasks. He and I have been together for one year. Leon has helped me regain much of the independence I lost when my first service dog Pebbles retired. He has made my life not only safer, but more full -he has enabled me to be more active in my community than I could be otherwise.

Leon and I at the Mall

One thing has made our partnership strained and more than a little difficult at times. Leon has very severe allergy issues. Both food and environmental. He breaks out in rashes. He has had these issues since before he was partnered with me by his program, but apparently they exploded when he moved to Texas with me.

Vet bills, buying his special food (a special limited ingredient kibble for dogs with severe allergies), buying his special veterinary shampoo (for the rashes) and getting his monthly medication has been putting a large strain on me financially and emotionally.

These are the lowest-cost options I have been given (and can comply with). Leon works so well for me and I don’t want to go back to life as it was before he came into it. He has enabled me to get out of my apartment more and be more active in my church and community. He loves working and gets excited when the harness comes out. It’s what he lives for. The financial strain is really tough, though. I have my own medical stuff to deal with and having a dog with a chronic health condition places additional strain on my already very tight finances.

I am facing the choice of continuing the special food, shampoo and medication which seem to be working to help keep him working comfortably and keep the allergies under control –or return my dog to the program he came from. So I am asking for help. Every little bit will mean so much to me. Leon has made such a HUGE difference in my quality of life this past year. Please help keep our partnership together.

Please, if you can give –even a small amount adds up –help us out.