Your support will help enhance the lives of people with disabilities through an expertly trained service dog!

Hi! My name is Ellie and I'm so happy you're here to help me support a fantastic organization: Canine Companions. Canine Companions is the nation's leading service dog organization matching dogs with people, children, and veterans with disabilities. They've been doing this amazing work since 1975, and because of the generosity of amazing donors, they place each dog completely free of charge to the recipient -- a fantastic gift considering it can cost upwards of $50,000 just to train one dog up to service work standards. Canine Companions service dogs can perform a variety of tasks, from retrieving dropped items, turning on/off light switches, opening and closing doors, removing articles of clothing, providing deep pressure therapy, pulling a manual wheelchair, alerting to nightmares, and the list goes on and on. These dogs are literal lifesavers for their partner, helping them lead independent lives, as well as being their constant companion. 

I’m especially passionate about supporting Canine Companions because I’m now one of the people whose life has been changed by one of their incredible dogs. I have a genetic connective tissue disorder called Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome, and I struggle with joint dislocations, severe dizziness and tachycardia, debilitating fatigue, chronic pain, migraines and gastrointestinal issues, along with a host of other not-fun symptoms. Earlier this year, after a long wait, I was matched with my service dog Paola. She spent more than two years in training with Canine Companions and is now my partner, helping me with everyday tasks and making it possible for me to live more independently. (For cute photos, scroll down!)

Paola can retrieve dropped items, open and close doors, turn on light switches, carry objects, and provide deep pressure therapy when I need it. More than that, she’s my constant companion and teammate. Having her by my side has already made such a difference in my daily life, and it’s a gift I will never take for granted.

Because of that, continuing this fundraiser means even more to me now. Canine Companions provided Paola to me completely free of charge, something that’s only possible because of generous donors. My mom and I started sewing pet bandanas as a way to give back and help support the training of future service dogs. It’s a win-win — you get a cute, stylish bandana for your own pet, and Canine Companions receives the funding it needs to continue placing life-changing dogs with people who need them.

Thank you so much for supporting this incredible organization. We hope you and your own four-legged companion enjoy the bandana!