This past Saturday, I ran a 9k race to support an organization for which I volunteer and serve as Treasurer. The organization is wonderful and does incredible things for its clients. It trains service dogs for physically disabled people. The clients may have spina bifuda, muscular sclerosis, muscular dystrophy, been a victim of a debilitating accident, among other things. The organization procures the dogs, finds fabulous and generous puppy and trainer homes so that the dogs are socialized right away versus being kenneled.

It is something that hits near and dear to my heart as my nephew has spina bifuda and may one day need a service dog. The dogs are matched with the clients and transitioned to them over a period of 6 weeks or so. The dogs innately know that this is the person with whom they will be partnered for the next 10+ years. It is amazing. The dogs enable their partners to have a degree of freedom and independence that they have not had in a long time and sometimes never. They can assist in opening doors, bringing a telephone, providing stability, and even doing laundry, if required.