Happy 4th Birthday to Mobility Service Dogs – West Coast Project!
Happy 4th Birthday to Mobility Service Dogs - West Coast Project
Birthdays are deeply meaningful, and January 25th commemorates our own special birthday here at Mobility Service Dogs! This year, we celebrate our 4th year of service in the MobilityDog Community with Founder and Executive Director, Janie Lynn Heinrich at the helm!
Janie with her Service Dog, Beckett
How it All Began
Coined back in 1634 by poet John Milton, “every cloud has a silver lining.” In other words, even the worst situation can offer some positive aspect. Amazingly, this is exactly what Janie found after her life-changing accident.
Back in 2010, Janie was involved in a freak accident at a grocery store that resulted in a devastating spinal cord injury. To regain her functional independence from her wheelchair, Janie became half of a Service Dog Team with her first service dog Phoebe.
But when it was time for Phoebe to retire, Janie met numerous roadblocks and obstacles to obtaining a new service dog because of her age and lack of military service. During this challenging time, the idea for Mobility Service Dogs was born inspired by Phoebe!
Mobility Service Dogs: Mission
Four years ago, this week in January 2018, Mobility Service Dogs West Coast Project DBA MobilityDog was established. Based in Pasadena, California, the MSD-WCP was created as a non-profit organization dedicated to:
Raising, training and matching Service Dogs with mobility-impaired individuals.
Supporting the Mobility-Disabled Community; and
Educating the Community at large
Now, just 4 years later, MobilityDog is proud to announce twenty-four Service Dog Teams!
Mobility Service Dogs: Recognition
Janie and Beckett Receiving the Molina Healthcare Neighborhood Champion Award
In 2020, Janie was honored with the Molina Healthcare Neighborhood Champion Award for her efforts in advancing equity, raising community awareness and providing service dogs for mobility-impaired individuals.
In 2021, MobilityDog was awarded the Talking Rain Beverage Company’s Sparkling Ice Cheers to Giving Award out of 6,000 nominations! Three non-profits, including MobilityDog, shared the $150,000 cash award.
Mobility Service Dogs: Goals
Education
Our educational programs introduce the importance of Equality for All through knowledge, confidence and the willingness to create productive conversations.
Our educational programs include:
In addition, MobilityDog provides:
Wellness training and education.
Ongoing support and empowerment for the disabled.
Ongoing support for handlers through education and advocacy.
Weekly virtual meetings for our trainers, puppy raisers and handlers.
Vision
For the mobility-impaired community to live full, vibrant lives and achieve FUNctional independence with or without a service dog’s assistance.
Values
Demonstrating empathy.
Hosting meetups to assist with mobility needs.
Connecting humans to canines.
As we move forward to our next birthday, we cannot do this important work without your generous support in donations, gifts, time, networking and grants!
We appreciate each one of you for stepping up to positively change the lives of mobility-disabled people!
Please support our work by just texting PAW to 44-321 or Click Here to Get Involved!