What Does MobilityDog Do?
Formally known as the Mobility Service Dogs-West Coast Project (MSD-WCP) was founded in 2018 with the express mission of supporting the mobility-disabled Community.
Learn more about our organization and mission below!
Where it All Started: Janie and Phoebe
Courtesy: MobilityDog.org
Eleven years ago, Janie Lynn Henrich suffered a freak accident resulting in a life-changing spinal cord injury. To regain her independence, Janie became part of a Service Dog Team with Phoebe, the Poodle.
But it wasn’t until Phoebe’s retirement, that the idea for MobilityDog began to take root. Due to Janie’s age and lack of military service, she encountered many hurdles in trying to obtain a new service dog to maintain her functional independence. When Beckett finally became her next service dog, MobilityDog began to take shape.
The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)
Courtesy: ADA.gov
The enactment of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) in 1990 by President George H.W. Bush, helped increase public access along with equal housing and employment opportunities for disabled people across the United States.
While a huge step in the right direction, a lot of work still remains to ensure this monumental civil rights legislation continued to effectively support the disabled communities throughout the country.
Even in 2022, twelve years later, the need still persists for:
Courtesy: MobilityDog.org
Additional education of the general public; and
Easier access to trained service dogs for disabled individuals to maintain their functional independence to a full and vibrant life!
The mission at MobilityDog addresses these ongoing needs and more.
MobilityDog: the Mission
MobilityDog operates with strong core values and heart-driven goals for the mobility-disabled community by:
Courtesy: MobilityDog.org
Raising, training and matching poodle Service Dogs with mobility-impaired individuals.
Building a community for our puppy raisers, handlers and trainers with weekly meetups to share, learn, laugh and cry as we all support the journey forward.
Supporting and empowering the mobility-disabled community with respect, empathy, integrity, transparency and action with or without a service dog.
Advocating as a voice for our community and all people with disabilities as they navigate life with or without a service dog; and
Providing ongoing education, advocacy programs and workshops for schools, businesses and the public at large.
Supporting the MobilityDog Mission
Organizations like MobilityDog rely upon the ongoing involvement of the public for financial support, supplies and more.
Every donation is life-changing.
There are several ways to help MobilityDog fulfill its mission including:
Courtesy: MobilityDog.org
Sponsoring a Service Dog in training.
Transitioning a New Service Dog Team.
Paying for a Service Dog harness or a training leash for handlers.
Paying for the first year of vet visits.
Purchasing puppy food, treats, vitamins, dog puzzle toys, martingale collars and more!
Shopping at our MobilityDog online store.
Angel Donors are needed to assemble the Center of Excellence (aka Poodle Palace), a home for MobilityDog’s mission work and the community at large.
Volunteers are also the foundation and energy behind everything that gets done at MobilityDog! From posting on social media to assisting with educational programs and workshops, our volunteers are the lifeline behind the ability to fulfill our mission!
Bring your skills, experience and passion to MobilityDog and make a tangible difference in the life of a mobility-disabled person! Or donate to our mission by texting PAW to 44-321.
