"At eleven years old, Emily lives in a world of dazzling colors and a vibrant inner symphony. But for Emily, that symphony often plays at double speed. Spina Bifida means her legs sometimes struggle to keep up with her soaring imagination; Autism can make social connections feel like turning into a radio station through static; and ADHD makes it a challenge to focus on a single note in the chaos.

Her wheelchair is her "trusty steed" for adventures at the park or zoo, but it cannot bridge every gap. Sometimes, a sudden loud noise would send her into a spiral of sensory overload, the sounds too sharp. Her deep desire to play with friends often gets lost in translation, and physical tasks become hurdles when her balance falters.

While browsing Little Angels Service Dog Organization, Emily’s eyes lit up. She saw photos of Goldendoodles and Labradoodles - dogs with intelligent, calm eyes and paws ready for a purpose. "Mom," she whispered, "Look." We read together about dogs trained to brace for balance, retrieve dropped items, and provide deep pressure to soothe anxiety. For Emily, this isn't just a dog, it’s a key. She pictured a soft, warm presence beside her; a steady anchor to nudge her hand when her focus wanders and a silent guardian to shield her from sensory overload.

A service dog from Little Angels will be more than a helper; it will be a bridge for her Autism, a calming force for her ADHD, and a partner for her Spina Bifida. Most importantly, it will be a friend who sees beyond her challenges to celebrate the incredible girl within.

We are fundraising to bring this dream to life. Every donation Little Angels receives brings Emily and others like her one step closer to receiving their own "Little Angel” For Emily this will be a furry partner to help her navigate the world and allow her inner melody to play more beautifully. Please help us give Emily and children and adults living with a disability the gift of independence and this extraordinary partnership."

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Little Angels Service Dogs is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization with an Assistance Dogs International (ADI) accreditation. We provide highly trained assistance dogs to help children and adults living with disabilities to live more independent lives. Our mission is to maximize the innate ability of dogs to give the gift of independence to individuals regardless of disability or age.

Our primary purpose is to change the lives of people living with disabilities by helping them live a more independent life. Approximately 13% of Americans are living with disabilities, and less than 1% of that community use service dogs due to a mix of availability, costs, and barriers for service animals that still exist today. Our goal is to overcome those barriers for people living with disabilities to appropriately match service dogs with their recipients.

We train our service dogs to perform specific tasks and behaviors that mitigate the effects of a person's disability, enabling them to lead more autonomous and fulfilling lives. Results of various studies on the impact service dogs have on their owners living with disabilities have indicated that service dog ownership may include benefits like greater social and emotional health, independence, and overall quality of life.

Our service dogs include psychiatric (civilian and military), seizure alert, diabetic alert, hearing assistance, mobility assistance, and autism assistance. We firmly believe that all disabilities should be regarded with equal importance, irrespective of their visibility. Our team acknowledges our responsibility not only to our service dogs but also to the individuals we serve.

Bring Emily's Dream to Life

Fundraising for Little Angels Service Dogs by Emily C.