My husband and I are puppy trainers for Mobility Service Dogs. We have learned so much and are humbled by the bond our dogs develop with their handlers. Our job is to train the pups to respond & follow their handlers but also keep their handlers from harm. The opportunities these trained dogs provide for people is amazing. From accident victims to college professors, these dogs provide mobility & emotional support. We feel honored to be part of the process that gives people opportunities to continue to be active participants of life.
I became involved with this group about 3 years ago. They are an amazing group of individuals and I have found that my involvement with them has been incredibly rewarding.I get to volunteer with them and my experiences with them has greatly enriched my life.I know have Enzo a service dog in training and he is doing fantastic. Please check us out
I had a back injury working as an RN at a VA hospital. This injury left me with two weak legs and relying on a rolling walker to get around. I wondered if there was a type of service dog that could help me walk more independently. I was referred to MobilityDog by a groomer that I know. After extensive vetting which included multiple interviews and even a home visit, MobilityDog matched me with a wonderful service dog-Lido. The CEO of MobilityDog knew the type of service that I needed to help me meet my mobility goals, and helped me through the year long vetting process.
Lido's puppy raisers brought him to my house several times before we were officially matched and it was love at first visit! Lido roamed about my house and he found a bright orange squishy ball that he would carry around in his mouth. At every visit he would find it in a different place, and would then walk proudly around the house and bring it to me. And then present me with his paw for some love.
Lido has been with me for nine months, and its been a loving adventure getting to know one another. We are so bonded that his head raises if I move. He responds more to my cues than words and anticipates my needs. For example, when I am cooking if I drop a lid off of a spice bottle, he hears it and comes running to pick it up and give it to me. When he's not working, he loves to cuddle and be touched. Lido even watches TV with me-so funny.
MobilityDog has been and continues to be a very supportive and informative organization. With both weekly video training sessions and monthly in-person training sessions, there is a constant connection with the organization and others who too have service dogs from MobilityDog. I feel like I have a new extended family and I could not be happier!
Denise & Lido Wishner
I've been partnered with Nash, a black standard poodle, since March of 2024. Before then I enjoyed aa good quality of life, now enhanced by Mobility Dog. I've enjoyed and learned from several perspectives, from trainers, from puppy raisers (Nash's and others), and from the lived experiences of other service dog handlers.
Mobility Service Dogs-West Coast Project is an amazing non-profit organization that provides service dogs and training to their handlers at an extremely affordable rate. After meeting many of the people who volunteer for this organization, I can't say enough good things about the job they do and the love they have for the dogs and their handlers. This non-profit was created as a labor of love by Janie Heinrich who herself utilizes a mobility service dog. So, you know the expertise is there. If you have a physical disability and/or know someone who does and who would benefit from having a mobility dog, I HIGHLY recommend this organization!
