Dear Friend, 

My name is Rachel, and I am writing to request financial assistance for psychiatric service dog training that is essential to my mental health and daily functioning.

I have lived with mental illnesses for many years. Despite more than a decade of treatment?including Dialectical Behavior Therapy, Intensive Outpatient Treatment, Partial Hospitalization, Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation, and Art Therapy?I continue to face significant daily challenges. One of the most difficult symptoms I experience is persistent ruminating thoughts, which can make it hard to function and get through the day.

Through my healing journey, I have learned how profoundly dogs can support individuals with mental health disabilities. Dogs have an incredible ability to sense distress and interrupt harmful thought patterns, providing grounding, emotional regulation, and safety during difficult moments.These are some of the tasks that I would need in a service dog. I truly believe that a properly trained psychiatric service dog would make a meaningful and lasting difference in my life.

To move forward, I need to acquire a new dog and complete professional training for both the new dog and my current dog, Marshall. Marshall is dog-reactive and requires specialized training to ensure a safe and successful environment for both dogs. This training must be done together and will require a minimum of two weeks of intensive work for Marshall, and two years on and off intensive training for the service dog. I also hope that Marshall can eventually become a therapy dog. They will both require vet check ups, possibly dog insurance plans, professional check ins, and I will need someone to help me walk the dogs (who I would pay or trade services with).  

The training is being coordinated with a professional trainer, Sarah Bostock, and includes the following costs:

• Behavior Modification: $1,250 per week for Marshall to unlearn some habits
• Advanced Obedience Training: $1,000 per week for the new dog
• Specialty Training: $1,250 per week for service dog and therapy dog training 

These steps are not optional?they are essential for my mental health, safety, and long-term stability. Unfortunately, I am currently on Disability, and the financial burden of this training is far beyond my means.

Any assistance you are able to provide would be life-changing. Your support would help me access the tools I need to manage my mental health more effectively and regain a greater sense of independence and quality of life. 

Thank you sincerely for your time, compassion, and consideration.

With Thankfulness, 

Rachel