Hope Has 4 Paws
 

#hopehas4paws

The highest priority of #hopehas4paws is to raise money for Sadie's service dog Marika. Our goal is to continue raising money and eventually establish a foundation to provide financial assistance and educational resources to victims of violent crime, survivors seeking a professionally trained service dog or therapy dog.

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In January 2021, Sadie was 15 and missing. She experienced extreme physical, mental, and emotional trauma during those days, including excessive sexual assaults. After years of therapy and a lot of hard work, she is taking steps towards independent life with dreams of pursuing a career in hospitality, living on her own, and traveling. Sadie's ability to pursue these normal life experiences is now dependent on financing a professionally trained service dog.

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We have discovered through this long, involved journey that many others need support.

The road to healing after extreme physical and sexual trauma is often done in silence.

It involves lasting limitations in life and is expensive.

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Almost four years later, Sadie is still in trauma therapy with an amazing care team. She is working towards living an independent life. Sadie does have a service dog, Marika! We are still paying for Marika, which is why we continue to raise money for her dog as we work to establish

a foundation and provide resources to help others.

As we researched, we discovered:

• The average cost for a professionally trained service dog is $20,000 - $30,000.

• There are not many services available to support violent crime survivors seeking service dogs.

• There are very few (if any) dog trainers who specialize in psychiatric/PTSD service dogs.