It’s that time of the year again, folks. Fall is in full swing, and Halloween is just around the corner. There’s also plenty happening in the Emotional Support and Service Animal community. This week we bring you two stories from the Pelican State that are bound to pique your interest.
Family Reaches Out To The Community In West Monroe To Help Collect Funds For A Service Dog
A family in West Monroe, La., recently held a community picnic to help raise funds for an epilepsy Service Dog for their son.
Lane Hodnett is 24 years old, and he’s suffered from seizures for more than half that time. His family wants to make his life easier by getting him a dog trained to sense seizures. Epilepsy dogs can help warn their handlers of an upcoming episode, giving them enough time to avoid serious accidents or injuries.
The only problem is epilepsy medical dogs are pretty expensive. They can cost anywhere between $15,000-30,000. The Hodnett family also wants to raise enough monies to ensure Lane doesn’t have to worry about travel costs, pet care, or training.
Their community picnic helped the family raise around $4000. They still have a long way to go before reaching their target, but they’re hopeful their peers will rise to the challenge.
Source: KNOE
Man Reunited With Emotional Support Animal Who Went Missing After His Car Was Stolen
Kevin Brinkman left his car running at a grocery store, thinking he’d be out in a few minutes. Unfortunately, when he made it out, his car had been stolen. Even worse, Nila, his 8-year-old Emotional Support Animal, was in the car when it was hijacked.
While Mr. Brinkman was understandably distressed, he had the presence of mind to file a police report immediately after. That’s when the odds moved in favor. The Humane Society of Louisiana states the report sparked a massive outpouring of support for the missing ESA on social media platforms.
People joined hands across the internet and worked to reunite Nila with Kevin. A few days later, the police Department in Panama City, Florida, reached out, stating the suspect was arrested, and the car recovered. The officers conducting the arrest also discovered Nila in the backseat.
Nila was reunited with her owner when he flew to Florida to collect the canine from the Panama City Animal Shelter. In his statement, Mr.Brinkman said he’d learned his lesson about leaving his car unattended and was extremely grateful to everyone who helped Nila find her way back to him.
Source: WKRG
CertaPet’s Thoughts on This Week’s News
Social media can play an extremely role in the Emotional Support and Service Animals community. Just as people got together to help Nila reunite with her human, interested parties can reach out to the Hodnett’s and contribute to a good cause.
If you’re living with a mental illness, getting an Emotional Support Animal could really help your recovery. These loving animals could ease your symptoms and help you live a happier, fuller life. If you’re ready to start the process, take our 5-minute pre-screening test for free. We’ll connect you with a licensed mental health professional, who will have a consultation with you. Then, if you qualify, you’ll get your ESA letter in no time.