After more than a year of weekly psychiatric appointments and different medications to treat my challenges with C-PTSD, my treatment team recommended looking into a Psychiatric Service Dog to help mitigate my symptoms. By happenstance, the owner of Penny Lane Australian Labradoodles mentioned MLU had a Program Service Dog ready for placement, but she might be too small for crowd control work. An internet search of Star’s bio listed all the qualities I was looking for in a PSD. Once I met Star, we bonded very quickly, and I know from day one we would make a great working team. Training with Lisa and Star in preparation for the transition of handling Star was seamless and rewarding.
Siri is my Service Dog. She has changed my life and recently I feel that she is saving it. Because she was trained by My Life Unleashed, this business did too. Yes, my wife owns this business, so my review is biased. Nevertheless, it would take a lifetime of bias to sufficiently affect the number of stars I am giving here. You see, if I could, I would give 5 times as many stars. Siri is my star. She lights my path in the dark. Knowing she is there enables me to navigate life in private and in public spaces in ways I would not be able to anymore. Unfortunately I am dealing with disabilities on multiple fronts. Fortunately, Siri is a multi-purpose service dog. She does psychiatric, autism, and medical alert and response tasks. She was originally trained for a different placement with someone who had similar needs to my own. Unfortunately it was not a good fit for them. She has been with me for a few months now and I am lucky to have her. I am neurodivergent. I struggle with social interactions, walking or being in crowded spaces, and with overstimulation in public places. I also suffer from chronic pain and have a seizure disorder. Recently, I am also dealing with more severe mental health issues. Siri helps me with all of that and more. I am able because of her. This year, Siri has helped get through days in amusement parks, which would otherwise be quite the opposite of amusing to me. This summer, I also attended a work function with thousands of teachers. She works everyday and is reliable each day.
The reassurance of a well-trained dog has been a priceless gift for my son, whose life was devastated unexpectedly, and he is receiving more than we ever hoped by having a dog. He lost control over his body and power over so many aspects of life after his injury. To be in a position of being able to successfully direct an animal offers him the psychological strength to realize that, with support from people like Lisa, he can regain aspects of the power and control he needs to live a live worth living. Already, thanks to My Life Unleashed and Luminary Service Dogs, he is actively realizing personal dreams for himself, such as his simple hope to have his own dog. I appreciate you taking the time to read our journey with training our dog. I highly recommend My Life Unleashed and Luminary Service Dogs, which offers an effective, capable and well-developed approach. Thanks so much for everything, Lisa!
Every dog I have had the pleasure to work with has something to teach me as a Trainer, and Sparrow and her owner taught me something very valuable these past 6 months. I truly believe that a good Service Dog is 50% born, and 50% made. But in cases like Sparrow’s, perhaps a little extra TLC can go a long way.
Setting people and dogs up for success with everything in her power, she sent Harbor home with all the physical and informational resources he and I needed to succeed as a team, asking for nothing in return. Caring and driven, pleasant, personable, professional and a joy to work with, Lisa is worth her weight in gold.
