Mom Raising Money For Service Dog
May 14, 2020
Sarah Jones smiles happily in pictures with her sister and her daughter, but underneath the smile, there’s a darkness.
The 20-year-old suffers from Bipolar II Disorder, Generalized Anxiety Disorder, and Major Depressive Disorder.
Jones says it impacts her everyday life, but each day she puts on a brave for her 2-year-old daughter.
But some days, parenting is a challenge.
Jones suffers from panic attacks and mood swings. She says all she wants is to be a good mother.
“I need and want to be a good mom to her, and that’s a struggle, because I want to be the great mom that I should be, and on days where I’ve got so much anxiety and I get agitated so easily, I don’t want to be mean or impatient with her. So, you know, it makes it hard to be around my own kid.”
Jones doctor suggested a psychiatric service dog.
The furry companion will retrieve medicines, senses mood swings and panic attacks, deep pressure therapy and more.
For Jones and her family, it would be an invaluable resource.
And Jones has found her companion in Coco.
Coco is a British Labrador bred in Montevallo. She’s been training her entire life to help people.
“I actually got to meet her for the first time yesterday, and I immediately fell in love with her. She is fantastic. I got to see a little bit of the training that she has already gone through, and it is incredible.”
The only problem, the service animal comes with a $40,000 price tag. Jones can’t take her home until she’s made a $15,000 down payment.
Lamoureux says the service dog would allow Jones to be more independent and stable.
While interviewing with CBS 42, Jones said she would like to become a nurse and be the best mother she can be. Having Coco at her side gives her the opportunity to do that.
Most Recent News
Former Victoria man’s diabetic alert dog helps him get back to life
When Luke Hengen’s diabetes worsened in his early twenties, it stripped him of the outdoor activities where the country kid felt at home. Countless wilderness adventures and years of hard-fought football games took a toll on his body, to the point where he could no longer sense when his blood sugar was too high or […]
Students Get Therapy Dog
When middle school students return to class on Jan. 11, they’ll find a new face at the door: Daisy. Daisy is a therapy dog and the personal pet of Rob Kreger, principal of the Rock L. Butler Middle School. The five-year-old golden retriever is not a school pet or mascot, but rather a working dog […]
Therapy Dogtor
Last March, Caroline Benzel, a third-year medical student, began to notice the stress and discomfort her nurse friends were feeling from the pressures of the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic. “[Personal protective equipment] can be really rough on the skin,” Benzel, 31, tells PEOPLE. Benzel and her 3-year-old Rottweiler, Loki (who’s also a therapy dog) hatched a […]
Therapy Dog Pups
When Stanley the miniature fox terrier’s owner passed away, the little dog started a ‘paw-some’ new role – bringing puppy love to some of the Gold Coast’s oldest residents. After Carinity Cedarbrook Diversional Therapist Julianne Staff adopted Stanley, he began visiting the aged care community at Mudgeeraba as a therapy dog. Therapy dogs help to […]
Puppy Cams
A nonprofit is providing an unusual form of therapy for those on the front lines of the coronavirus pandemic – puppy cams! “You spend five minutes with a puppy and try not to smile,” said registered nurse Robin Lingg Lagrone. Lingg Lagrone says watching little furballs wag their tails and prance on their paws helps […]
Pet Committee
When Moore County’s school doors were abruptly closed earlier in 2020, two- and four-legged volunteers from the Moore County Citizens’ Pet Responsibility Committee (PRC) were in their 12th year of presenting a six-session Pet Responsibility Education Program for fourth-graders. The PRC quickly shifted gears and placed its program materials online as part of a home […]