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Overcoming Disabilities with Dogs and Love
Jennifer Arnold
Alpharetta, Georgia

In 1991, Jennifer Arnold founded Canine Assistants, a non-profit organization dedicated to training service dogs for individuals with disabilities.

Since then, the organization has placed 366 dogs in 38 states. In 2003 alone, Canine Assistants placed 65 service dogs. Many dog recipients have high medical costs and cannot afford to pay for their service dogs. In these cases, Jennifer places the dogs free of charge.

In addition to her efforts with Canine Assistants, Jennifer also has developed a Disabilites Awareness Education Program in local schools to teach children to not look at people with disabilities differently. This program also teaches kids about service dogs and how they help people.

Jennifer started Canine Assistants because of her own experiences as a child. She was diagnosed with Multiplpe Sclerosis when she was 16 years old, and in a few weeks time she lost her ability to walk and was forced to use a wheelchair to get around. Her father, in a desperate attempt to improve his daughter's quality of life, held a meeting to start a service dog organization in the Atlanta area. Tragically, he was killed by a drunk driver a few weeks later, but Jennifer was determined to see his dream come true, and she did, with Canine Assistants.

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