I got my package from the service dog organization yesterday.

It has really brought home to me that this is ‘real’ – that Hudson and I really are going to train together this summer, and I will have this furry friend around to help me.

At the same time, it is bringing something else home – the price tag.

When I applied for the service dog, I really only thought about the price of the dog – 10% of your income or $1,000, whichever was higher. As I am a student, and have virtually no income, I will be paying $1,000.

There are so many things that thousand dollars doesn’t cover. There’s 3 weeks of training, where I’ll need a place to stay (I’m estimating at $2,500). $120 of mandatory fieldtrips. Feeding myself for 3 weeks while staying in a hotel. Hudson’s equipment, which will be customized to us. Bedding and toys and food and grooming supplies.

All told, I expect this to cost over $4,000.

The real kicker is this: because I will be in training for 3 weeks right in the middle of the summer, I cannot take a summer job. I will need a significant amount of time to recover after training, and besides that, Hudson and I will need to get used to working together.

Worse yet, this news comes just a few weeks after I had to pay $2,500 to have my car repaired. It was, unfortunately, a repair that could not wait as it would only get worse.

I am…doing the only thing I can do now. I’m asking for help. Please, if you can help…getting a service dog means the world to me.

Every little bit helps.

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