Class of 2017
Brianna & Mabel
Brianna has lung disease that impairs her breathing and limits her mobility, so she uses a wheelchair. Her vision and hearing are also affected, and she’s prone to falling. Mabel will help her get around safely, open doors, pick up dropped items, fetch an emergency phone and give her unconditional love. With Mabel by her side, Brianna completed a Masters program in Rehabilitation Mental Health Counseling – Deaf from Western Oregon University in 2020 and is now back home in Washington State.
Kori & Scout
Kori has arthritis and fibromyalgia, which give her pain and balance issues. Scout will help her by retrieving dropped items, fetching the phone and helping with laundry. Scout also goes with her to appointments and to her part-time job at Home Depot, where he is a star.
Class of 2016
James & Cooper
James lived in Olympia when he was partnered with Cooper in 2016. He was an attorney for a non-profit organization there but moved back to his native Ohio shortly after graduation. However he continues his work remotely with the Olympia non-profit and is now married. James had been an active athlete until he sustained a spinal cord injury during his sophomore year in high school. Since then, he has used a wheelchair to get around and now has Cooper as his wonderful companion and helper.
Class of 2015
Melissa & Tanner
Melissa, who has cerebral palsy and uses a wheelchair, was paired with Golden Retriever Tanner, who will help her by opening and closing doors, turning lights on and off, retrieving dropped items and many other tasks. Melissa recently moved to Oak Harbor from Oregon to join Summit’s staff as a service-dog trainer. That makes Tanner sort of an “adjunct” staff member, since he is always with her and can help other potential service dogs learn by example. Tanner is Melissa’s second Summit dog. In 2007, she was matched with Shiloh, who is now retired.
Amy & Shane
Amy was paired with Golden Retriever Shane, a therapy dog who will work with Amy in her marriage and family counseling practice. Amy says she often works with children for whom the comfort of a therapy dog can help set them at ease so they can open up and express themselves.
Class of 2014
Britt & Tara
Under the loving guidance of Britt, therapy dog Tara went from being a timid rescue dog to becoming a happy, outgoing girl who loves people. Britt became Tara’s foster home after Summit rescued the Greyhound mix from a shelter. Britt said she was understandably fearful, because she had been abused. A scar on her side remains evidence of that. After awhile, she was released from the Summit program because of her fearfulness, and Britt adopted her. As he continued to work with her, Tara’s confidence grew, and Summit realized she could become a great therapy dog. Britt and Tara went through training specifically for that purpose, and now Tara will bring comfort and smiles to people in facilities such as nursing homes.
Joy & Sailor
Joy is deeply grateful to receive Sailor as a therapy dog. As his puppy raiser, she knew that he was gentle and loving, but she really saw what makes him special when tragedy struck her family recently with a sudden and unexpected death. As people gathered at the Thompson home, all struggling to come to terms with what had happened, Sailor made his way to each person individually, offering himself for warm hugs or a soft shoulder to cry on. He even knew when one young man needed a distraction and offered a joyful play bow. Joy said Sailor provided exactly what each person needed in the moment. He is sensitive and loving, and as a therapy dog, he will bring joy to people in need.
Juliet & Bodhi
Juliet has a rare genetic syndrome called Potocki-Lupski, resulting in low muscle tone, balance and coordination challenges, cardiac and orthopedic issues and delays in speech and development. She spent the first month of her life in the hospital’s neonatal intensive care unit and has seen physical, speech/feeding and occupational therapists ever since. Her parents thought a canine friend could help her with speech development, walking in public and providing comfort at night when she has trouble sleeping, and they were right. Within 24 hours of Bodhi going to live with the Popes, Juliet spoke her first four-word sentence: “I want my dog.” Now she takes Bodhi with her to appointments at the hospital, where staff and other children also benefit from his sunny disposition.
Karen & Narnia
Multiple Sclerosis has made Karen’s life challenging for 43 years, but she says it also has blessed her in surprising ways, one of which is Narnia. Karen says Narnia has given her a new sense of freedom by performing usual service dog tasks, but that’s not all. Narnia has restored Karen’s confidence to try experiences she had long ago given up. Now she enjoys the wonders of winter outdoors, shopping in local stores, exploring new places, meeting new people, and educating the public about service dogs. She says Narnia's calm presence and patience have made her a great ambassador for Summit and all service dogs. She considers Narnia a match made in heaven and can’t imagine life without her.
Tony & London
Tony has Spinocerebellar Ataxia (SCA 6), which affects his balance and coordination, so he uses a wheelchair for mobility. It also has given him speech difficulties, which he says sometimes caused people to avoid him. But that has all changed with London. Tony says people seek him out now, and that has increased his communications skills. Now he doesn’t dwell on the things that he cannot do, focusing instead on how London has enriched his life, whether talking with people, grooming him, feeding him or playing together. He says London has made it is so much easier to deal with life’s issues, and the dog’s total devotion has given Tony a positive outlook on life and his future.
Class of 2013
Alex & Baylor
Alex has a neurological disorder that affects his vision, fine motor skills and balance. He was looking for both companionship and assistance from a service dog, and Baylor, fills the bill on both counts. Baylor helps Alex navigate his Seattle world by steering him around obstacles, helping him ride the bus, and giving him reassurance when he is on dark stairways or slippery hills. Alex says his disability can make him feel “blue” sometimes, but Baylor lifts his mood and helps him keep a positive outlook.
Barbara & Max
Barbara says Max means everything to her in her personal and professional life. She works as a Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner on Whidbey Island, WA, with Max as her animal-assisted-therapy dog. Max brings great joy to Barbara’s clients and co-workers. Many of her clients have suffered great losses, and Max knows just when to approach them, resting his head in their laps as the tears stream from their eyes – and Barbara’s. She says Max gives back so much more than she can ever give him, and she is eternally grateful to have him.
Barbara & Olivia
Barbara was paired with Olivia, a hearing dog, in the summer of 2013. Olivia makes sure Barbara knows when the phone rings, the oven timer goes off, or someone is at the door. But most important, Olivia alerts Barbara to danger signals, like a smoke alarm. That makes Olivia both a potential life saver and a trusted helpmate for this Kingston, WA, resident. Barbara says she has found the perfect match in Olivia and that her life is richer, fuller and safer with the dog in her life.
Christopher & Campbell
Christopher sustained a severe brain hemorrhage while still in his mother’s womb. His premature birth left him unable to walk, talk or feed himself, and his vision is almost non-existent. But the 8-year-old is a happy little guy whose life was made brighter when he was paired with Campbell. Christopher is cognitively aware, and Campbell helps stimulate his awareness and gives him lots of unconditional love. Christopher’s mother says she has seen a big, positive change in him since he got Campbell. She says Campbell is a blessing to the family and has given them new hope for Christopher’s future.
Diana & Hyak
Diana says Hyak has given her new freedom by picking up things she drops, bringing the phone, closing the door and pulling off her jacket, among other things. She said they had a bit of a learning curve, because her cerebral palsy makes it difficult to speak clearly. That meant that while Diana had to learn a new vocabulary associated with handling a service dog, Hyak had to learn to understand Diana. But they have adapted nicely to each other, and Hyak makes it much easier for Diana to be active in her community in Troutdale, OR.
Lacey & Isabelle
Lacey, a Stanwood, WA, resident, has Limb Girdle Muscular Dystrophy Type 2I and Relapsing Polychondritis, which affects her limbs, lungs and heart. She relies on a walker and an electric wheelchair for mobility, can’t bend over to pick things up, and can’t get up if she falls. She says Isabelle has enhanced her life in so many ways with daily tasks but also with wonderful companionship. “It is such a gift to have Isabelle. She is right by my side and knows when to put her head on my lap, smile and give me a kiss letting me know it's all going to be okay.”
Lily & Spencer
Lily is a cheerful 8-year-old who, like other girls her age, loves rocks on the beach, family, coloring and Play- Doh. Unlike most others, she has to live with severe seizures. When she was just four months old, Lily was diagnosed with Porencephaly, which literally means “hole in the brain.” She has had to deal with medication side effects, new diets and anything else that can possibly reduce seizures. Spencer alerts Lily’s parents to a seizure when they are not in the room, and he’s a best friend who brightens Lily’s life.
Steve & Mario
When Steve was 27 years old and on his way to work, some criminals attacked him and left him with a life-threatening Traumatic Brain Injury. He is unable to talk or care for himself. Steve now has a wonderful companion dog, Mario, to encourage him to reach out and interact. Mario gives Steve loyal, trusting company. Steve’s parents hope Mario will motivate Steve to learn and use signals to communicate with his new companion dog. Mario has also turned out to be a wonderful therapy dog for everyone in Steve’s nursing home in Lake Stevens, WA, sharing his love and comfort up and down the halls, as well as with Steve.