When Leah’s family first came to 4 Paws for Ability in 2011, they were hoping for a service dog who could help keep their little girl safe during seizures.
“Leah was 5 years old when we got her first service dog from 4 Paws for Ability,” her mom, Staci, recalled. “She was diagnosed with catastrophic epilepsy as a baby, and as a result has multiple disabilities. We thought that a service dog who could help alert us when she was having a seizure would be helpful, especially when some of those seizures were subclinical and some happened at night.”
Almost immediately, Staci’s family felt the impact of being supported by a caring community. “We were so incredibly fortunate to have an anonymous donor help make this happen by nearly covering the cost in full,” Staci said. “That generosity set everything in motion. It was the start of something that would change all of our lives.”
While they waited to be matched with their new partner, the family made a visit to the 4 Paws facility. “We were surprised by the number of dogs in the facility… There were crates on top of crates,” Staci remembered. “Despite the crowded areas, the dogs were so happy to see us, and we could see that they were well cared for.”
It was also the moment Leah first connected with a service dog. “We were concerned that Leah would be indifferent to a dog since she didn’t always respond much to the world around her,” Staci said. “But the trainers let the dogs interact with her, and when they licked her hands, she smiled and giggled. That made us all the more excited for July 2012.”
That smile became the first sign of what was to come.
When Leah finally met her service dog, Yodel, it was an instant connection. “Yodel quickly adapted to our family and our routines,” Staci said. “Leah started kindergarten a month after we got Yodel, and within a few weeks, Yodel was riding the bus and supporting Leah in the classroom all day, every day.”
For Staci, sending her little girl to school had always been a daunting task. But now, she says, “With her trusty friend Yodel by her side, I felt like I had less to worry about. I could count on Yodel to protect her and help her make friends.”
And Yodel’s training proved extraordinary. “Although Leah had not had a seizure in the year prior or the year after getting Yodel, she began alerting and pre-alerting when the seizures started up again,” Staci said. “We had feared she would be out of practice, but she was so well trained. She didn’t forget her most important job… she excelled at it.”
From kindergarten through 10th grade, Yodel went everywhere Leah went, from therapy sessions, doctor appointments, family vacations, ColorGuard shows, track meets, and even weddings. “She was in almost every photo I found for Leah’s graduation,” Staci said. “She was so much a part of our lives that it’s hard to imagine them apart.”
Even after she retired, Yodel continued alerting to seizures, right up until the day before she passed. “She was a perfect match for Leah and our family, and we will forever be grateful to 4 Paws for giving our family the gift of Yodel,” Staci said.
Two months after losing Yodel, Leah met her next service dog, Pritchett. “We were all devastated,” Staci said. “But the moment we met Pritchett, he healed our broken hearts. He is another perfect match! He and Leah bonded immediately.”
Pritchett’s impact was felt right away. “His ability to calm Leah down when she needs it has been astounding,” Staci explained. “When Leah gets overwhelmed, she makes a lot of loud, repetitive noise. Pritchett is trained in behavior disruption, and when he sits on her lap, she quiets down in just a couple of minutes. This has already made so much of a difference in all of our lives, and would be worth it just for this.”
But that’s not all. “He is also doing awesome at alerting to seizures,” she said. “One day after school, he pre-alerted us, and unsurprisingly, Leah had two seizures that evening. He adjusted to the school and bus routine in less than a week. He is so goofy and sweet and smart. He makes us all so happy.”
When Leah’s family returned to 4 Paws to meet Pritchett, they couldn’t help but notice how much the organization had grown. “The first time we saw the new facility, we were impressed! There was so much more room for both dogs and people,” Staci said. “We recognized the classroom as the same one where we trained with Yodel, but this time, there was space to take breaks, a beautiful new kitchen, and restrooms that were easier for Leah’s needs. It was such a difference, and we felt so cared for.”
For Staci, that transformation represents what’s possible when a community comes together. “The investment made in the 4 Paws facility and program has returned a thousand-fold,” she said. “People notice the excellent behavior of 4 Paws dogs and have a positive impression of the program, and of the good work that service dogs do for their partners.”
She says she meets people everywhere who recognize the 4 Paws name. “Almost everywhere we go, people approach us and tell us about their 4 Paws connection, foster families, friends with 4 Paws dogs, those who’ve adopted a Fabulous Flunkie, and more,” Staci said. “I see that more and more people are aware of the role of service dogs, and they know a 4 Paws dog will be one of the best.”
Looking back, Staci never forgets how her family’s journey began… with a gift from someone they never met.
“If not for that first donor, Leah might never have met Yodel,” she said. “And without the support that keeps 4 Paws running, we wouldn’t have Pritchett today.”
She hopes that by sharing Leah’s story, others will see the ripple effect of their generosity. “Leah’s service dogs, both Yodel and Pritchett, have been such a blessing,” Staci said. “In countless ways, they have made her life, all of our lives, better.”