Page 23 2024 Animal Stories Lincoln Daily News February 2024 work. She has a Doctorate Degree in Physical Therapy and works as a pediatric physical therapist. She has spearheaded many Animal Assisted Therapy Programs. Brandi Weyers, Director of Fundraising and Accounting co-founded Paws Giving Independence in 2008. She grew up in the Chicago area and moved to Peoria to study nursing at Bradley. She knew from an early age that she wanted to help people. In 2007, Brandi volunteered with a service dog organization in Chicago that trained dogs for assisting with wheelchairs and mobility. She graduated nursing school, married her college sweetheart, and continues to work with service dogs. Types of Dogs Paws Giving Independence mainly focuses on three types of service dogs. Skilled Facilitator Assistance Service Dogs These service dogs help people with disabilities or developmental delays and the parent/caregiver is certified to handle the dog. This type of dog is not certified to attend school with the individual. To qualify for this type of service dog a family member will handle the dog when it accompanies the individual in public places. Facility Service Dog These dogs are trained to perform tasks at a facility, such as a hospital or nursing home. In order to apply for a facility dog you must be employed at the facility for at least 30 hours a week and have direct client contact. The service dog must live in the home of the handler and not at the facility. Some facilities that have had dogs placed are pediatric outpatient rehab centers, veteran’s outpatient rehab centers, schools, juvenile residential homes, and nursing homes. Service Dogs These dogs help by performing tasks for a person with limited ability. The applicant must be able to handle the dog independently in all public settings. Some areas that PGI trains service dogs for are mobility impairments (wheelchair, unstable walking, balance difficulties), medical response (seizures, epilepsy),visual impairment, hearing impairment, other physical disabilities. Sometimes a dog fails as a service animal due to health problems or inconsistency in public. PGI will disclose why the dog did not pass the program. These dogs are available to be adopted as family pets. This dog is not certified to work as a service dog or emotional support dog. Continued --
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