LOVE HEELS Canine Partners was formed to meet the special needs of people whose lives are enhanced by teaming with a canine companion. As director of the organization, it’s the most heartwarming job I’ve ever done.

My sojourn into the world of service dogs began in the 1990s when, as a writer for the San Diego Union-Tribune, I interviewed puppy raisers for a national service organization. I was fascinated with the whole process, volunteered to raise one puppy and ended up raising five. The whole experience turned into a book, “LOVE HEELS.”  Sci-Fi author Dean Koontz wrote the foreward to the book -- the reason it sold tens of thousands editions (proceeds help pay for service dog training).

Five years ago, another group asked for my help. I signed on and later agreed to help a third organization, one that focuses on pairing dogs with children.

Never enough trained dogs, though, and that’s when the thought hit me – Why not train one dog to work with lots of special-needs children? Why not teach these puppies dozens of tasks and then place them with health care professionals who work with children one-on-one? Why not?

LOVE HEELS began and I hope that you will enjoy meeting our first team, Occupational Therapist Carrie Jacobs and sidekick Connick.  It’s our mission to place more dogs in these situations. If you’re a health-care worker and believe in our mission, we might have a dog partner for you.

The needs are huge, many of my friends came to me with a heart-warming story about a friend or family member in need of a service dog. The waiting lists are years long at most organizations and I found myself wanting to help acquire and train puppies independently. The first puppy had a mild temperament and learned easily; the second was hard-headed and lazy. Welcome to my world.

I am grateful to the many professional trainers who helped me hone my skills. I have come to embrace the idea that the more you know, the more there is to know. Puppies and people – no two are the same. We have a fine group of beginning, intermediate and advanced trainers willing to work with new puppy raisers.

We gratefully acknowledge the time and hard work provided by attorney Sebastian E. Lucier, at Morrison & Foerster. He spent long hours helping us acquire non-profit tax status. That means that any monies you give us can be deducted from your taxes.

There are many worthy groups working to train and place service dogs and we think we are one of the best. If you agree, we need your support in time, talent and funds.

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