Celebrating 15 Years: Illini Service Dogs Continue to Transform Lives

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URBANA, Ill. (WCIA) — A unique group at the University of Illinois is making a significant impact both on campus and nationwide by lending a helping hand—or rather, a helping paw.

This October marks the 15th anniversary of Illini Service Dogs, a non-profit dedicated to training service dogs and pairing them with individuals across the country who need them most.

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Iris Vina, the Director of Social Media and Engagement for Illini Service Dogs, highlighted the increasing demand for their services. For a decade and a half, the organization has been working diligently to meet the need for trained service animals.

Students at the university act as primary handlers, guiding the dogs through their training. Once ready, the dogs are matched with individuals based on their specific skills and the needs of the recipients.

“By providing our service dogs at no cost, we eliminate financial barriers and enable more people to lead independent lives,” Vina explained.

“When [people] need to get from point a to point b, and open a door, sometimes, without a service dog, you need to ask assistance from someone else, and that isn’t what everyone wants to do,” Vina said.

The Vice President, Maggie Hershey, is also a primary handler and she said that the work they’re doing — however big or small — is truly making a difference.

“Even if every training program in the country was giving multiple dogs every year, it wouldn’t be enough to fill the need that there is currently in America for service dogs. So, what little we can do to help is an amazing impact for at least one person, and that’s good to have in mind all the time,” Hershey said.

Vina added that their dogs are primarily trained to help people with physical disabilities, and as they’re being trained, the dogs are brought on campus to brighten everyone’s day.