Chanel is a dedicated teacher, wife, and dog mom. She is creative, entrepreneurial, and caring. She holds her head high and has a positive outlook on life—that is, until a disabling meltdown overcomes her. During a meltdown, she cries uncontrollably, hyperventilates, and usually ends up in a ball on the floor. These meltdowns started in her childhood, and in her teens and early twenties, she thought that she would grow out of them. In her late twenties, concerned about the state of her mental health and, in turn, her ability to juggle her personal and professional responsibilities, she started to seek professional help. With the help of her doctor, nurse practitioners, therapists, psychiatrists, and her own research and dedication to managing her health, she has learned how to adjust her lifestyle to support her well-being. That said, having discovered that she is neurodivergent, Chanel has also come to accept that these meltdowns are never going to go away, even with medication, proper sleep and diet, mindfulness practices and exercise.

That’s where K4Paws comes in. A service dog will help provide comfort and emotional support during a meltdown, reducing the severity and duration of these episodes, as well as physical contact or pressure, helping her to feel more grounded and reducing the intensity of the meltdowns. Discovering K4Paws gave Chanel hope.

She is grateful for your support in helping her reach her fundraising goal to provide K4Paws with the necessary funds to continue providing life-changing service.