Sponsor a hero

Wounded Peoria Police Officer is Granted a New Leash on Life.

Meet Detective Bill Weigt,

[Bill's Story...]
On December 17th, 2005 Detective Bill Weigt responded to a call

for "shots fired". He joined a pursuit to apprehend a murder suspect

in association with a drug deal. Bill was shot by the suspect during a

gun battle. He awoke from a coma three days later, on his birthday,

to learn that he was paralyzed from the chest down. Bill continues to

work with the Peoria Police Department in Arizona, and also coaches

Pop Warner football from his wheelchair. 

Bill has joined the FSDS as spokesperson to help raise awareness

and funds, which will allow us to grant additional dogs to other

wounded and deserving members of service.

Additional Recipients

Rev. Lynn Hallet spent her early years in an orphanage. She became a nurse and joined the military, and was injured when a jeep she was riding in overturned. She suffered a traumatic brain injury. Forced to retire from the military, Lynn became an ordained minister. Over her lifetime, she has worked tirelessly to raise awareness and funds for homeless people, battered women and children and AIDS patients. She has been a dedicated community servant and is in need of a service dog to assist with mobility and medical alert issues.

Matt Ebbert, U.S. Marine is paraplegic and wheelchair bound. He was headed home on leave when the vehicle he was riding in was involved in an accident. He is paralyzed from the mid-chest down. Matt is in need of a service dog to assist with retrieval of dropped objects, answering phone, calling for help when needed and other mobility tasks. The gift of a service dog will return much independence to him and greatly improve his quality of life.

Becky Feetham has lived with disabilities since age 19. Despite tremendous obstacles, she managed to put herself through school to earn her Master's Degree in Counseling. She volunteered for her church for 19 years and during this time she traveled to Africa as a missionary. Her work included providing mental health services to disabled individuals and locating jobs for individuals with disabilities. She has also volunteered for the public schools for 12 years. Over the past few years her disabilities have progressed and left her totally disabled. The gift of a service dog will allow her to continue her church volunteer work and remain an active participant in her community.

Don Pierson is a retired Air Force veteran.  He served as a pilot in Vietnam, and upon honorable discharge, he joined the Civil Air Patrol as a volunteer to fly rescue missions in the wilderness of Alaska.  Don is credited with saving hundreds of lives.  A freak motor vehicle accident left him paralyzed, though this has not stopped Don from his mission to serve his community.  He certified as an ABLE volunteer to mentor those with new spinal cord injuries, and has been mentoring students in our training program.  Upon graduation in May, Don will join our Canine Ambassador Team and work to provide community education on service dog and disability issues. 

The Maricopa County Attorney's Office will receive two certified Level III Facility Dogs from the FSDS to become the first ever Court Dogs in the State of Arizona. This innovative new program will allow crime victims, particularly frightened and abused children, to enjoy the comfort and presence of a skilled canine to help them through court procedure and testimony. During their 120 hours of required on teh job training, these crime fighting canines are already credited with helping to win convictions in several child abuse cases. 

Service Dog Sam is pictured here with (starting from left to right) Phil MacDonnell, MCAO Chief Deputy - Jamie Hunter, MCAO Victim Services Chief - Brittany Shields, Student SD Handler - Sam, 1st Service Court Dog of Arizona - Michael Shields - Susan Shields

Additional applications are currently being processed.
They were there when we needed them, now they need us.