News
We are so happy to announce the very FIRST team to pass our certification process since Blessings Unleashed became provisional members of Assistance Dogs International. Cindy & Jonathon Stephenson with assistance dog "Moe" were certified on October 16, 2009. The team scored excellent in every single category! A very big "Thank You" to our trainer Sandy Otto and the team of Jonathon, Cindy and Moe for the hard work and dedication that it took to prepare for the certification process! It was one of the proudest moments of my life to watch my dream become a reality!
The food, grooming and medical care costs of a service animal are tax deductions.
About Us
Our Mission
Our commitment is to enrich the lives of individuals with autism by training and placing highly skilled service dogs. We accomplish this by properly training select puppies for their future individualized tasks and educating recipients to utilize and care for their service dogs.
Our Director - Dana Emmitt-Hall
I was born and raised in Glasgow Kentucky. I currently live right outside of Glasgow in a small community known as Bon Ayr. I have a small 8 acre farm where I live with my husband Kelly and our three children. We have a horse, 4 dogs, a cat, a fish and two turtles that help make our little farm home.
I hold a BS degree in Elementary Education and taught 4th grade before becoming a stay at home mom with our two youngest children. I am very active in our local ARC chapter and have served as both president and vice president. I am currently on the board of directors for the ARC of Kentucky. In addition, I help mentor other parents of children with autism and developmental disabilities through Kentucky Special Parent Involvement Network.
On February 27, 2006, my world, as I had previously known it, changed. My beautiful, sweet little 18 month old baby boy was given the diagnosis of autism. I have spent every day since then reading and researching on interventions to help him live a full and abundant life. It is through that research I stumbled upon what I feel was something that everything in my past had lead me to fulfill: Autism Service Dogs.
As a former elementary education teacher, I have taken my love for children and dogs and the strong desire that I have to make a difference in the lives of individuals with autism and put that energy and effort into what has transpired into Blessings Unleashed Foundation.
I continue to work daily to build this organization into full accreditation within Assistance Dogs International, Inc. the world wide service dog accreditation program by focusing on quality service dogs and training standards. We follow all guidelines set forth by ADI to ensure that every service dog that completes our program is trained to the highest standards set forth by ADI.
I am committed to improving the quality of life for individuals with autism and their loved ones who care for them. When my work is done here on earth I want to meet my Maker and let Him know that I have nothing left to offer but my soul, I have used every bit of talent that He has given to me.