Flooding Causes Major Set Back for ‘PAALS’

[gtxvideo vid=”gKHNASJk” playlist=”” pid=”rkijshg2″ thumb=”http://player.gtxcel.com/thumbs/gKHNASJk.jpg” vtitle=”PAALS”]

COLUMBIA, S.C. (WOLO) –For Jennifer Rogers, training service animals has always been a lifelong dream. She tells ABC Columbia,”There really wasn’t a service that existed here in the Midlands and in the state of South Carolina actually that would help people that needed service dogs.” Recognizing that need Rogers turned her dream into a reality, beginning Palmetto Animal Assisted Life Services right from her home. After almost a decade of searching and saving Rogers was ready to move PAALS to a place of its own. She says,”We found a building that we thought was really very specially suited for what we do. It was a little rundown but with some elbow grease and a lot of volunteer help we could potentially make this the next step to serving more people in our community.” But just 10 days after moving in a block in the main sewage line caused raw sewage to flood the entire facility. This landed her pups and her staff right back where they started. According to Trainer Nick Borsellino, “It was worse than starting all over because we had put so much work into it. For it to just all go down the drain and to start all over was just, it was really tough.” Rogers says that this is the time of year when they would usually be taking in new puppies for training but because of the damage here at the facility they won’t be able to do that. “Nothing was spared and some of the estimates coming back are over $130,000 to do the job,” says the trainer. As costs continue to mount, Rogers worries continue to grow, saying “I do have real genuine concerns about whether we can afford to get back to where we were.” Rogers says she’s looking to the community for help with funding, hoping they’ll realize the important role her dogs play in the lives of those with disabilities. According to Rogers,”I always tell people that we’re all one car accident away from needing this type of service. We really serve people that don’t have the ability to get this service anywhere else.” To make a donation and help get PAALS back on their paws click the link below: visitwww.gofundme.com/ev3svn7g