# @canineorg on Instagram

- **Type:** Image
- **Original URL:** https://www.instagram.com/p/Da0ixNeHxWp
- **Gondola URL:** https://gondola.cc/posts/68067578-canineorg-instagram
- **Thumbnail:** https://img.gondola.cc/tr:w-,h-,fo-auto/postThumbnails/5511119a12.jpg
- **Posted:** 2026-07-15T16:55:22.000+00:00
- **Account Owner:** Canine Companions (@canineorg) — https://gondola.cc/canineorg

## Caption

🐕‍🦺 "I’ve become a professional at adapting, as I’ve been living with a disability causing involuntary movements and muscle spasms for nearly 30 years. I’m a full-time wheelchair user and my ability to project my voice is diminished. An auditory processing disorder makes it hard to understand spoken language, so I mostly use American Sign Language. However, the best adaptation I’ve made was getting a Canine Companions #servicedog. 

When you get your first service dog, many opportunities become accessible to you for the first time. But it wasn’t until my third service dog retired and I was without the help of a service dog that I realized how different my life had become. Having had a service dog for so long had changed everything. 

My first three #servicedogs, Caspin, Mork and Renata, showed me that an independent life with multiple disabilities was possible. Now, Service Dog Hamlin shows me that anything is achievable when we work together. 

Meeting Hamlin felt like being whole again for the first time in a long time. Not only has he allowed me to regain my independence, but we have built on it together as I teach additional tasks that make life as safe and accessible as possible, including 65 cues in American Sign Language. 

Hamlin’s skills give me peace of mind. I know he’ll always help me get places safely by propelling my wheelchair or helping me up the ramp of my van. He gives me dignity by assisting me with showering and dressing, or barking in an emergency. I can always rely on Hamlin to figure out exactly what I need." 💪 

- Wallis with her service dog, Hamlin

Today is #SocialMediaGivingDay, a perfect day to help provide service dogs - free of charge - to people with disabilities, no matter the amount! 💛💙 

🔗 Link in bio to donate now, or visit canine.org/independence26.
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#DisabilityPrideMonth #LeadWithIndependence #donate #fundraiser #ASL #AmericanSignLanguage #signlanguage #donations #fundraising #servicedogsofinstagram #servicedogsofinsta #servicedogsofig

## Stats

- **Views:** 0
- **Likes:** 296
- **Shares:** 0
- **Comments:** 2

## Tags

servicedogs, disabilitypridemonth, servicedog, donate, servicedogsofinstagram, asl, fundraising, fundraiser, signlanguage, servicedogsofig, leadwithindependence, socialmediagivingday, donations, americansignlanguage, servicedogsofinsta

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