Partners & Paws Summer 2026

Volunteer Spotlight For Meagan Henry, as it has for so many others, Saint Francis Service Dogs entered her life at a time when she needed it most. Meagan Henry

“Seeing Knox go from a bouncy, chunky little puppy to a full grown service dog working alongside his partner was just amazing. It was such a proud and emotional moment, knowing I had played a small part in something so life-changing,” she says. puppy Meagan, David, and their foster son, Alex, welcomed into their home late last year. “Each puppy I’ve raised has taught me something new - not just about training, but about life, patience, and finding joy in the little moments,” she says. Along the way, Meagan has gained far more than a connection with the puppies she raises. She has become a trusted part of the Saint Francis family - building lasting friendships with her fellow puppy raisers and our staff. After Knox came Levi. Then Salem. And now Ember, the “Saint Francis isn’t just about raising service dogs. It’s a community of people who truly love these amazing dogs and each other,” she says. “If there’s ever an organization you’d want to be part of, it’s this one.” Meagan describes what she does at Saint Francis as “heart-work.” And it is. She leaves a little piece

But it is all worth it, knowing she is helping to change someone’s life.

“I joined the Saint Francis family during a difficult time while I was in the trenches of fertility treatments. It was a heavy season, and one day while scrolling Facebook, I came across a post from Saint Francis featuring their newest litter and looking for puppy raisers. My heart instantly melted,” says Meagan. It could have been a passing moment, but that simple social media post ignited both a passion and a purpose. Meagan took a leap of faith and signed up to become a puppy raiser. A few months into raising her first puppy, Knox, her husband David (who now works as the groundskeeper at Saint Francis) noticed something remarkable. “He had tears in his eyes but the biggest smile on his face, and he simply said, ‘You got your smile, your laugh, and your spark back.’ That moment has always stayed with me. While I have the incredible honor of helping raise and train these puppies, they were also helping me heal in ways I never expected,” Meagan says. The full impact of Meagan’s role as puppy raiser came into focus when she met the young boy Knox was ultimately placed with at his graduation a few years ago.

“Saint Francis truly changes lives in more ways than one. This journey has changed me in the best ways too. I can’t wait to see where it continues to take me.” Thank you, Meagan, for all you do and continue to do to support our mission.

of her heart with every dog she raises and every person she meets.

For volunteer opportunities, visit www.saintfrancisdogs.org/volunteer

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