Saint Francis Service Dogs 2025 Annual Report

Celebrating Our Past The History of Saint Francis Service Dogs

The Saint Francis Story 1996 Saint Francis Service Dogs is founded in Roanoke County 1998 Saint Francis places its first fully trained service dog 2000 Saint Francis hires an Executive Director and transitions to a professionally run organization 2003 Saint Francis moves its operations to the former Lakeland Stables property 2007 Saint Francis becomes the first service dog organization in Virginia to be accredited by Assistance Dogs International 2010 Saint Francis moves into the newly built state of the art kennel and administrative building 2011 Saint Francis launches its facility dog program and places its first facility dog 2015 Saint Francis places its 100th service dog 2021 The Draper Woody and Jo Lynn Draper Pavilion is completed 2026

With 2026 upon us, Saint Francis Service Dogs is preparing to celebrate a remarkable milestone later this year - 30 years of empowering and transforming the lives of people with disabilities. As we look ahead to what the future holds, we are also reflecting on the journey that brought us here and honoring the dedication, compassion, and community that made it possible. It all started around the kitchen table of our founder, Carol Willoughby (pictured below left). Carol lived with Rheumatoid Arthritis and had experienced the life-changing impact of a professionally trained service dog. Inspired to make that same independence and support possible for others navigating life with disabilities, Carol, along with co-founder, Sherri Spell, officially formed Saint Francis Service Dogs in 1996 as an all volunteer, non-profit foundation. The tremendous need for the specialized support that comes with a service dog quickly became clear, and Saint Francis began to grow. Within just a few years, a strategic decision was made to hire an Executive Director and Training Director, marking the organization’s transition from a volunteer effort to a professional organization. In 2002, with the generous support of donors who believed in our mission, Saint Francis purchased the 18-acre property that remains our home today. Since those early days - beginning with the first Saint Francis Service Dog placed in 1998 - we have gone on to place nearly 200 expertly trained service and facility dogs, each one changing lives in ways both seen and unseen. Behind every single partnership is a unique story of increased independence and new opportunities. Now, as we prepare to celebrate how far we’ve come, we do so with excitement and purpose. With continued innovation, the loyal support of our donors and volunteers, and an unwavering commitment to our mission, we know the future holds even more possibilities - and that our work is far from finished.

Saint Francis Service Dogs will celebrate its 30th anniversary

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