Mickey's Kids Promotes Service Dog Awareness

Mickey's Kids Foundation continues to help make youngsters' dreams come true.

Each year the foundation sets out to sponsor at least one child in need with a Canine Assistants service dog.

On Saturday, Oct. 20, Mickey's Kids' founders Tom and Michele Meli will make a presentation to a Westfield youngster with cerebral palsy at Shadow Food Mart as part of "Service Dog Awareness Day."

The Melis and their dog , an organization based in Georgia which raises service dogs for young people in need, will be on hand. Liberty is an education and therapy dog who helps spread awareness about Canine Assistance. 

Liberty just made an appearance this week on behalf of Canine Assistance as a Hasbrouck Heights youngster Erin Bischoff was presented with sponsorship for a service dog from Milkbone and Sam's Club.

Other youngsters are expected to be on hand with their service dogs and there will be plenty of information about Canine Assistants at the event.  The youngster who will receive the service dog head to Georgia in January to meet his dog and train with it.

Last year Mickey's Kids sponsored a young boy who has Duchenne's muscular dystrophy who now has his service dog K.D. Lang for more than a year.

Mickey's Kids plans to make a presentation at the start of the new year to another youngster they are sponsoring who hails from Bergen County.

Service Dog Day will run from 11 a.m to 3 p.m. at the Shadow Food Mart parking lot located on the Boulevard at Washington Place.