Stories From The Teams
With SD Meadow by my side I feel completely relaxed.
[SD Dory] is so committed to helping me out.
For me, this program, Vermont Paws & Boots is simply life changing.
Having a service dog has given me the ability and confidence to engage fully in all aspects of my life, both personal and professional. Having Gemma with me is particularly helpful in social groups and activities, reducing my anxiety and allowing me to engage and participate fully. Here I find the support, friendship, validation and acceptance to keep moving forward in a positive direction towards every new tomorrow. “Time spent with my Vermont Paws & Boots family always brings happiness to the places I used to get lost in.”
Having Luna as my service animal has improved my life for the better. She helps me in so many ways that improve my life and dealing with multiple disabilities. First, she helps me with everyday life, I have kids and picking up after all the little people was a daunting task. Since having Luna and going through the program, picking up has become a game for us because that is how we trained and that is how I do it at home. She loves the “get it” command, whether it is the kids toys, my phone, keys or her food bowl just before dinner, she gets excited to help me out. She is there for me like a battle buddy would be, she helps me focus and if I need it, she is more than happy to do a pressure drill with me.
Thank you VT Paws & Boots, Michelle you are doing an amazing job!
Have a service dog means a lot to me knowing if something happens during the night I will get a warning and will take him and get out to find out what is happening.
Arthur is a sound alert dog (phone/smoke detector/door bell.)
If someone comes to the door and rings it, Arthur tells me. It sure means a lot to have my dog and I am close to him. I do not know what I would do without him.
Having Zion as a service dog has greatly impacted my life and has gotten me enjoying life again.
She is always by my side. When I feel bad she makes me get up and do something.
Michelle you are the only person that outside of my family has stood by me and purposely improved my life. This means a whole lot.
Getting training with Luca started me on the path to rediscovering life. With my canine partner I am able to face the world with manageable anxiety. Without Luca I would not have made it back int the world.
She has made me feel like I am not afraid of anything. If I am going to breakdown, she makes me more comfortable relieves my symptoms of PTSD.
Have a service dog helped me gain the confidence to go out and live my life. She has been there with me for some of the toughest experiences and empowered me to push through. Since having her I have begun to be able to do somethings in my own grocery shopping and other errands.
Hucklebury has given me and my family so much comfort and support. He has given us all a conduit to make my relationship with the family stronger.
Stories
As a volunteer with Vermont Paws & Boots, I can easily say it is a one of a kind experience. Michelle will make you feel like family when you’re working with the program. The program has and will continue to change my life in so many ways. Seeing the confidence and change in the handlers has had a profound effect on me. Michelle’s level of confidence and professionalism is apparent when working with the dogs and the handlers. As a former Soldier and K9 handler with the Vermont State Police, Michelle has the demeanor to be an outstanding teacher and instructor when working with all types of personalities.
I’ve known Michelle for over 30 years and she is easily one of the most dedicated and hardworking people I know. She has a heart of gold and puts her soul into training these teams. You won’t find someone who will work harder for veterans, first responders, and their service dogs. She is changing lives for those men and women every day!
As a board member & mother, I want to share one of my proudest moment as I watch my daughter build her service dog program from the ground up. During her life, she has overcome so many struggles and concord even more obstacles both in her personal and professional career. No matter the odds stacked against her, Michelle never gives up if the battle she’s in can make life better for others, even if this comes at great consequences to her. So when a mother of one of her students came up to me and said “if it wasn’t for your daughter, my son would not be here today” I knew she was doing what she was meant to do.
I met Ms. LeBlanc in 2017 and she has been a huge inspiration. She has shown me how hard work pays off and by volunteering for her program I know I am giving back to my community. I have learned so much about veterans and first responders and PTSD and she has introduced me to many amazing people. She has spent her entire life helping others and I hope to be a strong leader just like her when I grow up.
I’ve been working with the Vermont Paws & Boots program for about 4 years now. During that time I have watched the program adapt and evolve to better serve the needs of our veterans. Watching the change in the lives of these veterans as they bond and work with their dogs has been awe inspiring. Working with someone as passionate and caring as Michelle has been a privilege. You will never meet anyone as dedicated to helping our heroes as Michelle. She is there for her students 24/7 every step of the way. I’ve seen her drop everything to go help with an emergency vet visit, or just to support her students going through a hard time by having a cup of coffee and letting them vent. I’ve enjoyed every second working with this amazing program and hope to continue to support them in the future.
I have know Michelle LeBlanc for 30 years. I have followed her throughout her career attending Norwich University (military college), then going into the Army- military police, and upon completing that, becoming a Vermont State Trooper and K-9 Handler and recently retiring after more then 20 years. Michelle’s mission in life has always been to aid and protect. She saw the need for trained to help those with PTSD, TBI, MST, and physical disabilities and with her dog training ability she started “Vermont Paws & Boots”. She has an amazing ability to match a dog with a Veteran and/or 1st responders.
Michelle has devoted her life to service. As a former Vermont State Trooper and military officer, she served our state and country with pride. It is no surprise she is now serving veterans and first responders by giving them the opportunity to build a relationship with a dog. This is often a life saving relationship. Vermont Paws and Boots has been Michelle’s dream for years, and she has made that non-profit dream come true, not for herself but to continue to serve others. I want to personally thank Michelle for her continued service and dedication to others.s.
As a volunteer, I’ve seen lives change because of Vermont Paws & Boots. The program teaches skills for handlers and their dogs, helps build their confidence and prepare them for a variety of public places, and expands their support system. Michelle and her team incorporate personal touches into every part of the program – for the student teams, the families, customized training sessions, and to celebrate progress along the journey.
Rebuilding heroes one paw print at a time
Veterans ★ First Responders ★ Rescue Dogs