Illini Service Dogs

ISD is kicking off summer in the best way - with a puppy 🐾 Meet Ferris! Ferris’ name was voted on by volunteers in our organization, inspired by the ferris wheel that debuted at the World’s Columbian Exposition in Chicago in 1893 and referencing the movie Ferris Bueller’s Day Off which also takes place in Chicago 🎡 We can’t wait to see what amazing things Ferris has in store for him! Thank you to our friends from for contributing to our mission of mobilizing the world 🐕‍🦺

If you’d like to donate and support our service dogs in training, visit: https://www.illiniservicedogs.com/isddonate

This week is National Volunteers Week ❤️ Illini Service Dogs is completely volunteer run. Without our amazing volunteers, we would not be able to train and place our service dogs completely free of cost. We are incredibly grateful for all the volunteers that pour their time and energy into our mission 🐾🐕‍🦺 This post features a few of our volunteer student handlers: Rachel (Bear’s primary, joined ISD Fall of 2025), Avery (Team Hero, joined Fall of 2025), Joe (Team Bear, joined Fall of 2022), and Ivanna (Team Morrie, joined Fall of 2023).

Whether you’re out adventuring or relaxing at home, Goose hopes everyone is having an awesome Spring Break 🐾

Hero, Goose, and Morrie are discovering new sights and sounds as they navigate the world 🐕‍🦺 Public exposure and desensitization are important to prepare our service dogs for success!

Our Mia Za’s fundraiser is TONIGHT from 4pm-8pm 🍕 Come out to support us and make sure to show this flyer to a cashier! We hope to see you all there 🫶

The ISD Family hopes your Valentine’s Day was filled with love and fun 💌

It was a chilly welcome back to campus, but Morrie is making sure to stay stylishly prepared for the cold ❄️ Stay warm out there Illini!

Hero is having lots of fun exploring this break 🐾

Morrie is wishing everyone good luck with their final exams this week 📚 Just a few more days until it’s officially Winter Break Illini!

We’re celebrating the holidays early this year with the best (and cutest) present we could ask for 🎁🎉 Named after Goose Island in Chicago, we’re excited to introduce the newest addition to Illini Service Dogs: Goose! He is a Labrador Retriever/Golden Retriever mix from our friends at The Service Dog Connection . Welcome to the pack Goose 🐕‍🦺🐾

Goose’s time in ISD is generously sponsored. Take a look at our website for ways you can help support a service dog in training throughout their time in the program: https://www.illiniservicedogs.com/isddonate