Hello There!

A big hello to all who read this, my name is Amber Muller! I am a twenty-one-year-old college student, service dog handler/advocate, Disney adult, Star Wars nerd, and dog mom. I am very interested in social media, public interactions, and promotion, as I will graduate in 2022 with a degree in Communications. I am also an AKC registered evaluator, service dog trainer, and educator working for a local organization that trains service dogs for veterans. Throughout my life, I have always adored being social, bubbly, and creative, seeing I would put on a dance for my parents at the age of five, choreographed by yours indeed. I also have a very welcoming presence, and I like to extend a hand to those willing to reach for it. I put much passion into anything that sparks interest, and I enjoy sharing what I know with those who eagerly listen. There are things and people in my life that I hold near and dear to my heart, and when tragedy struck my life, those blessings would soon become my support system. I am beyond grateful for how far I have come in my healing journey, especially with my service dog, Lilo.
 

Unfortunately, in 2018, I was a part of the Stoneman Douglas school shooting; I was only a Junior in high school then. When I was seventeen, I saw a doctor/psychologist. I was diagnosed with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), General Anxiety Disorder (GAD), Mild Panic Disorder (PD), and obsessive-compulsive tendencies (stemming from OCD and OCPD), and the symptoms that followed. Not everyone is always comfortable sharing their disabilities or the history that stems from their diagnoses; however, I want to be as open as I can be about what I experience and why I have a service animal. A year and a half after therapy treatment, my doctor recommended that I consider having a service animal as a part of my treatment plan. Through some trial and error, in February 2020, I adopted a seven-month-old collie/beagle mix from the Big Dog Ranch Rescue in Wellington, Florida.
Little miss Lilo is, of course, named after the iconic Disney movie Lilo and Stitch; what else would a Disney lover name her dog? Lilo and I immediately connected, and over the course of the next few months, we worked with an incredible organization called Paws4Liberty. Although, when Covid-19 hit the training facility, we had to close it temporarily due to the pandemic's severity. Saddened by this news, I used this situation as a growing opportunity for Lilo's training and to see what I could accomplish with her on my own. With extensive amounts of online research, video watching, and the virtual guidance of my trainer, I was able to teach Lilo basic obedience, tasks to aid my disabilities, and a slew of fun tricks. This is where I discovered that my dog has a "craving to learn," meaning she loves to engage when we train, and nothing makes her happier than to learn something new or work on a previous skill from another session. Lilo is genuinely an incredible dog, and she has helped me so much over the past year and a half that we have been together. From behavior interruptions to alerting me to an oncoming episode, there is an entire list of tasks that this dog has successfully learned that make my life so much easier. Lilo's official title is a medical/psychiatric alert and response service dog. Through her tasking, she alerts me to any episodes, attacks, or moments I experience before they happen from a medical or mental perspective. She responds to them accordingly. Doing all this brings Lilo so much joy, knowing she has such an important job that gives her so much purpose!

 

Lilo is a fun-loving, adaptable, intelligent, energetic, goofy, sweet, light-hearted pup who enjoys her work as a service dog. Outside of service work, some of her favorite activities consist of going on car rides, doing zoomies, playing with her toys, sniffing the ground, barking at nothing, and so many other activities that "normal" dogs enjoy! Her favorite place to work is, hands down, Disney World; from character interactions to an excellent chill evening gliding on the People-Mover, Lilo indeed finds her job most enjoyable in the most magical place on Earth. This project is based solely on my incredible dog, as she has touched the hearts of all who want to know her story. A common phrase I love to use is "shelter to helper," expressing where she came from and where she is today! I, too, find that exact reflection in me, as I came from one place of uncertainty, but I now have gained back my independence because of this life-changing dog.

We are thrilled that you are here to support such a meaningful cause, be sure to spread the word, and know that a bit of kindness goes a long way!