In 2015 founder, Jacqueline Gori, a long time fundraiser for National Service Dogs, was diagnosed with PTSD, Anxiety, and Depression. Her mental health issues stemmed from childhood abuse. With all her experience and knowledge about service dogs it wasn’t surprising that she chose to go the route for this kind of support and treatment. However when looking for a provider she could not find a charity which would supply her with a dog.

She was neither a veteran nor a first responder. Because she had 17 years of service dog experience she opted to owner train her own service Samson. A yellow Labrador from Cooperslane and certified by trainer Wade Beattie of Canine Support Services, a private trainer.

It was through this journey and the many people she met that she soon realized the great gap in mental health and psychiatric service dogs. This is when she decided to try and fill this gap by founding Partners with Paws.