Local non-profit out of the dog house

Imagine your rent or house payment being increased 800 percent. Most folks couldn't afford it, and neither could a Tulsa area non profit group whose dependents are dogs.<br><br>The News on Six's

Saturday, October 26th 2002, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

Imagine your rent or house payment being increased 800 percent. Most folks couldn't afford it, and neither could a Tulsa area non profit group whose dependents are dogs.

The News on Six's Craig Day explains that since a car accident left her with a broken back and paralyzed four years ago Lisa Fischer has come a long way with her recovery.

She says getting a service dog would help her gain even more of her independence.

"I'm constantly dropping stuff on the floor, so definitely that would help, just opening doorways, opening doorknobs, stuff like that."

A service animal would be perfect for Lisa. But the agency in Northeastern Oklahoma that places service dogs with people in need, Therapetics, isn't able to do the work they've done for the last six years. The non profit group wasn't able to afford its lease when it went up dramatically and now doesn't have a place to house or train dogs.

Mike Paston, whose service dog Jake helps him handle his MS, is the board director for Therapetics.
"We're a non-profit organization. We rely on donations and grants and the kennel we were in just became way too expensive for us."
>>
The group, which has placed 30 dogs with people in Northeastern Oklahoma over the last six years, needs a location that has enough space for training and is zoned to enable the group to keep as many as ten dogs at a time. And it has to be affordable.

Until a new home is found, Lisa Fischer will finish filling out all the paperwork to get a service animal and she'll hope one is available when her application process is complete.