|
Fundraising & Community DonationInformation on fundraising and community donation can be found here.
Tel. 360.603.8605 / 425.559.4491 |
Service Animals and Emotional Support Animals (ESA)At Puget Sound Doodles LLC, we take pride in successfully placing puppies as service and emotional support animals (ESA). Our puppies have shown remarkable adaptability and can perform a wide variety of tasks with proper training, whether in group environments or individual support roles.
Our service dogs are currently working in diverse settings such as dental offices, elementary schools, and retirement homes.
We also place dogs in one-on-one support roles, including:
Our service dogs are currently working in diverse settings such as dental offices, elementary schools, and retirement homes.
We also place dogs in one-on-one support roles, including:
- Diabetic Alert Dogs — trained to recognize and alert owners to hypoglycemic episodes.
- Psychiatric Service Dogs — supporting individuals with anxiety, PTSD, depression, and agoraphobia.
- Autism Service Dogs — providing constant companionship and assistance to reduce anxiety and improve social interactions, primarily for individuals on the autism spectrum.
- Search and Rescue Dogs — trained to assist in locating individuals in emergency situations.
- Support Dogs for Survivors of Sex Trafficking — providing comfort and aid to help victims on their path to recovery.
|
|
|
Community Donation
Community DonationAt Puget Sound Doodles LLC, we are dedicated to supporting diverse learners and community members with a wide range of needs. As part of this commitment, we donate some of our puppies to individuals seeking to add a service or emotional support animal (ESA) to their lives.
If you, someone you know, or your organization is interested in adopting a puppy to train as a service or support animal, we would love to hear from you! Please complete the Community Donation Nomination Form (link below) and share why you believe you, the person you know, or your organization would be a great fit for one of our community donation puppies.
Please note that not all applications can be accepted. We sincerely appreciate everyone who applies and takes the time to share their story with us.
Community Donation Nomination Form
Fundraiser Nomination Form
Organizations we have partnered with include:
Assumption -St. Bridget School located in Seattle, Wa.
Holy Trinity Catholic School located in El Dorado, Ca.
Briarwood Elementary School in Renton, WA.
Immaculate Conception Regional School in Mount Vernon, WA.
Marble Valley School in El Dorado, CA.
Holy Family Parish School located in Kirkland, WA.
Amanda's Hope located in Phoenix, AZ. (2023 and 2024)
The King's School located in Seattle, WA (2023 and 2024)
Community DonationAt Puget Sound Doodles LLC, we are dedicated to supporting diverse learners and community members with a wide range of needs. As part of this commitment, we donate some of our puppies to individuals seeking to add a service or emotional support animal (ESA) to their lives.
If you, someone you know, or your organization is interested in adopting a puppy to train as a service or support animal, we would love to hear from you! Please complete the Community Donation Nomination Form (link below) and share why you believe you, the person you know, or your organization would be a great fit for one of our community donation puppies.
Please note that not all applications can be accepted. We sincerely appreciate everyone who applies and takes the time to share their story with us.
Community Donation Nomination Form
Fundraiser Nomination Form
Organizations we have partnered with include:
Assumption -St. Bridget School located in Seattle, Wa.
Holy Trinity Catholic School located in El Dorado, Ca.
Briarwood Elementary School in Renton, WA.
Immaculate Conception Regional School in Mount Vernon, WA.
Marble Valley School in El Dorado, CA.
Holy Family Parish School located in Kirkland, WA.
Amanda's Hope located in Phoenix, AZ. (2023 and 2024)
The King's School located in Seattle, WA (2023 and 2024)
King's School Live Auction at the Lynwood Event Center! This pup brought in $10,000 for the King's schools!!!
Featured Stories
The Puget Sound Doodles LLC Story
By: Alexandra Lemelson M. Ed., owner/operator
My name is Alexandra Lemelson, and I am the proud co-owner and operator of Puget Sound Doodles LLC and Lemelson Family Farms. I am a former elementary special education teacher and doctoral candidate in the field of special education. Currently, I am also pursuing a second master’s degree in theological studies and attending seminary. I am the devoted single parent to my amazing 14-year-old son, Mathew, who is on the autism spectrum.
I share this story so our families can better understand why my business partner, Kathy—who is also my mother and a passionate advocate for animals and people—and I feel so deeply committed to supporting youth and individuals with diverse needs in our community.
About twelve years ago, I learned that my son was diagnosed with autism, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), and synesthesia—a unique condition that, let me tell you, is pretty fascinating. I always knew my son was special, so these diagnoses did not come as a surprise. At the time, I was pursuing a degree at Harvard University’s Extension School with a passion for psychology. I envisioned a future as a therapist, but my son’s diagnoses shifted my path toward special education. I dedicated myself to earning teacher licensure and a PhD focused on autism and applied behavior analysis (ABA).
My research explored tiered interventions in elementary education, academic non-responsiveness, and data-based decision-making in schools. However, I soon realized it wasn’t just my son’s diagnosis that affected us—it impacted our entire family. Autism, ADHD, and synesthesia were like a pebble thrown into a still pond, sending ripples through all of our lives. But instead of gentle ripples, our pond experienced waves that transformed our challenges into opportunities for growth and love.
Following my son’s diagnoses, our lives became filled with intensive therapies: ABA, occupational therapy, physical therapy, speech and feeding therapy, plus countless visits to specialists. We also explored recreational therapies like music, soccer, and animal therapy. Life became a 40-hour-a-week schedule of appointments, therapies, and adapting to strangers in our home. Everyday activities, like grocery shopping or visiting playgrounds, required careful planning, accommodations, and emergency exit strategies. My mother, Kathy, always helped manage “crowd control” while I attended to my son’s needs.
Over time, as Mathew became more verbal, I gained insight into how he experiences the world. He is twice exceptional—gifted and neurodiverse—and he shared how sensory inputs like light, sound, texture, and smell shape his experience. He described seeing images float off whiteboards in class, rotating them mentally in 3D, and “downloading” memories each night in his mind’s file cabinets to keep his thoughts organized. Our journey has been one of constant recalibration, like needing new tools for a changing job.
Despite the challenges, we have embraced the accommodations our family needs to thrive. These include simple joys like hot sauce on almost anything, comfortable clothes, and accepting long hair on boys. Most importantly, we found peace when we moved from the city to the country, surrounding ourselves with animals. Mathew was just two years old when we introduced his first emotional support animal (ESA), and the positive impact was undeniable.
This journey fuels my passion for working with people with disabilities and placing service and emotional support animals with individuals who need them most. Through Puget Sound Doodles, we are dedicated to improving lives by connecting families with loving, well-trained dogs that provide comfort, independence, and companionship.
By: Alexandra Lemelson M. Ed., owner/operator
My name is Alexandra Lemelson, and I am the proud co-owner and operator of Puget Sound Doodles LLC and Lemelson Family Farms. I am a former elementary special education teacher and doctoral candidate in the field of special education. Currently, I am also pursuing a second master’s degree in theological studies and attending seminary. I am the devoted single parent to my amazing 14-year-old son, Mathew, who is on the autism spectrum.
I share this story so our families can better understand why my business partner, Kathy—who is also my mother and a passionate advocate for animals and people—and I feel so deeply committed to supporting youth and individuals with diverse needs in our community.
About twelve years ago, I learned that my son was diagnosed with autism, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), and synesthesia—a unique condition that, let me tell you, is pretty fascinating. I always knew my son was special, so these diagnoses did not come as a surprise. At the time, I was pursuing a degree at Harvard University’s Extension School with a passion for psychology. I envisioned a future as a therapist, but my son’s diagnoses shifted my path toward special education. I dedicated myself to earning teacher licensure and a PhD focused on autism and applied behavior analysis (ABA).
My research explored tiered interventions in elementary education, academic non-responsiveness, and data-based decision-making in schools. However, I soon realized it wasn’t just my son’s diagnosis that affected us—it impacted our entire family. Autism, ADHD, and synesthesia were like a pebble thrown into a still pond, sending ripples through all of our lives. But instead of gentle ripples, our pond experienced waves that transformed our challenges into opportunities for growth and love.
Following my son’s diagnoses, our lives became filled with intensive therapies: ABA, occupational therapy, physical therapy, speech and feeding therapy, plus countless visits to specialists. We also explored recreational therapies like music, soccer, and animal therapy. Life became a 40-hour-a-week schedule of appointments, therapies, and adapting to strangers in our home. Everyday activities, like grocery shopping or visiting playgrounds, required careful planning, accommodations, and emergency exit strategies. My mother, Kathy, always helped manage “crowd control” while I attended to my son’s needs.
Over time, as Mathew became more verbal, I gained insight into how he experiences the world. He is twice exceptional—gifted and neurodiverse—and he shared how sensory inputs like light, sound, texture, and smell shape his experience. He described seeing images float off whiteboards in class, rotating them mentally in 3D, and “downloading” memories each night in his mind’s file cabinets to keep his thoughts organized. Our journey has been one of constant recalibration, like needing new tools for a changing job.
Despite the challenges, we have embraced the accommodations our family needs to thrive. These include simple joys like hot sauce on almost anything, comfortable clothes, and accepting long hair on boys. Most importantly, we found peace when we moved from the city to the country, surrounding ourselves with animals. Mathew was just two years old when we introduced his first emotional support animal (ESA), and the positive impact was undeniable.
This journey fuels my passion for working with people with disabilities and placing service and emotional support animals with individuals who need them most. Through Puget Sound Doodles, we are dedicated to improving lives by connecting families with loving, well-trained dogs that provide comfort, independence, and companionship.
Mathew and his ESA Langston.
Mathew and Mom graduating together!
|
Mathew & Mom preparing for graduation.
Mom let Mathew walk under her robe across the stage at this graduation. He also sat under her chair during the ceremony.
|
Chris D.’s Story
Recipient’s name has been changed to ensure privacy.
In 2019, Chris D. reached out to Puget Sound Doodles LLC seeking to adopt an emotional support animal (ESA). During our conversations, Chris shared that he is a veteran coping with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), heart issues, and limited mobility. He also experienced frequent dizzy spells while walking and relied heavily on a cane for stability.
Chris’s hope was to find a puppy that could serve as both an emotional support animal and provide physical assistance during his dizzy spells. Because of his tall and strong stature, the size and strength of the adult dog were critical factors in his decision, as the dog needed to help support some of his weight when he felt unsteady.
After considering his decision for several months, Chris contacted us again and planned a trip to Seattle to finalize the adoption. What he didn’t know was that we were planning a special surprise for him. Upon his arrival, the Puget Sound Doodles team welcomed Chris with his new standard puppy, named Bear, who wore a beautiful blue bow and was presented to Chris as a gift.
Since then, we’ve had the privilege of staying closely connected with Chris and Bear, developing a meaningful friendship over the years. Though Chris has faced hospitalizations several times, Bear has remained faithfully by his side as a constant companion and support.
Chris and Bear share an incredible bond, and we feel truly blessed to have played a part in bringing them together.
Recipient’s name has been changed to ensure privacy.
In 2019, Chris D. reached out to Puget Sound Doodles LLC seeking to adopt an emotional support animal (ESA). During our conversations, Chris shared that he is a veteran coping with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), heart issues, and limited mobility. He also experienced frequent dizzy spells while walking and relied heavily on a cane for stability.
Chris’s hope was to find a puppy that could serve as both an emotional support animal and provide physical assistance during his dizzy spells. Because of his tall and strong stature, the size and strength of the adult dog were critical factors in his decision, as the dog needed to help support some of his weight when he felt unsteady.
After considering his decision for several months, Chris contacted us again and planned a trip to Seattle to finalize the adoption. What he didn’t know was that we were planning a special surprise for him. Upon his arrival, the Puget Sound Doodles team welcomed Chris with his new standard puppy, named Bear, who wore a beautiful blue bow and was presented to Chris as a gift.
Since then, we’ve had the privilege of staying closely connected with Chris and Bear, developing a meaningful friendship over the years. Though Chris has faced hospitalizations several times, Bear has remained faithfully by his side as a constant companion and support.
Chris and Bear share an incredible bond, and we feel truly blessed to have played a part in bringing them together.
|
|