There are moments in life when total independence feels just out of reach—when something as simple as going for a walk, sleeping through the night, or living independently comes with uncertainty. For many individuals living with medical conditions like diabetes, epilepsy, migraines, or POTS, that uncertainty is part of daily life.
And then, a service dog changes everything.
Those life-changing moments are created every day—one partnership, one alert, one quiet act of loyalty at a time, through professional training with Medi-Dogs Service Dogs.
More Than a Dog—A Lifeline
Medi-Dogs specializes in training service dogs to support individuals with a variety of medical needs. While diabetic alert dogs are the most common request, the work of Medi-Dogs founder, Annie, and her team of professional dog trainers goes far beyond that.
These remarkable dogs are trained to:
- Detect changes in blood sugar levels before they become dangerous
- Alert to oncoming seizures or episodes related to epilepsy
- Provide support during debilitating migraines
- Assist individuals with everyday type of tasks that might pose a challenge to some
But what makes this work so powerful isn’t just the training—it’s the relationship.
A Medi-Dog service dog isn’t just performing a task—the trainers are preparing the dogs to give their person confidence, safety, and companionship.
A Training Center at Green Acres Pet Resort
Medi Dogs offers their expert, life-changing training programs at Green Acres Pet Resort in DeForest, including the immersive Board & Train and Day Training programs. Set within a dedicated training space at the resort, the dog in training benefits from focused learning while enjoying luxury boarding accommodations and enriching daily activities.
The partnership combines Medi Dogs’ specialized training with the care of a highly trained pet care team—providing a clean, safe, and expansive environment where dogs can learn, grow, and thrive.
The Journey to a Service Dog
The path to a fully trained service dog involves dedication, specialized training, and financial support. Behind every successful Medi-Dog is:
- Hundreds of hours of specialized training
- Professional guidance for both dog and owner
- Ongoing care, safe lodging, and food while enrolled in the Board & Train program
- Customized training plans based on each individual’s medical needs
Medi-Dogs was founded in 2021 with a focus on the Owner Training Program, where clients are deeply involved in the process of training their own service dog under expert guidance.
Why Donations Matter
The training required for a service dog represents a significant investment, often reaching into the tens of thousands of dollars. That’s where community support makes all the difference.
Donations to Medi-Dogs help:
- Reduce the financial obligation on individuals and families
- Make service dog training more accessible
- Support the care and development of future service dogs
- Ensure no one is turned away due to cost alone
“Donations will help our goal of reducing costs for our program dogs and our owner training program. The ultimate goal would be to fully sponsor more people who need a service dog,” shared Annie, founder of Medi-Dogs.
It’s a simple statement—but behind it is a powerful mission: making independence possible for more people.
Real Impact, Real Lives
Every trained Medi-Dog service dog represents a story of everyday victories—made possible by a dog who knows exactly what to do, exactly when it matters most…
Toby & Ope
Toby is a typical sixth grader in many ways—he likes Dungeons and Dragons club, goes to Tae Kwon Do, works out at the gym with his dad, and looks forward to snowboarding in the winter. But Toby also lives with Type 1 diabetes, which means every day comes with constant monitoring, decision-making, and responsibility that most kids his age don’t have to think about. After Toby’s school nurse first told him about diabetic alert dogs, he did his own research and decided he wanted a service dog, but the family was not ready for the commitment. His mom, Briana, later heard about Medi-Dogs and a dog named Ope on the Juicebox Podcast. She quietly applied, and when Annie contacted their family for an interview, Toby was thrilled at the possibility that Ope might become his dog.
Ope joined Toby and his family in June of 2025, and he quickly became much more than a service dog. Trained through Medi-Dogs’ Starter Dog program, Toby and Ope continued their training together with Annie—a journey made possible in part by a scholarship that helped offset the cost of Ope’s initial training and ongoing lessons. Today, Toby and Ope still work with Annie each week, continuing to grow as a team.
Ope alerts Toby when his blood sugar drops below 75 or rises above 150 by gently nudging him with his nose. Many times, Ope has alerted Toby even before his continuous glucose monitor sounds an alarm. When Ope gives his signature “nose boop,” Toby checks his blood sugar and takes action—eating something or taking insulin—and Ope earns a well-deserved reward. If Toby doesn’t respond, Ope knows to go to Toby’s parents.
Ope goes to school with Toby every day, where he is focused on his job. But when the school day is over, Ope is also Toby’s companion, his comfort, and his confidence. Briana says that having Ope is helping Toby feel more confident about managing his diabetes, and for the family, Ope represents something even bigger—hope for Toby’s independence and future.
Whether he’s riding the bus, sitting in class, or walking into Tae Kwon Do with Toby, Ope’s tail is always wagging, ready for another day at work beside his boy.
Kai and Bluey
A service dog doesn’t just assist with a diagnosis; the impact can go far beyond the tasks they are trained to perform.
Kai is a 12-year-old boy living with autism, ADHD, and Type 1 diabetes. His mother, Roxana, first learned about Medi-Dogs while listening to the Juicebox Pand applied for Ope to be their diabetic alert dog.
After meeting Kai, Medi-Dogs founder Annie knew that a different dog — Bluey — would be the perfect match. With the help of a partial scholarship from Medi-Dogs, Bluey joined their family in June 2025, and they continue fundraising to support Bluey’s on-going training.
Bluey, a Lab and Great Pyrenees mix, is a big dog — and that size turned out to be exactly what Kai needed. Bluey provides deep pressure therapy simply by sitting next to Kai or allowing Kai to lean into him. Her steady weight and calm presence help regulate Kai’s nervous system, easing anxiety and bringing comfort when he needs it most.
Bluey has also transformed something many families take for granted — car rides. Kai has struggle with anxiety and car sickness, but now, with Bluey calmly beside him, car rides are less stressful for Kai, and he does not experience car sickness like before. Bluey’s calm presence is only part of her very important job.
And then there is the diabetes care. Bluey is trained as a diabetic alert dog and can alert Kai’s parents to changes in his blood sugar, sometimes nearly 30 minutes before the glucose monitor. Bluey’s extraordinary sense of smell and training give the family critical time to respond to Kai’s diabetic care.
“Having Bluey has been profoundly life changing for Kai and the family. Kai smiles more. He is a different person in many positive ways,” said Roxana.
Bluey does not yet attend school with Kai, but the family hopes that as Bluey continues training and Kai learns more handling skills, she will eventually become his constant companion.
Roxana describes Bluey in a way that perfectly captures what service dogs truly are:
“As a mother who has been completely immersed in Kai’s care, Bluey is not only a part of the family — Bluey is also part of his medical team.”
And for Kai, that team member walks on four legs, leans in when he needs comfort, and quietly watches over him every day.
How You Can Help
A Prom portrait of your dog will be a fun keepsake photo for you while enhancing the lives of people who rely on service dogs.
When you donate to Medi-Dogs through the Center for Community Stewardship, your daycare dog will have a Prom portrait taken during the week of May 11-15 leading up to the annual Green Acres Dog Daycare Prom event that Friday.
Sun-kissed snouts, wagging tails, and a little taste of la dolce vita—Under A Tuscan Sun is your pup’s passport to a dreamy Italian vacation. Picture your dog strolling along cobblestone streets in a small river town surrounded by lush vineyards, enjoying enrichment fit for a four-legged VIP, and mingling with their best furry friends at the most charming celebration of the season. Every detail designed to delight their senses and spark joy.
Participating dogs must be enrolled in a Green Acres Dog Daycare program. If you are interested in a quality daycare program for your dog, call 608-889-2100 to schedule a Daycare Introduction Day at Green Acres Pet Resort.
Some Heroes Walk on Four Legs
Every day at Green Acres Pet Resort, the activities, care, and attention each dog receives is proof of how people can enrich the lives of dogs. But organizations like Medi-Dogs remind us of something even more profound: Dogs not only enrich our lives too—they can transform lives. And with a little help from all of us, they can transform even more lives where it really makes a difference.